Ron Martinsen compared the Rokinon/Samyang/Bower Tilt-Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC vs the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, two tilt-shift lenses with a huge price difference: around $989 for the Rokinon, $2000 for the Canon. About the Rokinon’s build quality he says: the Rokinon didn’t feel like a cheap lens. It has more substance and quality feel than a typical Canon EF-S lens.

In the conclusion Ron writes:

My overall conclusion was that you have to look pretty hard to see the differences, so the Rokinon impressed me quite a bit. Really all that I could fault the Rokinon for was a seemingly inferior bokeh and the fact that it was a little darker.  Sure, the Rokinon controls are garbage but they work so if you are gentle on your gear it should probably be fine. Image quality wise I’d call it “as good as” Canon.

Be sure to check out Ron’s blog for more samples.

Rokinon – Practical Shift Test (image courtesy: Ron Martinsen)

Canon – Practical Shift Test (image courtesy: Ron Martinsen)

Rokinon Tilt-Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC price check: Amazon, B&H, Adorama, Canon USA, J&R, Digitalrev, Borrow Lenses, eBay
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II price check: Amazon, B&H, Adorama, Canon USA, J&R, Digitalrev, Borrow Lenses, eBay

Product descriptions after the jump.

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B&H has the Bower 24mm f/1.4 Wide-Angle Lens on sale with a $200 discount – get it for $499 (click here). Note: the deal expires May 31st.

Product description:

The 24mm f/1.4 Wide-Angle Lens for Canon from Bower is a wide-angle lens that gives you superb low-light capabilities with its fast f/1.4 maximum aperture, making it ideal for photojournalism, street photography, interiors and everyday photography. This manual exposure, manual focus lens focuses as close as 9.8″, and its circular aperture and narrow depth of field provide pleasing background blur. Advanced multi-coated optical glass reduces flare, distortion and bending for superb image quality.

This durable and compact lens has an EF mount and is compatible with Canon full-frame and APS-C cameras. When mounted on a camera with an APS-C size sensor, it has an equivalent focal length of 38.4mm. A tulip lens hood, front and rear lens caps, and a lens pouch are included.

The Rokinon/Samyang/Bower Tilt-Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC lens in stock and ready to ship for $999 at both Adorama (click here) and B&H (click here).

Product description (from Adorama's product page):

The Rokinon 24mm f/3.5 Tilt Shift Len for Canon is a wide-angle, full-frame lens fitted with the perspective control and tilt-shift functions. A tilt-shift lens allows the user to control perspective and correct convergence of lines within your frame, useful especially in architecture, landscape and product photography. The optical tilt mechanisms enable precise control of depth of field along with perspective control. It is compatible with both digital and film formats with an angle of view of 83.5deg. and on an APS-C size sensor has an angle of view of 56.9deg. and focal length equivalent of 38.4mm.

The tilt-shift function on the 24mm f/3.5 lens allows adjustment of the focal plane by an angle of +/-8.5deg. and enables parallel shift of the optical axis by +/-12mm. The tilt-shift section of the lens rotates left 90deg. (click-stop adjustment each 30deg.) and the lens mount can rotate left or right by 90deg. (click-stop adjustment each 30deg.).

The lens is comprised of 16 elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses and two Enhanced Dispersion (ED) lenses, which reduce aberrations and provide sharp details and accurate color separation. Multi-layered, anti-reflective UMC coating on each lens element allow even light transmission, minimizing flares and ghosting.

(source: dicahub, slrclub)

Samyang Poland posted a press release with some sample images taken with the Samyang/Rokinon Tilt-Shift 24mm. More sample images can be seen at pophoto.

The Samyang/Rokinon Tilt-Shift 24mm should be available in Europe mid-May 2013, price tag: Eur 979. The lens is already available in Korea (1,060,000 Won). It will first be available for Canon EF and other mounts (F, A). Other mount types will follow later.

The lens is available for pre-order for $999 (click on shop name): Adorama, B&H and Amazon.

• Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Prime Lens
• Full Frame/35mm Format
• Aperture Range: f/3.5-22
• Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5º
• Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
• Mount Rotation: 90º Left and Right

Samyang Poland press release:

Samyang Tilt-Shift 24mm to be released in mid-May

Finally an affordable tilt-shift lens that does not compromise on quality. B&H has the Rokinon Tilt-Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC available for pre-order at $999 (click here). The lens is expected to ship next week.

• Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Prime Lens
• Full Frame/35mm Format
• Aperture Range: f/3.5-22
• Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5º
• Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
• Mount Rotation: 90º Left and Right

Product description:

The Tilt-Shift 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC Lens for Canon from Rokinon is a wide-angle, full-frame lens fitted with the perspective control and tilt-shift functions. A tilt-shift lens allows the user to control perspective and correct convergence of lines within your frame, useful especially in architecture, landscape and product photography. The optical tilt mechanisms enable precise control of depth of field along with perspective control. It is compatible with both digital and film formats with an angle of view of 83.5º and on an APS-C size sensor has an angle of view of 56.9º and focal length equivalent of 38.4mm.

The tilt-shift function on the 24mm f/3.5 lens allows adjustment of the focal plane by an angle of +/-8.5º and enables parallel shift of the optical axis by +/-12mm. The tilt-shift section of the lens rotates left 90º (click-stop adjustment each 30º) and the lens mount can rotate left or right by 90º (click-stop adjustment each 30º).

The lens is comprised of 16 elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses and two Enhanced Dispersion (ED) lenses, which reduce aberrations and provide sharp details and accurate color separation. Multi-layered, anti-reflective UMC coating on each lens element allow even light transmission, minimizing flares and ghosting.

24mm Full-Frame Prime Lens

Focal length equivalent when using lens on APS-C format camera is 38.4mm

Tilt/Shift functions allow for precise perspective and depth of field control

Aspherical and Enhanced Dispersion lens elements minimize aberrations for sharp resolution and accurate colors

UMC coating on lens elements provides even light transmission and minimizes reflections, flare and ghosting.

Samyang/Rokinon released a statement saying that the new 24mm Tilt Shift lens will be shipping in May 2013. The lens does 12mm of shift with an 8.5 degree tilt. Product specs:

• Wide-Angle Tilt-Shift Prime Lens
• Full Frame/35mm Format
• Aperture Range: f/3.5-22
• Maximum Tilt: +/- 8.5º
• Maximum Shift: +/- 12mm
• Mount Rotation: 90º Left and Right

This is a photo of the Samyang 24mm Tilt Shift lens that Samyang/Rokinon announced a while back. Today, the company is saying that the lens will be shipping in May 2013. The new lens will allow 12mm of shift with an 8.5 degree tilt. Shifting upwards and around possible to around 90 degrees.

The Samyang/Rokinon 24mm Tilt Shift lens can be pre-ordered at Adorama and B&H and Amazon.

[source : The Phoblographer]