The Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF is the first third-party AF lens for the Canon EOS R – as well as the widest!
(Image credit: Daniel Gangur / Samyang)
Samyang has become the first third-party manufacturer to produce an autofocus lens for the Canon EOS R system, with the Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF. The lens will also be available as the Rokinon 14mm F2.8 AF Canon RF in North America.
It will also be the widest autofocus lens available for the RF mount, as the Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF is a millimeter wider than Canon's wide-angle 15-35mm L-series lens. This makes it both the widest AF lens and the widest AF prime lens for the EOS R and EOS RP, as well as the first not made made by Canon.
"The world's first AF 14mm F2.8 for RF mount is designed for users to enjoy a broader perspective in mirrorless cameras. The compact lens design dedicated to mirrorless cameras is packed with 113.9 degree of broad angle of view and fast and precise autofocus function," says the manufacturer.
Of course, the company already produces a manual focus version of this lens, the Samyang MF 14mm f/2.8 RF. However, the new autofocus alternative is smaller and lighter at just 95.3mm long and 484g in weight (compared to 120mm and 800g for the MF).
The Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF boasts weather sealing and an intriguing rear filter holder (Image credit: Samyang)
The 14 elements in 10 groups consist of 6 special lenses to reduce aberration, 3 aspherical lenses, 2 extra-low dispersion lenses and 1 high-reflection lens, all of which conspire to produce impressive image quality from corner to corner.
The Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF also boasts weather sealing to protect the lens from dust, light rain and snow. Intriguingly, it also comes with a mount-based rear filter holder that "gives you the choices of images you can create."
Something not mentioned by Samyang, but leaked by Nokishita, is a lens station – which will no doubt be used for hassle-free firmware updates.
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The lack of native wide-angle lenses has been a bit of a weakness of the Canon RF lens roadmap, with the pricey Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM thus far the only autofocus option. Between its existing manual and this new autofocus 14mm f/2.8, that hole looks to have been plugged.
The Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF will go on sale in November, with a retail price of £629. The Rokinon 14mm F2.8 AF Canon RF is due in December at a price of £799.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
