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#1 |
New Boot
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 18
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Bower 14mm f2/8
Anybody using this lense? Is it any good?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/698923-REG/Bower_SLY14MMF28C_14mm_f_2_8_Ultra_Wide.html |
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#2 |
Contributor
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 4,449
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I haven't seen one, but I think (not 100% sure though) that's one of the brands made by Samyang, a Korean company. I've seen some footage shot with a couple of the fast Samyang lenses (not available under that brand name in the U.S.) and it looked pretty good. The nice thing about B&H is you can buy the lens, unpackage it carefully, try it out. If it sucks, you can reurn it for a full refund or exchange.
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#3 |
New Boot
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 18
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Good info. Thanks.
-Don |
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#4 |
Trustee
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I picked up a Rokinon 8mm Ultra Wide for EOS available on Overstock.com for around $290. 8mm turns into about 14mm with the APS-C crop anyway. There are positive reviews of it scattered all around the net, and I like what I see a lot. If you don't want to go that wide and want to stick to the 14mm, Overstock.com has it too for a little cheaper:
Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Super Wide Angle Lens for Nikon | Overstock.com There's no difference between Rokinon and Bower except for branding. Same lens.
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#5 |
Trustee
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Thousand Oaks
Posts: 1,104
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I have both the Rokinon/Bower 85mm f/1.4 and 8mm f/3.5 both are quite good. They are solid with very good picture quality.
But both of these have limited applicability, the 85mm doesn't have image stabilization so you pretty much have to use it on a tripod and the 8mm is great for panorama shots but to much of a fisheye for video, unless your looking for that look. For being an "off" brand I've had good success with these lenses and would recommend them, especially for the price. You just need to be aware of what your getting, good quality, completely manual lens. |
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#6 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Vienna/Austria
Posts: 187
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Indeed it is a branded Samyang lens.
Quality is very nice. It is the ideal lens for documentary run&gun situations. I am not sure how they are sold in the U.S, but in Europe you can get the Samyang lenses with smooth aperture suited better for video work. Thanks. Johnnie
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http://www.johnniebehiri.com/ |
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#7 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Posts: 3,531
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Just as an FYI the Samyang/Rokinon/Bower 14mm F2.8 lens is manual focus while the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L Mark II USM does have auto-focus (& is about six times more expensive).
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#8 |
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 969
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You can't put filters on that lens, so the only way to use ND would be to use a mattebox.
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#9 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Posts: 3,531
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While you cannot fit a filter to the Samyang/Rokinon/Bower 14mm F2.8 lens the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L Mark II USM has a holder at rear of the lens for a gel filter just like the Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye.
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#10 |
Trustee
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Thousand Oaks
Posts: 1,104
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