Samyang AF 12mm f/2.0
Summary
The Samyang AF 12mm f/2.0 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: Street, Travel, Wildlife
- Adequate for: Landscape, Architecture, Sport
- Avoid for: Nightscape, Portrait, Macro
Strengths
- Good overall sharpness
- Fast linear motor autofocus
Weaknesses
- Noticeable astigmatism in the corners
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Below-average flare resistance
- Low macro capability (0.1x magnification)
Specifications 19/20
| Optical construction | 12 elements in 10 groups (2 aspherical, 3 ED) |
| Coating | UMC |
| Focal length | 12mm |
| Max aperture | f/2 |
| Sweet spot | f/4 |
| Aperture blades | 7 (circular) |
| Sunstar points | 14 (soft — circular blades) |
| Max magnification | 0.1x |
| Min focus distance | 190mm |
| AF motor | LM |
| OIS | No |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| Clickless aperture | — |
| Focus ring | Yes |
| Focus by wire | Yes |
| Distance scale | No |
| Rotating front | No |
| Tripod mount | No |
| Weight | 213g |
| Diameter | 70mm |
| Length | 59.2mm |
| Filter thread | 62mm |
| Year | 2023 |
MTF Charts
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 0.99 | 0.98 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
| 3mm | 0.99 | 0.98 | 0.91 | 0.91 |
| 6mm | 0.98 | 0.96 | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| 9mm | 0.98 | 0.96 | 0.83 | 0.68 |
| 12mm | 0.90 | 0.91 | 0.67 | 0.67 |
| 14mm | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.46 | 0.24 |
| Position | 10S | 10M | 30S | 30M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | 1.00 | 0.99 | 1.00 | 0.99 |
| 3mm | 1.00 | 0.99 | 1.00 | 0.93 |
| 6mm | 1.00 | 0.98 | 0.99 | 0.86 |
| 9mm | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.97 | 0.77 |
| 12mm | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.98 | 0.98 |
| 14mm | 1.00 | 0.60 | 0.99 | 0.09 |
Optical Quality 14/14
| Center (wide open) | 1.5 |
| Corner (wide open) | 1.0 |
| Center (stopped) | 2.0 |
| Corner (stopped) | 1.5 |
| Coma | 1.5 |
| Astigmatism | 0.5 |
| Spherical aberration | 1.5 |
| Longitudinal CA | 1.0 |
| Lateral CA | 1.0 |
| Distortion | 1.0 |
| Vignetting (wide open) | 0.0 |
| Vignetting (stopped) | 1.0 |
| Bokeh | 0.5 |
| Flare resistance | 0.5 |
Sharpness
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
Aberrations
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Well-controlled coma
- Noticeable astigmatism in the corners
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
Rendering
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Moderate residual vignetting 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 Photography 2/5
Nightscape Photography prioritizes coma control, astigmatism correction, and a fast aperture for short star exposures.
- Well-controlled coma
- Noticeable astigmatism in the corners
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Acceptable corner sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
~ Landscape Photography 3.5/5
Landscape Photography prioritizes corner-to-corner sharpness at stopped-down apertures and good flare resistance.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate residual vignetting stopped down
- Below-average flare resistance
- Noticeable astigmatism in the corners
- Well-controlled coma
~ Architecture Photography 3/5
Architecture Photography prioritizes geometric precision with minimal distortion and even corner sharpness.
- Good corner-to-corner sharpness stopped down
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Moderate residual vignetting 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.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Below-average flare resistance
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-controlled coma
✓ Travel Photography 4/5
Travel Photography prioritizes balanced image quality in a lightweight package.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Lightweight at 213g
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Below-average flare resistance
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
✗ Portrait Photography 2/5
Portrait Photography prioritizes smooth bokeh and critical center sharpness wide open for subject isolation.
- Below-average bokeh quality
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Heavy vignetting wide open (2+ stops in corners)
~ Sport Photography 3.5/5
Sport Photography prioritizes sharp wide-open center performance to freeze action at fast shutter speeds.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
✓ Wildlife Photography 4/5
Wildlife Photography prioritizes center sharpness across apertures for distant subjects.
- Good center sharpness wide open
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Fast f/2 aperture
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
✗ Macro Photography 1/5
Macro Photography prioritizes stopped-down center sharpness and high magnification for close-up detail.
- Outstanding center resolution stopped down
- Low magnification (0.1x)
- Moderate distortion, handled by camera profiles
- Moderate lateral CA, auto-corrected by most software
- Moderate longitudinal CA, correctable in post
- Well-corrected spherical aberration
- Below-average bokeh quality