Samyang XP 14mm f/2.4

£899/$999 A premium manual-focus lens

Samyang’s XP range of manual-focus lenses aims for premium-grade optical design and construction. Compared with the Irix 15mm, the Samyang gives a slightly wider viewing angle on full-frame cameras, at 114 rather than 110 degrees.

The Samyang has 18 optical elements, including two aspherical, one hybrid aspherical, two extra-low dispersion and three high-refractive index elements. Build quality feels solid, but there are no weather seals. Handling is excellent, with a really fluid feel to the action of the rubberised focus ring. Built-in electronics enable aperture control from the host camera.

Performance

Centre-sharpness isn’t as good as from the Irix at the widest aperture of f/2.4, but sharpness across the entire image frame and right into the corners is impressively consistent.