Samyang Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 ED AS IF NCS UMC Fisheye Lens Review
The Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 is the most affordable way to get a full-frame fisheye look, but you get what you pay for in build and optical quality.
Overview
This lens is a one-trick pony, but it does that trick pretty well. If you want a full-frame fisheye look on a budget, the Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 is basically your only option. It's not a lens you'll use every day, but when you need that extreme, distorted perspective, it's ready to go.
Performance
Honestly, nothing about its performance is surprising. The aperture is average, the autofocus is just okay, and the build quality feels a bit cheap. That's exactly what you'd expect for the price. It does what it says: it gives you a very wide, very fishy view without any fuss.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely wide fisheye field of view for full-frame cameras. 98th
- Relatively fast f/2.8 aperture for a fisheye. 77th
- Very affordable entry point into fisheye photography. 73th
- Simple, no-frills manual focus operation (on manual models).
Cons
- Image quality is mediocre—it's soft and has lots of distortion (but hey, it's a fisheye). 23th
- Build quality feels plasticky and not durable.
- No image stabilization, so you'll need steady hands or a tripod in low light.
- It's useless for anything other than creative wide-angle shots.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Wide-Angle |
| Focal Length Min | 12 |
| Focal Length Max | 12 |
| Elements | 12 |
| Groups | 8 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/22 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 201 |
Value & Pricing
It's worth it only if you specifically need a fisheye lens and can't spend more. You're trading optical quality and build for a unique focal length at a low price. For general use, it's a terrible value.
vs Competition
Don't compare this to the Viltrox 35mm or Meike 55mm—those are normal lenses. The real question is whether you need a fisheye. If you want a more versatile wide-angle, look at a rectilinear 14mm or 16mm prime. If you're sure you want the fisheye effect, this Rokinon is the budget king because there are almost no other full-frame fisheyes near this price.
| Spec | Samyang Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 ED AS IF NCS UMC Fisheye Lens | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Viltrox VILTROX 25mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Lens for Fuji X Mount, | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 12mm | 55mm | 25mm | 24mm | 24-70mm | 17-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/1.7 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Nikon Z | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | Nikon Z | Sony E Mount |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 515 | 281 | 400 | 269 | 676 | 544 |
| AF Type | - | STM | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Wide-Angle | - | - | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom |
Verdict
Buy this lens only if you have a specific creative project that requires a fisheye look and you're on a tight budget. For 99% of photographers, a standard wide-angle lens will be more useful. It's a niche tool, and it's okay at being just that.