Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
What Buyers Say
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual lens offers exceptional value for astrophotography and portrait work, delivering sharp images and smooth bokeh at a fraction of the cost of autofocus equivalents. Users praise its center sharpness wide open and excellent performance when stopped down to f/2.8, especially for capturing stars. However, the purely manual focus and aperture can be fiddly, and build quality inconsistencies like a missing hood or accidental aperture ring bumps are noted. Overall, it's a highly recommended budget lens for those comfortable with manual operation.
Pros
- Sharp center wide open
- Smooth bokeh
- Excellent for astrophotography
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Fiddly manual aperture ring
- Missing lens hood in some packages
- No autofocus
- Front-heavy with adapter on some cameras
- Accidental aperture ring bumps
Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens is highly praised for its sharpness, fast autofocus, and lightweight design, making it a versatile and affordable alternative to Sony's GM lenses. Users appreciate its performance in portraits and low light, though some note the plastic build and lack of weather sealing as drawbacks. Overall, it is considered an excellent value for both enthusiasts and professionals.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Lightweight design
- Versatile focal range
- Good value for money
Cons
- Plastic build quality
- No weather sealing
- Zoom ring reversed from focus ring
- Slightly long for discrete use
- Colors slightly duller than GM lenses
Scores
Specifications
| Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm | Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 85 mm | 28 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 75 mm |
| Elements | 9 | 17 |
| Groups | 7 | 15 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | Ultra Multi-Coating | Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.54 kg | 0.54 kg |
| Filter Thread | 72 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 1.00 m | 180 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:9 | 1:2.7 |
Pros & Cons
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong aperture (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (77th percentile)
- Strong build (68th percentile)
- Below average af (14th percentile)14th %ile
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Tamron Di III 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong optical (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong bokeh (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong aperture (87th percentile)87th %ile
Pricing
Rokinon Series II 85mm f/1.4 85mm offers 3.0x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 4 of 21 specs.
