Samyang AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE

Testers found it sharp in the centre throughout the range and good across the frame once stopped down, with low longitudinal and moderate lateral colour fringing. Autofocus from the linear stepping motor is quiet and efficient, and focus breathing is negligible, which suits video.

The compromises show up in the uncorrected files: vignetting on full frame is heavy and RAW distortion is very high before profiles are applied. Resistance to flare and ghosting against bright light is weaker than the best rivals. Most reviewers accept these trade-offs given the size, the weight and the filter thread, and see it as an original alternative to heavy bulbous-front 14-24s.

Owners are mostly travel, landscape and astro shooters who bought it for the weight and the front filter thread, and many pair it with the 24-60mm F2.8 as a light two-lens kit. Being able to screw on a standard polariser is the feature mentioned most often.

The complaints are about sunstars and flare with the sun in frame, dark corners if lens corrections are off, and the need to keep profiles enabled in third-party raw converters. Some note that the lens extends slightly at 14mm rather than 24mm.