Sony 11mm F1.8 vs Samyang AF 12mm F2 : Which to Buy?

[@HomesickMac]

Great comparizon Dustin. Although I massively love my 35mm f.2.8 Samyang, there's no doubt I'd choose the Sony here. Cheers!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I agree.

[@WU_Foto]

Thanks for this comparison! With correction profiles the sony will be a good choice, but the Samyang, too. I own the old Samyang 12f2MF, this is also a great lens for the money.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Totally agree!

[@tjthedogtrainer]

Thanks so much for making this video! Have the Samyang and was wondering if it was gonna be worth the upgrade for the new Sony 11mm

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

In many ways, yes, though the Sony does have much more native distortion.

[@I922sParkCir]

Thank you for this review. I shoot in raw so having less distortion is ideal. I couldn't pass up the $258 for the Samyang for Black Friday! The Sony is generally better, but not double the price better.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fair enough.

[@VGScreens]

Such a shame that Sony couldn't include OSS at this price. I've been waiting years for a 10-18 update with better image quality, I'd happily switch out the zoom for a wide prime with OSS. I have the manual focus Samyang already, focus is never the issue, it's the lack of OSS that has me switching between it and the 10-18 still.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fair enough. I think that many lens makers use IBIS as the catch-all for image stabilization these days.

[@JackPineSavagest]

I was just thinking of ordering one of these. Very helpful!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad to hear it

[@harveylouis445]

I own the Samyang 12mm f2 AF. Focus breathing is a problem in video, so that's a concern if someone is buying with video AF in mind.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's true.

[@OMW2SYG]

I have horrible focus breathing

[@AlexK-ei7yh]

one aspect of APS-C sony lenses that often overlooked in reviews is "how will it look on Full Frame?". Samyang 12mm f2 (manual) has relatively large image circle and with digital crop is possible to use as 15-16mm Full Frame lens. 11mm has smaller circle, so on full frame it will be 17-19mm.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That is certainly an advantage for some users.

[@youuuuuuuuuuutube]

@@DustinAbbottTWI It would be great if you could show us how the APS-C lenses look on a FF camera, at their various focal lengths (for a zoom lens), because it's something a lot of people care about, so, in FF mode. Also it would be nice to know how they perform in regards to AF, for ex, this lens is supposed to handle 30fps from the A1.

[@stevechan5569]

Great comparison presentation. I use Fujifilm instead of Sony and pricing on the same lens with Fujifilm mount is higher?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I'm not sure at the moment, but the MSRP is the same.

[@jre617]

Excellent review. I've been thinking about getting one of these two, so this helps a lot. I guess for me, the Sony's advantages don't quite add up to it's extra cost. To be clear, the a6400 will correct the Sony's barrel distortion in camera, but will or will not correct the Samyang's?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's a valid point. Yes, the Sony at the least gets better in camera corrections. I can't recall offhand if the Samyang's gets corrected at all.

[@thebullzi]

Fantastic comparison as usual. I am considering purchasing the Samyang, but need to sell one of my other lenses. I have never sold a lens before. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.

[@miaoxiang7377]

I buy and sell lenses on Facebook market locally, mostly good experiences.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Miao's suggestion is a good one. I start there, and if I'm not successful, I resort to eBay, though you lose more money that way due to eBay's fees.

[@networm64]

Great review and compeletely agree with your conclusion, 8:05 that reason alone worth 200$ to me! I have the Samyang MF version and man that is a real pain in the *** for video to watch out about that disgusting glare. The color cast is another thing I dn't like in samy lenses while CA is sometimes annoying even after correction. I just wished your were showing the Sony's JPEG version for distortion chart too cause I see some people are concerned about it( even though you pointed out to it as a none issue correctly). I think that wider feild of view on uncorrected files is nice to have in astro photography!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fair points.

[@tux4205]

Hi Dustin, thanks for this review. Just one question... I'm now using a Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 for my photography on a Sony A-6000 APS-C (30mm equivalent). I bought it because I'm planning to go FF but still can't afford it. While I wait for a FF camera, I've found a Samyang AF 12mm F2 like new at €250... do you think it's worth it in 2024? When it comes to people/street I feel ok with the Viltrox 30mm equivalent, but I really want to experiment with a wider lens to catch more elements in my urbanscape photography. Thanks.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

If you want a wider angle of view, it remains a nice little lens. If you get a good price on it, you shouldn't lose too much when reselling in the future (should you upgrade to FF).

[@Michael_Relevant]

The 11mm 1.8 is better in every way. And unfortunately for Samyang for the Fuji system, Viltrox 13mm better.

[@the_anxiousphotographer]

How would you compare the Samyang to the Sigma 16mm 1.4? Just some quick thoughts if you have time. Thank you

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I like the Sigma. It's bigger, obviously, but has the faster maximum aperture and is quite sharp. It's not nearly as wide, however, so that could be a major factor.

[@saifhaleem2613]

thanks for these informations

[@HolyEMP]

I have the Samyang 12mm MF. Is it worth the upgrade to either of the sony 11mm or the Samyang 12mm AF mainly for landscape photography? If yes, which of the len is better for landscape photography?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

For landscapes I would recommend the Sony. It's an excellent lens and the higher distortion won't matter as much for landscape work.

[@orlandoricardo2328]

Excelent review I got Samyang/Rokino 12 mm F2.0 AF and I am happy with this old lens I purchased less than cost now for Sony 259.00 Amazon discount for the 3 Sony lens I would be like SONY G 15 mm f1.4

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's great value.

[@GuusStemerding]

love the content

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Thank you

[@MasoodJamal]

Which these ultra wide angle lenses do you suggest for indoor real estate videography in a low light noisy situation with the Sony ZV-E10 camera ? 👇 1. Sony 11mm f.1/8 2. Samyang 12mm 3. Rokinon 12mm 4. Tamron 11-20mm 5. Viltrox 13mm F1.4

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I think I’ve answered that question elsewhere

[@etofok]

the sony 10-18 f4 has OSS which is important for video, so I would consider this one, unless you have a very good gimbal. Otherwise sony 11mm f1.8

[@sharikmarius]

Samyang and Rokinon are identical.

[@Visual_Ghoul]

@@DustinAbbottTWI what was the answer?

[@rol4life]

Have you done the latest firmware update on the samyang?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I believe so.

[@MrDarthvader1111]

Does anyone know, when the sony lens will receive a lens profile in lightroom? As of today it is not yet available.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It should be soon.

[@cameraprepper7938]

6.00 There are more both at the left and the right side of the image with the Sony 11mm. I will not have any of those two Lenses, they are not good enough for my taste.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's definitely the wider of the two.

[@denynapitupulu]

thank you

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You're welcome

[@roughpaperstudio]

What about astro photography with these lens. Which is the best

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Both work fairly well for astro. The Samyang has less vignette and distortion, but the Sony is wider, faster, and sharper.

[@flexflex5853]

On a video, there is the same distortion ?? Even if we dont move a lot ?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

The video will be corrected in camera for the Sony, and to a lesser degree the Samyang.

[@kylechandler7623]

Does this only apply to sony cameras? I want to use the sony 11mm on my ronin 4d but if the distortion is as bad as what i'm seeing here it wouldn't be worth it @@DustinAbbottTWI

[@leighann5308]

Is the Rokinon AF same as the Samyang AF

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's correct.

[@ceecee130x]

If you do video, Samyang's notable focus breathing will be quite a turnoff. For photogs, that $200 difference is significant... if you don't shoot close and/or use software to tweak color anyway, then Samyang looks attractive.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's fair

[@bradl2636]

$189 for the Rokinon version on Prime Day 2023..!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's an amazing price.

[@averobinramos1496]

I sold my manual samyang to buy an AF version of it.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I understand why. There's some definite improvements here.

[@Gamex996]

I got the samyang cause of price difference over 300$ difference the sony one costs more than my a6400

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's fair.

[@norgerichard]

I like the Samyang better here, bec. of the distortion.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Fair enough

[@zapadakofflv8560]

Sony is more expensive but better lens. I have a Sony a6700 and I don't regret it.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Agreed.

[@Reinh4444]

As Samyang AF is quite near to the MF version in terms of picture quality, it makes sense to consider the MF version if you mostly shoot landscape and architecture. The MF version ist much cheaper than the AF version, the Walimex 12mm 2,0 MF (which is identical to the Samyang) in Germany is sold for unbelievable 199.- Euros, a no brainer.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've long liked the MF version of the lens. The AF version does have some advantages (more aperture blades = nicer sunstars, weather sealing, AF), but yes, the bargain option is the Samyang 12mm MF version.

[@ValentinA-nx9wm]

@@DustinAbbottTWI he MF Sunstars are so ugly. The worst I've ever seen

[@Ni5ei]

0:42 The price point is not radically different? The difference is over 30%!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's in part because the Samyang is on sale.

[@Ni5ei]

@@DustinAbbottTWI No I was talking about the MSRP of both. When deducting $50 off the Samyang the difference is even over 44%

[@jamesk1619]

actually it's more like 55%, since you can get the Samyang for around $260 now.

[@Ni5ei]

@@jamesk1619 Indeed So would you pay twice the price for the Sony? Nope, not worth the difference.

[@georghaubrock]

Why does this guy a video with a floor as background?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's actually raw wood veneers on a wall saved from a factory that was shutting down.

[@georghaubrock]

​@@DustinAbbottTWII am sure it looks gratis when youbsee it in real live 😊 thanks for the video by the way, I am ging to buy the Sony lense in a few days and I'm really exited about it!

[@GeorgeKalokairinos]

The distortion is so bad on the Sony Lens and the cheap prize of Samyang makes it the better lens hands down...

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I'm not sure I fully agree, but its a valid point of view.

[@GeorgeKalokairinos]

@@DustinAbbottTWI The distortion for me imo is very important factor especially for real estate, that's why I said that. Anyway keep up the awesome work and videos!! 👍

[@jochenkraus7016]

​@@GeorgeKalokairinos Even after the camera, Lightroom etc. corrected it?

[@GeorgeKalokairinos]

@@jochenkraus7016 Yes because you have to do an extra step and its a problem in video too. Not a huge deal for some people but if i consider that the prize of the samyang is lower and the B.Distortion of the Sony is bad, i'm leaning towards the Samyboy

[@Image1Nation]

@@GeorgeKalokairinos I ordered the Sony because the camera auto corrects the distortion in video and JPEG.