The new Rokinon 18mm f2.8 AF is a compact lens designed for Sony’s E Mount Cameras.
If you like your lenses wide, and you shoot with one of Sony’s E Mount cameras, this news is for you. Rokinon has just announced a brand new, compact, wide lens for the Sony E Mount system. The Rokinon 18mm f2.8 AF promises to be a great addition to the camera bags of photographers who love shooting landscapes, astrophotography, and architectural images. Best of all, it’s very affordable.
The Rokinon 18mm f2.8 AF is the company’s fourth compact lens designed exclusively for Sony’s E mount platform. The other lenses in the series (24mm f2.8, 35mm f2.8, and the 45mm f1.8) have all been well received. We had a great time with the 35mm f2.8 and were impressed with its overall performance. If Rokinon has continued in this tradition, there is no reason why this affordable, wide-angle lens won’t do well.
This new wide-angle prime lens is pretty well spec’d. The Rokinon 18mm f2.8 AF features nine elements in eight groups. There are three extra-low dispersion, three aspherical, and two high-refractive index elements that will help with any coma and aberrations. These elements should also help ensure that the lens produces sharp images, with high clarity and contrast. The UMC (Ultra Multi-Coating) will help keep flaring to a minimum as well. Inside you will also find a fast, quiet STM motor.
The 18mm focal length of this new Rokinon lens will give you a rectilinear 100.1-degree wide-angle view. According to Rokinon, this field of view makes the lens perfect for landscape, interior, architectural, and astro photography. When the 18mm f2.8 AF is used on one of Sony’s APS-C cameras, the focal length is equivalent to 27mm with a 76.2-degree field of view. The lens is also incredibly small and lightweight too. At 0.32lbs in weight and 1.99-inches in length, it is one of the most lightweight, wide-angle lenses available on the Sony E Mount platform. When it hits the streets this October, the lens will have a retail price of $499. For more information about the lens, head on over the official Rokinon website.
