Brightin Star MF 12mm F2.0 III APS-C

The Brightin Star MF 12mm F2.0 III is a manual focus ultra wide prime for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras. It is offered for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF-M and Micro Four Thirds. On an APS-C body the field of view matches roughly an 18mm lens, on Micro Four Thirds it is closer to 24mm. The brand positions it for landscape, architecture and interiors, and the F2.0 aperture also makes it a candidate for night skies and city scenes.

Optical design

The manufacturer manual lists 12 elements in 9 groups and an angle of view of 97 degrees. The design includes two aspherical and two ED elements. The aperture has 10 blades and stops down from f/2 to f/22; according to Brightin Star the 10 blades produce 10-point starbursts on point light sources. The closest focusing distance is 0.18 m.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual only. It has a clicked aperture ring and a removable hood, which can be taken off to fit filters. The lens has no electronic contacts, so the camera cannot record aperture data and will usually show a placeholder instead of an f-number. With focus peaking or magnification on the camera, the 0.18 m minimum distance allows close wide angle shots.

Build and size

The manual gives a weight of 268.4 g, and the filter thread is 62 mm. The diameter is 69.5 mm. At this weight the lens is light for a 12mm F2 design and is easy to carry on a compact mirrorless body.

Where it fits

Alternatives in the database include the Samyang / Rokinon 12mm F2.0 NCS CS (E, X, EF-M and MFT, manual focus) and the Sigma 12mm F1.4 DC Contemporary for E, X and RF with autofocus. For Micro Four Thirds there is also the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm 1:2. The Brightin Star offers the same focal length and aperture as the Samyang with a full set of mount options.

Pros and cons

Pros

• F2.0 aperture at 12mm
• 268.4 g, light for its class
• Wide choice of mounts including EF-M and Micro Four Thirds
• 62 mm filter thread and removable hood
• 0.18 m minimum focusing distance

Cons

• Manual focus only, no electronic aperture or focus data
• No image stabilization
• Not a full frame lens, intended for APS-C and smaller sensors

Verdict

The MF 12mm F2.0 III is a simple, fast ultra wide for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds users who are fine with manual focus. It suits landscape, interiors and astrophotography where the lens is set once and shot at distance. Anyone who needs autofocus will look at the Sigma 12mm F1.4 or comparable native lenses instead.