Rokinon 100mm F 2 8 ED UMC Macro Review | 54 Data compared

The Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 ED UMC Macro is a cost-effective, manual-focus lens that offers true 1:1 magnification and an internal focusing design that keeps the barrel fixed. It provides very sharp image quality, particularly when stopped down, with virtually no distortion and features a long focus throw for precise adjustments. Conversely, the lens requires manual focusing and lacks optical stabilization, necessitating careful, stable shooting techniques. It exhibits some softness at the edges when used at wider apertures, and diffraction can reduce image quality when stopped down to f/22 or beyond.

The B&H eXplora review highlights the Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens as a budget-friendly, manual-focus, short-telephoto prime that delivers high-image quality with true 1:1, full-frame magnification. It features an internal focusing mechanism, rounded 9-blade diaphragm, and high-refractive/ED elements for sharp, high-contrast imagery. While offering excellent, sharp performance when stopped down, the lens is strictly manual focus, lacks optical image stabilization, and shows minor edge softness at f/2.8. For a full overview of the lens, read the review at B&H eXplora.

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Samyang 100mm f/2.8 ED UMC Macro lens as a capable performer with excellent central sharpness, low chromatic aberration, and solid build quality, making it a precise tool for 1:1 macro photography. While delivering outstanding, sharp images from f/5.6 onwards, the lens features a smooth, long-throw manual focus system. However, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a complete lack of autofocus, missing optical image stabilization, and soft edges when shooting wide open at f/2.8. Due to these omissions, the lens is considered expensive compared to competing alternatives, reducing its overall value proposition despite its high-quality optics.

The Samyang 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is a budget-friendly option that delivers true 1:1 magnification for high-quality close-up photography across major camera brands. A major benefit of this full-frame lens is its competitive retail price of $549, making macro photography accessible without sacrificing build quality. The physical construction feels solid, featuring a heavy, durable metal body comparable in weight to premium alternatives like the Nikon 105mm. Additionally, it offers a versatile aperture range stretching from f/2.8 to f/32, which allows users to achieve either an incredibly shallow depth of field or sharp, detailed macro shots by stopping down to f/14 or higher. However, users must adapt to significant hardware limitations, most notably the complete lack of image stabilization or vibration reduction. The lack of an internal stabilization system heavily relies on a tripod or monopod to ensure sharp images. It is also a strictly manual focus lens, requiring photographers to manually pull focus or rock back and forth to find the critical point of sharpness. Furthermore, functionality varies across systems; while Nikon users can adjust the aperture digitally through the...

The Samyang 100 mm f/2.8 ED UMC MACRO is a full-frame manual macro lens evaluated by LensTip.com as a highly capable optical tool that faces stiff competition from established, feature-rich brand names. The optical testing highlights prominent pros, including sensational image resolution in the frame center, good quality on APS-C sensor edges, and almost imperceptible longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberrations. Furthermore, it features negligible distortion, low astigmatism, well-controlled spherical aberration, and smooth background bokeh produced by its 15-element optical design. However, the lens suffers from notable cons regarding mechanical usability and specific full-frame limitations. Because it lacks autofocus and optical stabilization, precision relies entirely on a manual focus ring that reviewers found sub-optimal, citing a narrow working range from 1 meter to infinity and a useless depth-of-field scale. Optically, the frame edges at the widest f/2.8 aperture are noticeably weaker than those of its direct stabilized rivals, and full-frame users will face heavy vignetting. Ultimately, LensTip concludes that while it is an objectively good lens, its flaws make it difficult to strongly recommend against fiercely competitive alternatives.

The Samyang 100mm f2.8 Macro lens is a robust and manual-focus-only optic evaluated by professional wildlife photographer Paul Williams on Sony mirrorless camera bodies. The reviewer praises the build quality, noting that it feels premium, sits well balanced on camera bodies, and includes a solid, reassuringly clicky aperture ring that prevents accidental changes. Performance-wise, the lens delivers excellent sharpness in the centre when stopped down and successfully doubles as a highly acceptable prime lens for landscape photography. However, the lens presents a few drawbacks, most notably that the aperture data is not displayed within the camera viewfinders. While the focus ridges are easy to use, the focus throw or reach can feel noticeably long at times. Optically, there is also some softening present at the outer edges of the frame when shooting at lower apertures. Despite these minor limitations, Williams concludes that the lens offers solid glass performance for its price point and recommends it to anyone looking for a specialist macro lens.