Samyang AF 12mm F2 APS-C Lens (2021)
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Product Overview
Samyang AF 12mm F2 is the first autofocus APS-C lens that Samyang has introduced for Sony's E-mount mirrorless system. It offers an ultra-wide field of view for crop sensor shooters in an amazingly compact package.
The AF 12mm F2 approaches the wide-end of Tamron's 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD lens, while weighing just over half of that zoom lens and gives you an additional stop of light.
This f/2 maximum aperture affords the photographer new possibilities in low-light and close-up photographer. Thanks to its relatively short minimum focusing distance, the Samyang AF 12mm F2 can produce more background separation that an ultra-wide lens on an APS-C camera can usually be expected to.
Thanks to the new Stepping Motor (STM) focus motor, the AF 12mm F2 offers quiet and accurate autofocus. It is not only a capable lens for photography but also a great option for videography and vlogging. Like most other recent Samyang lenses, the AF 12mm F2 is weather sealed.
In November 2021, Samyang introduced the X-mount version of this lens.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Compact and light
- Good optics
- Good color rendition
- Fast autofocus
- Good build quality
Cons
- High vignetting
- Fingerprint magnet
What external reviewers found***
External score 71% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Very good color rendition
- Good bokeh balls and soft background blur for close distant shoots
- Very good sharpness in the centre
Cons
- Less good corners at bigger aperture
- Average resistance to flare and some CA
Price Comparison
Specifications
| E-Mount | X-mount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aperture Blades | 7 blades | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Image Size | APS-C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lens Mount | Sony E-mount, Fuji X-mount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Motor | Linear STM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Formula | Elements | 12 elements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Formula | Groups | 10 groups | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Formula | Special Glass | 1x ASP, 1x H-ASP, 3x ED groups | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dimensions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Filter Diameter | 62 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | Diameter | 70 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | Length | 59.2mm / 2.3in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 213g / 7.5oz | 59.2mm / 2.3in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Function | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angle Of View | 99.1˚ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aperture | F/2 - f/22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Focal Length | 12 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weather Resistance | Yes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max Magnification | x0.09 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Min Focus Distance | 0.19m / 0.62ft | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debut | 2021-11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Made In | Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
3rd-Party Review Videos
External Reviews
sonyalpha[1]
Reviewer score 71%The Samyang 12mm F2 AF is a very good ultra wide angle lens with AF for your Sony APSC cameras. It will be ideal for architecture, landscape street photography but also for Vlog. Images produced are very good globally, very sharp on the entire field if you close down to F5.6. Good bokeh balls and soft background blur for close distant shoots. Only drawbacks are corners sharpness wide open, average resistance to flare and some CA.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Very good sharpness in the centre
- Very good color rendition
- Good bokeh balls and soft background blur for close distant shoots
Cons
- Less good corners at bigger aperture
- Average resistance to flare and some CA
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Samyang 12mm F2. [sonyalpha]. https://sonyalpha.blog/2021/06/02/samyang-12mm-f2/. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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