Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS
Announced February 24, 2014
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS is a compact, affordable prime lens that delivers excellent center sharpness and is well-suited for wide-angle photography. Although it offers great value and solid build quality, users must contend with manual focus operation and noticeable chromatic aberrations in the corners.
Weighted from 20 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent center sharpness and overall image quality
- Compact, lightweight, and well-constructed design
- High value for the price point
- Fast f/2.0 aperture suitable for low-light and astrophotography
- Minimal distortion for an ultra-wide lens
Cons
- Noticeable chromatic aberration and purple fringing
- Strong vignetting, particularly when wide open
- Manual focus and manual aperture operation
- Softness in the corners at wider apertures
- Lack of electronic contacts for EXIF data
- Launch price $399 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 12mm f/2
- Mount & coverage Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Canon EF-M, Samsung NX APS-C
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 20 cm
- Filter thread 67mm
- Weight & size 245g (8.6 oz) · 72.39 x 59.18 mm (2.85 x 2.33 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 20 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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[T]his lens is (at least to me) one of the most exciting options available in the EF-M mount. It is a lens well situated for producing some “WOW” pictures from this compact system (along with the other camera systems that it is produced for).
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With its small size and low price, it's no wonder this lens has already become a classic with almost every reviewer who's touched it.
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The Samyang 12mm f/2.0 is an excellent optic that produces images with excellent sharpness.
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It’s a great product to own, not just for photographers on a budget but any user who owns an APS-C mirrorless camera.
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While the lens aberrations are definitely noticeable, the majority of them are quite easily corrected and the overall image quality is on a very high level.
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The Rokinon 12mm f/2 lens is a great ultra-wide-angle option for your Fujifilm X camera. It’s very easy to recommend.
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Beautiful wide-angle lens for APS-C crop-sensor cameras that won’t weigh you down or break the bank. This manual focus prime lens offers impressive sharpness and excellent image quality, all in a highly portable and compact package.
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For a while, it was the only viable option really and probably still is the best bang for the buck in terms of what you get and the pro-level image quality it outputs.
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If it fits your needs, I highly recommend for fun factor, for price, for build quality to have a wide-angle lens in your bag.
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So I definitely would recommend this lens for shoots like that, whether in day light or in low light situations.
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[T]he Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 wide-angle is a compact, relatively cheap lens that is a great addition to any mirrorless shooter’s gear kit. It delivers superb photos without adding too much bulk or breaking the bank.
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I recommend it to anyone looking for an extreme wide-angle lens, with a fast aperture and whose budget doesn’t run to one of the Fuji range of lenses.
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So I would definitely give this lens a thumbs up, and again, for the price point, I don't think you could really go wrong with this Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS.
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[...] I am quite impressed with the 12mm f2.0 NCS CS lens. It’s made well, compact, light, and you’re getting an ultra wide angle lens with a large maximum aperture for a fantastic price.
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The Samyang 12mm F2 NCS CS is a cracking lens that should really be considered by those looking for an Ultra wide-angle lens for landscapes and is almost a must for those shooting low light, stars, milky way and Aurora with its low coma and F2 aperture.
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It's well set up for those precise things that you need, the architectural stuff, the interior stuff, estate agent sort of stuff, real estate if you're out in the States. The distortion is really kept down to a minimum; whatever there is, you can deal with that in post.
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[...] I'd recommend this lens, particularly if you're looking for something light, sharp, bright, and affordable.
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[O]n the Olympus this thing is gold because it crops in those extreme corners, everything within that is just phenomenal.
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I have much more expensive lenses in my collection that are supposed to be great for astrophoto and astro time lapse, but because of the manual focus and manual aperture on this Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS lens, this is a better lens.
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Its great size and superb optics make this a must-have for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
