SAMYANG 100mm f2.8 ed umc Macro Lens User Review
In this article, we will examine the Samyang or Rokinon 100mm f2.8 ed umc lens. You can find positive or negative comments of Samyang 100mm Macro lens later in my article. Samyang company announced this lens in 2015. The lens, which is released in the mouth structure of almost all popular brands, has gained the admiration of its users with its 1: 1 macro feature. Let’s examine:
SAMYANG 100mm f2.8 ed umc Macro Lens
SAMYANG 100mm f2.8 ed umc macro lens contains 12 elements in 15 groups. The average weight of the lens is around 725 g. It has a filter diameter of 67mm. A High Refractive Index element has an Extra Low Dispersion element; and the coating is Ultra Multi Coating. The clearest diaphragm is f2.8 while the shortest diaphragm is f32. Having f32 provides an advantage in macro shooting if the light is sufficient.
Its sharpness is great. Even at 2.8, the center sharpness is very good. In my observations, f22 and f32 are also in sharpness. But it’s very good at other apertures. It is hard to say the most sharp value. The range where the whole square is the sharpest is from f5,6 to f16
The samyang 100mm f2.8 macro lens has 9 aperture rings. In this way, the background bokeh can take a circular shape. It was very useful for the background, especially in portrait shots. In the meantime, as in most macro lenses, Samyang 100mm f2.8 can be shot in great portraits. This must be the most useful feature after the macro feature.
Portrait Shooting with Samyang-Rokinen 100mm us f2.8 Macro
Its handling gives tremendous confidence. It has a structure that does not extend from the front and the front element does not rotate while focusing. Focus does not focus manually or automatically. rather, there is no electronic relation. Therefore, you cannot control the diaphragm through the machine. Manual focus was made in accordance with the macro lens. You are using 4/5 of the angle of rotation of the focus ring for the macro. The remaining 1/5 part is between 1 meter and infinity. So if you are going to take a portrait, it is possible to focus with very few turns. Although this situation is not suitable for some users, it seemed very positive to me.
Samyang 100 mm Macro Focus Ring Macro Feature
The focus ring is very nice, soft. You can focus without any difficulty or vice versa. But it is not possible to say this softness for the diaphragm ring; transitions are hard. Not exaggerated, of course, but no softness in the focus ring. Diaphragm transitions snap. There is a half stop diaphragm gap between two consecutive complete stops. For example, you can use 3.5 to 4 apertures. It switches to f32 in one pass only after f22. As I said in others, you can also use half transitions.
Focusing distance is reasonable. It can focus about 25mm away. This distance is an advantage in live shots. You don’t have to enter the bottom of the insect.
It did not create a vignette even with the lightest diaphragm in Full Frame camera. Many lens vignettes show, but this lens did not show vignetting. Also, it does not form a CA thanks to its special coating. It is also resistant to reverse light thanks to its special glasses and multi-coating. During my use, it did not polish or create ghosts.
Negative aspects of Samyang 100mm Macro lens
There are two negative aspects for me.
1. The weight is a bit too heavy. It could be lighter.
2. A full manual lens. Focus and aperture control could be allowed.
To summarize:
It is one of the best lenses Samyang brand has produced recently. Real macro photos can be taken with the 1: 1 macro feature. Even the largest aperture f2.8 gives very sharp images, while the maximum aperture is f32 so the depth of field can be high. If using manual is not a problem, I definitely recommend. I am loading a few examples below for you. You can examine it in more detail by clicking.
