Robert McCormick
One star reviews are reserved for broken or substituted products. It is not easy for me to rate this lens as a one star, but my copy deserved it. I returned it because of an impending trip (and the fact that Amazon didn’t offer a coordinated return/replace option when I notified them of the lens’ problem). I have - and enjoy using - a Rokinon 8mm fish and a Samyang 85mm f/1.4 (Rokinon, Opteka, and Samyang, among other companies, belong to the Samyang Group). Neither of those lens have exhibited any problems, although both were inexpensive. They are well built, contrasty, and freakishly sharp (even) wide open. This is an older Samyang design, so there is less metal on the lens than newer models include. It’s mostly light plastic, although constructed to tight tolerances. The glass was gorgeous and the overall fit and finish was as expected. Upon mounting the lens there was no evidence of an issue: no rattles or unexpected noises. I used the viewfinder to compose and then focus...and the focus ring slipped, then stuck, then decoupled from the lens elements midway through its throw distance. That was it...totally non functional. Really, after that there was little to do. It’s a fully manual prime lens so there were no connections to check, no EXIF data to read. After the thunk, the ring freely spun, with “normal” resistance, to the marked near/infinity focus limits. The aperture ring was functional. In vane fashion, I unmounted it and remounted it, as if thirty years of photography had not taught me that it wouldn’t work. I suppose trying didn’t cost me any anything since I had so happily anticipated putting the 14mm through its paces. So disappointing. I bought the lens not because of the cost, but because I enjoy shooting manual. And I LOVE shooting wide: I use M, and frequently shut off autofocus. As it stands, I’ll be taking a heavy wide zoom to Iceland next week instead of this light prime. I would have enjoyed learning the lens during the trip. Sadly, that was not meant to be.