I have the 8mm version (5 years now) and it been great, but this 14 mm is not a patch on that. Couldnt focus, even stopped down image quality was very poor. Spent money on the IRIX 15mm instead......WOW what a lens.

I was interested by the good reviews for this lens so thought I’d take a look. Been a pro for a long time. A quick assessment of this lens showed it produced poor and very unsatisfactory results. 3 people had a look at the lens and tried on several different camera bodies. Independently comments were “muddy image” x 2, “that sucks”, “that’s awful”.
I can’t understand the good reviews. It’s not a good lens in my experience and returned item after looking at it. Perhaps it took a knock in transit but if that’s the case.. get some else for you kit bag (build quality didn’t seem good to me). I have 20+ yr old canon l series lens that works great. I don’t like leaving poor reviews but I also have some experience in this field and would prefer people to see a counterpoint to the “good”. I might say buy cheap buy twice but I have handled cheaper lenses than this that are better. Apologies for the negative but very disappointing.

I was interested by the good reviews for this lens so thought I’d take a look. Been a pro for a long time. A quick assessment of this lens showed it produced poor and very unsatisfactory results. 3 people had a look at the lens and tried on several different camera bodies. Independently comments were “muddy image” x 2, “that sucks”, “that’s awful”.I can’t understand the good reviews. It’s not a good lens in my experience and returned item after looking at it. Perhaps it took a knock in transit but if that’s the case.. get some else for you kit bag (build quality didn’t seem good to me). I have 20+ yr old canon l series lens that works great. I don’t like leaving poor reviews but I also have some experience in this field and would prefer people to see a counterpoint to the “good”. I might say buy cheap buy twice but I have handled cheaper lenses than this that are better. Apologies for the negative but very disappointing.

Based on research online and my limited on budget, I purchased the Samyang 14mm, and have been on the most part happy with the purchase. However, very slow to focus in sports events and easily flares in sunlight. I found the colours not as great as other glassware I have. Lens vignettes from f2.8-5.6 thereafter it's nice and crisp. I personally only use it for architectural interiors where light is more controlled.

I have used this lens with my Sony A7ii. On the positive it's a well made lens, heavy and feels robust. Most images are sharpish once you have mastered the manual focus...but not as sharp as I hoped for.

BUT..............
I do not understand why Samyang let lenses out with focus calibration so far out you wouldn't go as far on your holidays!!! I mean when I'm focused at infinity it reads 0.315M / 1.1FT!!! Eh? Twisting the focus ring past this then infinity goes out of focus. And my nearest focal range reads something before the first figure of 0.28M when the subject is approx 0.5M away. I just didn't bother looking at the focus ring.

It is not sharp.

I have read the reviews and see how some people attack their lenses with screwdrivers to re-calibrate it. Not for me. I don't know if I'll try another one of these, in case the same problems exist.

Then when I use the focus magnifier I sometimes get a message that the lens isn't fitted properly!!!

I am a bit disappointed in this lens after all I have read about it. It has fors and againsts but for me there are too many against's and I feel I have to return it. I was so looking forward to taking this to Venice on my holidays, but now I wont.

Come on SAMYANG, you potentially have a super lens here, sort out these issues!

I have used this lens with my Sony A7ii. On the positive it's a well made lens, heavy and feels robust. Most images are sharpish once you have mastered the manual focus...but not as sharp as I hoped for.BUT..............I do not understand why Samyang let lenses out with focus calibration so far out you wouldn't go as far on your holidays!!! I mean when I'm focused at infinity it reads 0.315M / 1.1FT!!! Eh? Twisting the focus ring past this then infinity goes out of focus. And my nearest focal range reads something before the first figure of 0.28M when the subject is approx 0.5M away. I just didn't bother looking at the focus ring.It is not sharp.I have read the reviews and see how some people attack their lenses with screwdrivers to re-calibrate it. Not for me. I don't know if I'll try another one of these, in case the same problems exist.Then when I use the focus magnifier I sometimes get a message that the lens isn't fitted properly!!!I am a bit disappointed in this lens after all I have read about it. It has fors and againsts but for me there are too many against's and I feel I have to return it. I was so looking forward to taking this to Venice on my holidays, but now I wont.Come on SAMYANG, you potentially have a super lens here, sort out these issues!