Samyang/Rokinon/Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 lens

BruceLee · 9 Apr 2010 at 23:19

Does anyone own one of these? There's a fairly long thread over on the nikon forum about this lens, seems quite a bargain if you are happy to manual focus and manually meter (it does meter on the better bodies that can add lens info to them).

Review here shows (to me) some interesting results, espescially the MTF against Nikon etc.

http://lenstip.com/166.1-Lens_review-Samyang_85_mm_f_1.4_Aspherical_IF_.html

I'm considering getting one, they can be found for just over £200, they all appear the same, just different branding on them, only thing that may stop me is that there is talk of a autofocus version coming out soon.

Mud · 9 Apr 2010 at 23:32

I don't own one but like yourself think they're pretty tempting...that aspherical element might make it even better than the 85/1.4D if you can deal with MF, the sample images I've seen have certainly been impressive. Since you're considering manual focus portrait lenses, also consider the 105/2.5 (though I went for the 105/1.8).

BruceLee · 9 Apr 2010 at 23:42

Yes I was looking at the 105 f/2.5 as well, seen one for around £300 I think but would need to check again. I am quite tempted by the older MF lenses, obviously no metering on my D90 but I'm not too fussed about that really, there are quite a few around for reasonable prices. How do you rate the 1.8?

Oh and MF at f/1.4 should be interesting!

Mud · 9 Apr 2010 at 23:47

Honestly, I've not had enough of a chance to use the 105/1.8 to give any kind of appraisal. That also goes for a Zeiss 18/3.5 that's recently turned up...I really need to get out.

£300 sounds like a high price for a 105/2.5, I've seen them go for £100-200...though that lens does seem to be in vogue at the moment. I got my 105/1.8 for £320 from aperture photographic, and the f/1.8 is usually far more expensive than the f/2.5.

edit: a quick perusal of my bookmarked 2nd hand shops turned up these:

Aperture - Nikon 105mm f2.5 AIS #999xxx Exc+++ £190
Ffordes - 105mm F2.5 AIS[Nikon] E+ £165.00
Grays - many (all overpriced)

I don't think I'm breaking any rules posting those, apologies to mods if these camera shops are somehow construed as competitors.

Raikiri · 9 Apr 2010 at 23:51

I find it really weird that some Nikons won't meter with MF lenses, my 400D would fine, as does my 500D.

I was tempted to get one but ended up buying the 85mm f1.8.

MikeHunt79 · 10 Apr 2010 at 00:04

If they did bring out an AF version, would the metering work also? I'm using a D60 which has no histogram function...

BruceLee · 10 Apr 2010 at 00:14

Mud said:
Honestly, I've not had enough of a chance to use the 105/1.8 to give any kind of appraisal. That also goes for a Zeiss 18/3.5 that's recently turned up...I really need to get out.

£300 sounds like a high price for a 105/2.5, I've seen them go for £100-200...though that lens does seem to be in vogue at the moment. I got my 105/1.8 for £320 from aperture photographic, and the f/1.8 is usually far more expensive than the f/2.5.

edit: a quick perusal of my bookmarked 2nd hand shops turned up these:

Aperture - Nikon 105mm f2.5 AIS #999xxx Exc+++ £190
Ffordes - 105mm F2.5 AIS[Nikon] E+ £165.00
Grays - many (all overpriced)

I don't think I'm breaking any rules posting those, apologies to mods if these camera shops are somehow construed as competitors.

I could have sworn when I looked on ffordes it was around £300, maybe I was looking at something else, now thats got me tempted

Saying that I am also after a 90mm macro lens so not sure if they overlap really.

edit: oops I was thinking of the price for the macro 105mm below it.

Raikiri said:
I find it really weird that some Nikons won't meter with MF lenses, my 400D would fine, as does my 500D.

I was tempted to get one but ended up buying the 85mm f1.8.

I think its just a way for Nikon to make you upgrade your camera, I cant see any real reason not to be able to add a function to add these manual lenses to your camera.

MikeHunt79 said:
If they did bring out an AF version, would the metering work also? I'm using a D60 which has no histogram function...

Well the AF version was said to be able to yes, but who knows until they release it, surprised the d60 doesnt give you a histogram?

Mud · 10 Apr 2010 at 00:24

MikeHunt79 said:
If they did bring out an AF version, would the metering work also? I'm using a D60 which has no histogram function...

The D60 does have a histogram of the combined colour channels (might require enabling in the playback menu), but to get at the separate colour channel histograms you have to go somewhere into in-camera image editing - I forget exactly where, it's not convenient at all.

p0ss3s3d · 10 Apr 2010 at 00:37

I don't know about Nikon users but IMO the Canon 85 1.8 is, like the vivitar, a great piece of glass and has AF. And although a third of a stop slower, for £90 more it sounds good to me. Even if an auto focus version comes out, the chances are the motor would be so slow compared to the canon USM that unless your shooting static portraits then it's probably still not ideal. Especially considering the price of the canon.

BruceLee · 10 Apr 2010 at 00:44

The Nikon 1.8 is good as well, just that this is 1.4 and from reviews/pics it looks very useable at 1.4 too. Also useful for doing videos as its manual settings for aperture on this which is another reason I like it.