Rokinon SP 50mm F 1 2 Review | 54 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review of the Samyang XP 50mm f/1.2 highlights it as a premium, manual-focus lens for high-resolution DSLRs, offering stellar sharpness, minimal distortion, and smooth bokeh. While praised for its, exceptional optical performance, the review identifies the lens as bulky and heavy, lacking a depth-of-field scale, and requiring patience to master manual focusing at f/1.2.

The Samyang (Rokinon) 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC is a compact, manual-focus prime lens designed specifically for lightweight mirrorless systems like Canon EF-M, Sony E, Fuji X, and Micro 4/3rds. It delivers exceptional optical performance, outclassing older lenses like the Canon EF 50mm f/1.0L by offering much higher resolution, distinct edges, and strong contrast even when shot wide open at f/1.2. Built with nine elements in seven groups and a nine-bladed rounded aperture, the lens produces smooth, attractive real-world bokeh and sharp 18-pointed sunstars when stopped down. It excels as a portrait lens on crop sensors, providing beautiful subject separation and minimal vignette or distortion. Mechanically, it features a dense, high-quality glossy finish with a smooth focus ring, and it offers great value compared to more expensive autofocus competitors. Despite its stellar optics, the lens presents several handling challenges because it is entirely manual and lacks electronic coupling to the camera body. This means it transmits no EXIF data—leaving focal length and aperture values blank—and requires users to change camera menu settings to allow the shutter to release without a lens...

The Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM lens is a versatile, high-performing optic offering exceptional tack-sharp image quality, class-leading 1.4× magnification, and effective hybrid image stabilization. It further features fast Dual Nano USM autofocus, robust L-series construction, and pleasing bokeh, making it ideal for both professional macro work and portraiture. Conversely, the lens is heavier and longer than traditional 100mm macros, leading to a front-heavy, less stealthy setup. Performance drawbacks include noticeable focus shift, strong focus breathing, and the inclusion of a Spherical Aberration control ring that can soften images, all at a premium price point.

The Rokinon 50mm f/1.2 AS UMC is a beautiful, well-built fast aperture prime lens designed specifically for crop-sensor mirrorless camera bodies. It is available for multiple mounts, including the Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Sony E, and Micro Four Thirds systems. The primary pros of this lens include its exceptional image quality and very impressive resolution and sharpness, even when shooting wide open at f/1.2. Additionally, it features excellent light transmission, low chromatic aberrations, nicely controlled vignette and distortion, and a 9-bladed aperture that creates beautiful, soft bokeh alongside attractive sunbursts. Its compact size and weight also make it a great mechanical fit for smaller mirrorless bodies. However, the lens does come with notable cons, primarily centered around its handling. It is a fully manual lens with no autofocus, no electronic communication chip to transmit EXIF data to the camera, and no built-in image stabilisation. Furthermore, it lacks weather sealing, and the focus ring has a somewhat heavy resistance that requires more physical effort to operate. Optically, the lens is also prone to a fairly pronounced ghosting flare pattern when the...