Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS

Summary

The Samyang 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS is a solid optical performer — a ultra-wide prime (18mm equivalent) with f/2 maximum aperture. The lens is priced at approximately ~$500 USD. Please check the official product page for sample images, manuals, and firmware updates.

Genre Suitability

  • Excellent for: Nightscape, Street, Travel, Portrait, Sport, Wildlife
  • Adequate for: Landscape, Architecture
  • Avoid for: Macro

Strengths

  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh

Weaknesses

  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Low macro capability (0.06x magnification)

Specifications 19/20

Optical construction 12 elements in 10 groups (2 aspherical, 3 ED)
Coating NCS
Focal length12mm
Max aperturef/2
Sweet spot f/4
Aperture blades 6
Sunstar points 6 (sharp — straight blades)
Max magnification 0.06x
Min focus distance200mm
AF motorManual focus
OISNo
Weather sealedNo
Aperture ringYes
Clickless apertureNo
Focus ringYes
Focus by wireNo
Distance scaleYes
Rotating frontNo
Tripod mountNo
Weight300g
Diameter72.5mm
Length59mm
Filter thread67mm
Year2014

MTF Charts

f/2 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center 0.98 0.98 0.91 0.91
2mm 0.98 0.98 0.91 0.88
4mm 0.98 0.97 0.91 0.82
6mm 0.98 0.95 0.91 0.74
8mm 0.98 0.94 0.88 0.67
10mm 0.97 0.95 0.76 0.66
12mm 0.92 0.91 0.60 0.56
14mm 0.77 0.76 0.47 0.26
f/8 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 C 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Image height (mm)
10 lp/mm S 10 lp/mm M 30 lp/mm S 30 lp/mm M
Position 10S 10M 30S 30M
Center 0.99 0.99 0.97 0.98
2mm 1.00 0.98 0.99 0.97
4mm 0.99 0.98 0.99 0.94
6mm 0.98 0.99 0.96 0.87
8mm 0.98 0.98 0.94 0.79
10mm 0.98 0.99 0.94 0.72
12mm 0.98 0.98 0.95 0.56
14mm 0.98 0.74 0.97 0.23

Source: Official manufacturer specifications

Optical Quality 14/14

Center (wide open)
2.0
Corner (wide open)
0.5
Center (stopped)
2.0
Corner (stopped)
1.0
Coma
1.5
Astigmatism
2.0
Spherical aberration
2.0
Longitudinal CA
0.5
Lateral CA
0.5
Distortion
1.0
Vignetting (wide open)
0.5
Vignetting (stopped)
1.5
Bokeh
1.5
Flare resistance
0.5

Sharpness

  • Excellent center sharpness wide open
  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down

Aberrations

  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners
  • Well-controlled coma
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction

Rendering

  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Below-average flare resistance

Distortion

  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles

All optical scores are based on lab measurements and field tests from trusted review sources. For details on how we score lenses, see our scoring methodology.

Genre Fit

✓ Nightscape Good ~ Landscape Adequate ~ Architecture Adequate ✓ Street Good ✓ Travel Good ✓ Portrait Good ✓ Sport Good ✓ Wildlife Good ✗ Macro Avoid

✓ Nightscape Photography 4/5

Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.

Primary
  • Well-controlled coma
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Fast f/2 aperture
Secondary
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners
  • Excellent center sharpness wide open
  • Noticeably soft corners wide open
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction

~ Landscape Photography 3/5

Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.

Primary
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Negligible astigmatism
  • Well-controlled coma

~ Architecture Photography 3/5

Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.

Primary
  • Acceptable corner sharpness stopped down
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
Secondary
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners
  • Vignetting clears well when stopped down
  • Below-average flare resistance

✓ Street Photography 4/5

Street Photography prioritizes sharp stopped-down performance and a fast enough aperture for low light.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Fast f/2 aperture
Secondary
  • Excellent center sharpness wide open
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Well-controlled coma

✓ Travel Photography 4/5

Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Lightweight at 300g
Secondary
  • Fast f/2 aperture
  • Below-average flare resistance
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges

✓ Portrait Photography 4/5

Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.

Primary
  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh
  • Excellent center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction
  • Noticeable vignetting wide open

✓ Sport Photography 4/5

Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.

Primary
  • Excellent center sharpness wide open
Secondary
  • Fast f/2 aperture
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners

✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5

Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.

Primary
  • Excellent center sharpness wide open
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
Secondary
  • Fast f/2 aperture
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners

✗ Macro Photography 1/5

Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.

Primary
  • Outstanding center resolution stopped down
  • Low magnification (0.06x)
Secondary
  • Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
  • Noticeable lateral CA toward the corners
  • Noticeable longitudinal CA on high-contrast edges
  • Excellent spherical aberration correction
  • Smooth, pleasant bokeh

Reviews

LensTip Dustin Abbott

Alternatives

Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC Viltrox AF 13mm f/1.4 STM Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS Samyang 12mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-eye Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN C Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
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