Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS vs Sony FE 85mm f/1.8

For landscapes, especially including night skyscapes, another budget option is the Rokinon 12mm f/2. I haven't tried the new autofocus version, but the manual version is a popular lens for good reason and is great value. (I don't think I would pay $500 for the autofocus version one.)

8 macro, RF 35mm 1.8, RF 50mm 1.8, RF 85mm 2.0, RF 24-240mm, and other lenses in this range, from a budget perspective

It's like, if you own a Sony or Canon APS-C camera and you don't own this lens, what are you doing? Even if you'd rather have a 28mm or 35mm equivalent, just get this lens and crop it because it's going to look better anyway. And if you are shooting video, just enable Clear Image Zoom and all your wide angle needs are taken care of in one lens.

8 IS is simply so much better, and the price difference isn't as big as with the EF equivalents, that I'll always just recommend the 35mm. And if you already have the 35mm and don't particularly use it, well, the 50mm f/1.8 isn't going to do much for you, either.

However, it seems that Rokinon has poor quality control resulting in some lenses in the market that are not meeting the expectation of high optical quality. If you get a good copy, I highly recommend this lens. The first one I purchased felt like the infinity stop on the focus ring was not quite at the right location, resulting in shots that were passable but not quite sharp enough. I got it replaced for free through Amazon in two days

We'll have to wait for formal lab testing to see how evenly sharp it is, but 85mm designs are typically pretty even in clarity from the center to the periphery.

(I'm very much a novice photographer, so the interchangeable lens, point and shoot, autofocus aspect isn't objectionable, to me.) Nighttime astrophotography shouldn't be a problem, with focus set to infinity, wide open apertures, and tripod shooting. I may keep it, just for this use, we'll see. EDIT: Well, I decided to keep the lens

My number one complaint is how this was packaged. The lens was in its Sony box and that box was just put into a paper bubble mailer, not enough cushion. My lens arrived without damage, but I worry about if someone orders and there is careless delivery drivers. The Autofocus is a bit slow, but I can manage

So far I’m impressed with the weight although not quite like a pancake lens it’s built solid. I put it on my Sony a6100. The manual focus is going to take getting use to. I normally shoot with a canon 6D and either a sigma 35 art or 24-70 L lens

That's one reason why I opted for this 85 mm f/1.8 prime, since the f/1.4 GM version is quite heavy in comparison.

The larger apertures still yield sharp images. My lens focuses at infinity very close to the markings on the lens barrel, with only a tad of over-focus (necessary for me to dial in the focus precisely). I have been using this on a Sony a6000 and have been extremely pleased--just note that you have to set the camera mode to M rather than S to access the Bulb setting for time exposures. Otherwise, you can set to S and select a shutter speed to match your manual setting of focus and aperture

8 helps - speed, aperture 1.8 means more speed - bokeh, 1.8 means bokeh, crucial for photographers - Sharpness, this lens is not the sharpest but its very sharp - Sony stabilization and eye/face focus and If you know about lens, the 85 mm and over help the model to look slim, more attractive, that's why if you shoot women that is my case, this lens help them to appear even more beautiful Cheers!