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Rokinon 14mm vs. Bower 14mm

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HarkStudios
Posts: 243 - Karma: 121
The title says it all...

Rokinon and Bower are the same company, but their 14mm lenses are $150 different in price..

Rokinon 14mm: 399.99
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/769532-REG/Rokinon_FE14M_C_14mm_Ultra_Wide_Angle_f_2_8.html
Bower 14mm: 249.99
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/698923-REG/Bower_SLY14MMF28C_14mm_f_2_8_Ultra_Wide.html


Thoughts? I have a rokinon 8mm and I love it, I am wondering if i should go Rokinon or Bower???
Feb 15 2015 4:20PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
You forgot the 319 dollar Samyang.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/859167-REG/Samyang_SY14M_C_14mm_f_2_8_Super_Wide.html

Arguable the worst name out of the three, also the actual name of the company who makes them.

Samyang/Rokinon/Bower's 14mm is the exact same apart from the name, but a newer and older version exist.

You have the old: 14mm f/2.8 IF ED MC and the newer 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC


The difference is that the older one was made more for APS and has poorer edge sharpness and flare and ghosting is less well controlled then the newer UMC which is made more fore FF.
Feb 15 2015 4:45PM
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HarkStudios
Posts: 243 - Karma: 121
So you're saying the Rokinon is the better lens?

Do you think it is worth paying 50% more for the Rokinon over the Bower? cause i mean, 100-150$ is not a small difference...
Feb 15 2015 7:21PM
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brandonloos_21
Posts: 395 - Karma: 2,695
Technically the same exact lens, bower, rokinon, and samyang 14mm f/2.8 are the same lens .. go w bower and save the $$
Feb 15 2015 8:25PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
It's exactly the same lens.

Samyang, Rokinon, Bower, ProOptic... they are all 'brands' that sell the same Korean made glass. I think even Vivitar has been use as a brand for those same lenses.
Feb 15 2015 9:29PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
EDolloStoneSo you're saying the Rokinon is the better lens?

Do you think it is worth paying 50% more for the Rokinon over the Bower? cause i mean, 100-150$ is not a small difference...


No unless you shoot on FF, if you want to be safe get the Samyang, same version as the Rokinon much cheaper.

brandonloos_21Technically the same exact lens, bower, rokinon, and samyang 14mm f/2.8 are the same lens .. go w bower and save the $$


Again, an old and new version exist, B&H even has a disclaimer on the page of the older Bower:

* Note: Though this lens will cover the imaging sensor of a full-frame DSLR, it is better optimized for use with DSLRs containing smaller APS-C format sensors. As such you might notice softer focus and some light fall-off towards the edges of the frame when using a full-frame DSLR. If you do plan on using this lens with a full-frame DSLR we recommend you set the lens no wider (faster) than f/8 for optimum image quality.

DingoSeanIt's exactly the same lens.

Samyang, Rokinon, Bower, ProOptic... they are all 'brands' that sell the same Korean made glass. I think even Vivitar has been use as a brand for those same lenses.


Samyang already owns the Vivitar, Falcon, Rokinon, Walimex, Bower, Opteka, Bell and Howell, Polar, and Pro-Optic trademarks.

Soon the world.
Feb 16 2015 3:42AM
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eheath
Posts: 61107 - Karma: 118,280
I'm assuming that you don't have a full frame camera so don't get either.
Feb 16 2015 4:08AM
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HarkStudios
Posts: 243 - Karma: 121
pussyfooterI'm assuming that you don't have a full frame camera so don't get either.


Correct, i am rolling a Canon 60D...
Feb 16 2015 8:22AM
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Twaddler
Posts: 1197 - Karma: 109
i got the 85 rokinon for my canon 6d and was pretty amped on it for the price. wanted to get the 35, went with the bower, they match just fine. i heard its kind of a crapshoot cause QC is nonexistent at samyang or rokinon or whatever they really are
Feb 18 2015 8:40PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Twaddleri got the 85 rokinon for my canon 6d and was pretty amped on it for the price. wanted to get the 35, went with the bower, they match just fine. i heard its kind of a crapshoot cause QC is nonexistent at samyang or rokinon or whatever they really are


Certain lenses are better made than others. the 85mm is on point. Same with the 35 from what I hear. the 14 and the 16 f2 aren't so great all the time though.
Feb 19 2015 9:10AM
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HarkStudios
Posts: 243 - Karma: 121
do you have trouble getting the focus right with the 85mm?
Feb 19 2015 9:08PM
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joey.
Posts: 2087 - Karma: 3,337
Holler at me if you want to buy the roki
Feb 23 2015 5:14PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
EDolloStonedo you have trouble getting the focus right with the 85mm?


That's the biggest issue with all Rokiyangower lenses... the focus rings aren't accurate at all in finding infinity, and generally focus beyond it, rendering everything completely out of focus. The hard-stops aren't correct whatsoever, and are as difficult as manually focusing to infinity on any of Canon's AF lenses.
Mar 26 2015 3:13PM
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