Samyang / Rokinon T-S 24mm F3.5 ED AS UMC

Sony E

Review

The Samyang (also marketed as Rokinon) T-S 24mm F3.5 ED AS UMC lens is a specialized piece of optics designed for photographers who require tilt and shift capabilities. With its compatibility for the Sony E mount, this lens is built for those who seek to delve deeper into perspective control and macro photography. Here, I will break down its various features and performance aspects to help you decide if it's the right tool for your creative needs.

Build Quality and Design

The build quality of the Samyang T-S 24mm F3.5 is quite impressive. It features a solid construction with a metal housing that feels robust and durable in hand. Weighing around 600g, it's relatively lightweight for a tilt-shift lens. The focus ring is smooth, allowing for precise adjustments, while the tilt and shift knobs are well-placed and offer decent resistance, making it simple to achieve the desired angles without shifting too much during use.

Optical Performance

This lens boasts impressive optical quality, featuring a combination of high-quality elements that help minimize distortion and chromatic aberration. The 24mm focal length is versatile, making it ideal for landscapes, architecture, and even some studio work. Although there are some signs of vignetting at wider apertures, stopping down to F5.6 or F8 largely resolves these issues, providing excellent corner-to-corner sharpness. Overall, image quality is subjectively excellent, especially for a lens in this category.

Tilt and Shift Functionality

The standout feature of the Samyang T-S 24mm is undoubtedly its tilt and shift capabilities. The lens allows for +/- 12mm shift and +/- 8.5° tilt, which is a fantastic range for controlling perspective in architectural photography or creating miniature effects. The movements are smooth and intuitive, making it easy to achieve the desired effect. However, it’s worth noting that mastering the tilt and shift functions does require practice, so some users may initially find it challenging.

Compatibility and Use Cases

Designed for the Sony E mount, this lens works exceptionally well with both full-frame and APS-C sensors. On an APS-C body, it serves as a 36mm equivalent, which is still useful for a variety of applications. That being said, it’s primarily geared towards photographers who need advanced control over depth of field and perspective, so casual users may find themselves better suited with a standard wide-angle lens.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent build quality with a robust metal construction.
• Great optical performance with minimal distortion.
• Effective tilt and shift functionality for creative control.
• Compact and lightweight for a specialized lens.

Cons

• A learning curve associated with tilt and shift functions.
• Some vignetting at wider apertures.
• Limited to 24mm; may not suit all shooting scenarios.

Verdict

The Samyang / Rokinon T-S 24mm F3.5 ED AS UMC lens is a powerful tool for photographers looking to enhance their creative output through tilt and shift capabilities. While it has a few minor drawbacks, such as vignetting and the learning curve associated with its specialized functions, the overall build and optical performance make it a worthwhile investment for serious photographers. If you often engage with architectural or landscape photography and want more control over your images, this lens could be exactly what you need to elevate your craft.