We’ve spent some time with the new Rokinon 35mm f2.8 for Sony E mount cameras and are liking it in many ways. Rokinon’s glass has long been underrated in the industry and they’re somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Sigma, Tamron and Zeiss. But when it comes down to it, they’re fantastic lens makers. Perhaps a part of it has to do with the fact that many Rokinon lenses don’t have autofocus. But Rokinon is starting to fix that. For example, the Rokinon 35mm f2.8 is made for Sony full frame E mount cameras and is designed to be small, sharp, and have autofocus. It’s significantly more affordable than the Sony version but lacks any sort of weather resistance.
So far, I’m really liking the Rokinon 35mm f2.8 and I genuinely feel like a lot of folks will too. I’ve been using it with the Sony a7–which to my surprise still outranks a lot of other cameras when it comes to dynamic range. The Sony a7 and Rokinon 35mm f2.8 are being combined and while using Sony’s Clear picture profile, the photos are pretty stunning.
The autofocus doesn’t seem as quick as Sony’s version; but it also isn’t a slouch. It’s more than good enough for street photography. Our full review is still being worked on. So stay tuned.
