The Rokinon 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Full Frame Telephoto Macro ($599) comes in at an attractive price point when compared with many other autofocus macro lenses of similar focal lengths, and it's plenty sharp, especially at the narrower apertures used to achieve a reasonable depth of field when working at high magnification. It's not the equal to some other options in sharpness, but you'll have to pay quite a bit more to get a stabilized, autofocus lens with impeccable performance, like our Editors' Choice Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED ($1,024.95 at Amazon) (and you'll need a Nikon camera to use it). The Rokinon lens is available in several mounts, and is also sold in a version optimized for video use.
Design and Features
Like other Rokinon lenses, the 100mm F2.8 ($399.95 at Amazon) is available in a standard edition that's designed like a traditional photographic lens, and a second version that's got some special features for pro cinematographers—in this case that's the Rokinon Cine DS T3.1 ED UMC Full Frame Telephoto Macro ($599.00 at Buydig) . And the exact same two lenses are sold as the Samyang 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Macro ($439.95 at Amazon) and the Samyang VDSLR II 100mm T3.1 ED UMC Macro ($354.00 at Amazon) at the same respective price points. Aside from the brand name on the barrel, there's no difference between the Rokinon and Samyang lenses; the lens optics are identical regardless of your choice of brand and design.
We received the standard photo version of the lens with Rokinon branding for review in a Nikon mount. It can also be purchased in Canon EF, Four Thirds, Pentax K, and Sony A SLR mounts, and Canon M, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Samsung NX, and Sony E mirrorless mounts. The SLR lens measures about 4.8 by 2.8 inches (HD), while mirrorless versions are roughly 6.9 by 2.8 inches. Weight varies from 1.6 pounds to 1.7 pounds depending on the mount.
Similar Products
Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Samyang 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Macro
Canon EF 180mm Macro f/3.5L USM
Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/50
Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM
Rokinon Cine DS T3.1 ED UMC Full Frame Telephoto Macro
Samyang VDSLR II 100mm T3.1 ED UMC Macro
The lens supports 67mm front filters and includes a reversible hood. Its body is mostly high-quality plastic, not that far off from modern Nikkor lenses in feel. There's a physical aperture ring that is uncoupled with most versions of the lens—the aperture narrows immediately, so your viewfinder dims and depth of field is visible as you stop down. The exception is the Nikon mount version; it has a coupled aperture that can be set manually in half-stop increments or controlled electronically via your camera body (the Nikon D810 ($1,694.95 at Amazon) supports third-stop adjustments). It's a 9-blade design that gives out-of-focus highlights a circular look when stopped down.
Full 1:1 magnification is supported at the minimum 12-inch focus distance. The focus ring is covered in a rubberized texture so you can turn it comfortably—much more so than the geared focus mechanism of the Cine version—and it has scale markings in meters, feet, and magnification. There is a depth of field scale printed on the barrel, but it only has markings for the set focus point and f/22, making it somewhat useless for scale focus. That's not a surprise for a telephoto lens, and especially not when you consider that working at close distances creates a very shallow depth of field. The lens has a fairly long throw, requiring a 180-degree turn to go from infinity to the minimum focus distance. But most of that is in the the close-up area of the range; there's not much difference between the longest (5 feet) marked position and the hard stop at infinity.
Image Quality and Conclusions
I used Imatest to see how the 100mm Macro performs when paired with the 36-megapixel Nikon D810. At f/2.8 the lens scores 2,292 lines per picture height on a center-weighted sharpness test, a figure that exceeds the 1,800 lines we like to see in an image. Our test is center-weighted, and the 100mm puts up great numbers in the center third—3,025 lines—and but they drop off at the middle third (1,943 lines) and the outer third (1,351 lines) of the frame, which means that subjects at the edges of the your frame aren't going to be a bit muddy at f/2.8.
At f/4 the overall performance improves to 2,813 lines, with numbers evening out for the most part—the center is still very strong (3,625 lines) and the middle third is very crisp in its own right (2,513 lines), but the outer edges still fall behind (1,640 lines). The lens continues to improve as the aperture is narrowed. At f/5.6 the average score is 3,176 lines based on a 3,797/3,067/2,099-line split. At f/8 the edges keep up with the rest of the frame, netting a 3,472-line center-weighted score with the periphery showing an excellent 2,738 lines. The best performance is at f/11; the average improves to 3,601 lines with crisp (3,189 lines) edges.
See How We Test Digital Cameras
Diffraction sets in at f/16 and drops the average score to 3,378 lines, but the lens is still quite usable there. You may be tempted to stop down to f/22 or f/32 to improve depth of field when working at full magnification, but be aware that you'll take a hit in image quality by doing so. At f/22 the lens drops to 2,823 lines, and it shows just 1,961 lines at f/32. Distortion is a nonissue, which is expected of a macro lens.
The Rokinon 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Full Frame Telephoto Macro isn't an impeccable performer—it shows some edge softness at wide apertures—but it's very sharp throughout most of the frame, even at f/2.8, and crisp at the edges when working at the narrower apertures that are often used for high magnification. Whether it's labeled Rokinon or Samyang, the lens performs admirably all the way down through f/16. Manual focus isn't for everybody, but it's fine for photographers who work on a tripod and with Live View to frame and focus images with precision. The Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 2/100 is an expensive alternative if you prefer a metal build and a wider maximum aperture, but its maximum magnification is limited to half life-size. If you're looking for a better all-around lens you may find it worth the extra money to go with a macro prime with autofocus and vibration reduction, like the Micro-Nikkor 105mm; it's pricey, but it impressed us enough to earn our Editors' Choice.
The Rokinon 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Full Frame Telephoto Macro is a fine lens for macro shooters who prefer manual focus, but you'll have to give up optical stabilization.
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