Samyang AF 12mm F/2 E

Specifications01

MountSONY E

Focal length12mm

Max aperturef/2

TypeCinema · Wide · Prime

Weight224 g

Filter size62 mm

Physical length70 mm

Min focus distance0.19 m

Max magnification0.0901

Aperture blades7

Optical elements12

Groups10

Lens hoodpetal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)

Additional Info02

Category["Sony","Sony E (APS-C)"]

Keywords["E-mount","Samyang","Ultra-wide"]

Review AuthorKlaus

Review Rating6.5

Review VerdictThe Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E strikes a nice balance between quality and pricing. The border/corner performance is just Okay at f/2 - which isn't ideal for astrophotography despite the lens being marketed for this purpose. The heavy vignetting also requires quite some auto-correction at this setting. However, the image quality sharpens up nicely at f/2.8 already, and it's pretty darn good between f/4 to f/5.6. The native lateral CAs are somewhat on the high side, but auto-correction can do its magic here without losses. It doesn't have much to work on with respect to image distortions - these are quite low. Flare can be a bit of a problem in difficult scenes, so don't forget to use the provided lens hood. The bokeh is rather rough, unfortunately. Sun stars are nicely rendered, though. It's a rather low-budget lens, but you won't really notice this when picking up the lens. It's very lightweight, yet it feels solid, and the texture of the rubberized, focus ring is also quite nice. Additionally, it also features decent weather sealing, including a sealed rear element for extra protection. The AF is pretty snappy and quiet. The Samyang AF 12mm f/2 E may not be the best ultra-wide angle lens in its class, but if you are on a budget, it is a viable choice.

Review Criteria{"Build Quality":7,"Optical Quality":6.5,"Price / Performance":10}

Review Published2023-10-23T06:12:13+00:00

Optical Construction12 Elements in 10 Groups (H-ASP 1, ASP 1, ED 3)

Summary02

Samyang AF 12mm F/2 is a Sony E-mount prime wide-angle lens designed for APS-C. It offers a constant f/2 aperture for low-light and shallow depth of field.

AI-assisted summary — verify against linked sources

Specifications from opticallimits

Where can this lens be adapted?

The Sony E mount has a flange distance of 18 mm. A plain adapter fits a camera whose flange distance is at least 1.46 mm shorter. How lens adapters work

Sony lenses named "E" (not "FE") cover APS-C only.
Native lenses set the aperture, and often the focus, electronically. On a plain adapter they do not work. Use an electronic adapter made for this pair; for many pairs nobody makes one. Fully manual lenses are the exception.