Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MK2 Review
The Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MK2 delivers stunning sharpness, but its massive size and sluggish autofocus make it a awkward fit for the compact Micro Four Thirds system.
The 30-Second Version
A brilliant optic trapped in the wrong body. The Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MK2 is too big, too heavy, and focuses too slowly for the Micro Four Thirds system it's built for.
Overview
The Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MK2 is a weird lens. It's a full-frame ultra-wide design crammed onto a Micro Four Thirds sensor, and that's the one thing you need to know. You're getting a massive, heavy piece of glass that delivers truly excellent image quality in the center, but the whole package feels like a bit of a mismatch for the system. It's built like a tank and weather-sealed, which is great, but you have to ask if you really need a 692g lens on your small MFT camera.
Performance
The optical performance is the star here, landing in the 91st percentile. The sharpness in the center of the frame, especially when stopped down a bit, is one of the best we've seen for an ultra-wide on MFT. That's the surprise. The letdown is the autofocus, which sits in a disappointing 46th percentile. It's not fast or confident, and in our tests, it hunted more than we'd like in low light, which is ironic for an f/2.8 lens marketed for night photography.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stunning center sharpness and optical quality. 91th
- Solid, weather-sealed metal build that feels indestructible.
- Useful de-clicked aperture ring for video work.
- Infinity focus lock is a genuine boon for astrophotographers.
Cons
- Autofocus is slow and unreliable compared to native lenses. 22th
- It's comically heavy and large for a Micro Four Thirds lens.
- Bokeh and build quality are just middle of the pack.
- Versatility score is low; this is a one-trick pony for wide shots.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Ultra Wide-Angle |
| Focal Length Min | 14 |
| Focal Length Max | 14 |
| Elements | 14 |
| Groups | 10 |
| Coating | UMC |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.7 kg / 1.5 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Value & Pricing
At $449, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for optics that the smaller MFT sensor can't fully utilize, while tolerating sub-par autofocus. If optical purity is your only metric, it has merit. For most people, the value isn't there.
Price History
vs Competition
Don't confuse this with the compact, native ultra-wides for MFT. The Olympus 12mm f/2.0 is smaller, lighter, has faster AF, and is nearly as sharp. The Laowa 7.5mm f/2.0 is wider, manual focus, and tiny. This Samyang sits in an awkward middle ground: it's not the widest, it's not the lightest, and its AF can't keep up with the competition. Compared to the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 for other systems, it lacks the zoom versatility that many photographers actually want.
| Spec | Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MK2 | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for | Viltrox Air VILTROX 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 Air AF Lens for Fuji X | Canon RF Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Fujifilm VILTROX 56mm F1.4 STM APS-C Frame Auto Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 14mm | 55mm | 17-70mm | 35mm | 24mm | - |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/1.7 | f/1.8 | f/1.4 |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon Z | FUJIFILM X | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | Fujifilm X |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 692 | 281 | 544 | 400 | 272 | 320 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | STM |
| Lens Type | Ultra Wide-Angle | - | Zoom | - | Wide-Angle | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samyang 14mm f/2.8 MK2 | 46.4 | 59.2 | 55.9 | 21.7 | 90.8 | 54.6 | 37.5 | 37.9 |
| Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF STM Compare | 95.6 | 81.8 | 81.1 | 89.1 | 67.5 | 88.1 | 37.5 | 87.8 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 -A VC RXD Compare | 46.4 | 59.2 | 64.4 | 77.7 | 90.8 | 54.6 | 92.5 | 87.8 |
| Viltrox Air 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Compare | 95.6 | 73.6 | 63.4 | 93.2 | 74 | 80.6 | 37.5 | 87.8 |
| Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Compare | 46.4 | 81.8 | 87.6 | 81 | 82.5 | 75.8 | 37.5 | 99.9 |
| Fujifilm VILTROX 56mm F1.4 STM APS-C Frame Auto Focus Standard Prime Compare | 95.6 | 81.8 | 88.8 | 85.3 | 34.6 | 88.1 | 37.5 | 87.8 |
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens manual or autofocus?
It has autofocus, but it's not great. It's slow and hunts in low light. Most serious users will probably end up using manual focus, which is why that infinity lock is there.
Q: Is this good for video?
The de-clicked aperture ring is nice for video, but the heavy weight might unbalance your gimbal, and the AF isn't reliable for tracking. It's better as a manual video lens.
Q: Why is it so heavy?
Because it's a full-frame lens design. You're carrying glass meant to cover a sensor much larger than your MFT camera has. It's overbuilt for the job.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a walk-around wide-angle or a versatile travel lens, this isn't it. It's a brick. Go get an Olympus 12mm f/2.0 or a Panasonic Leica 9mm f/1.7 instead. They'll focus faster and won't give you back pain.
Verdict
We can't recommend this for most Micro Four Thirds shooters. The size and weight penalty is too high, and the autofocus performance is a deal-breaker for anything but deliberate tripod work. It's a specialist lens for astrophotographers or landscape shooters who work manually and prioritize absolute center sharpness above all else, including portability. For everyone else, look at native options.