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Kenneth Seymour photo
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494 Review
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Review on Rokinon RKHD8MV-C HD 8mm t/3.8 Fisheye Fixed Lens for Canon - De-clicked Aperture, Removable Hood, and Wide-Angle Capability by Kenneth Seymour

Revainrating 2 out of 5

Not good enough. Not sharp.

I have a Canon 7D and 30D (both crop sensor cameras). Most of my other lenses are from Canon's "L” series. I bought this lens solely for my upcoming vacation to the Grand Canyon and Moab, Utah. A rough Canon equivalent would be the Canon 14mm f/2.8L or 8-15mm f/4L ($2100 and $1300 respectively). I never thought this lens would compete with Canon's 'luxury' lenses; and this lens does not handle autofocus or exposure; both are manual. I don't really care since I grew up with a handheld Luna Pro. And now, with a digital media camera, it's pretty easy. A maximum of one or two test shots to get the right shot. Just remember the "sunny 16" rule. If it's sunny outside, set the sensitivity to around DIN/ASA (film speed) and adjust the aperture. to 4 p.m. and you will receive the expected photo. I compared this lens to two Canon lenses; EF-S 17-55mm lens and EF-L 16-35mm lens. Both of my current Canon lenses, whether EF-S or EF-L, delivered sharp images at infinity. The ROKINON produced consistently blurry images with fuzzy edges at infinity and was difficult to focus properly at close range. Build quality seems good. The lens hood fits perfectly and protects the curved front of the lens. I didn't like the feel of the aperture and focus ring; They were uncomfortable to take because of the sharp edges. If you're not enlarging your photos beyond 8x10, this lens is probably fine. I have sent mine back and will be awaiting further Canon action and buying another "L" series lens. .Yes, Canon lenses are expensive, but you get what you pay for. I'm sorry for that.

Pros
  • delayed aperture for simple video recording
Cons
  • nothing