Samyang XP 14 mm f/2.4 review - Image resolution

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Samyang XP 14 mm f/2.4

25 September 2017

Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution test (resolution meaning here MTF50 function values) of the Samyang 14 mm f/2.4 Premium was based on RAW files from the Nikon D3x. In the case of that reflex camera the decency level is situated near 30-32 lpmm and the best fixed-focal lenses can reach as high as 47-49 lpmm. It’s worth adding that the resolution record on that sensor belongs to the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 which by f/4.0 was able to exceed slightly a level of 50 lpmm.

Let’s check how the tested lens performs in this category.

Samyang XP 14 mm f/2.4 - Image resolution

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The frame centre looks very good indeed. Already at the maximum relative aperture the lens gets to almost 40 lpmm and on stopping down the aperture to f/4.0 it is able to reach almost 45 lpmm. In wide area near the maximum relative aperture the Samyang Premium is distinctly better than the Irix 2.4/15. Still the older and slower Samyang 2.8/14 was a bit better in the f/4.0-5.6 aperture range than the new lens.

The edge of the APS-C/DX sensor also looks good. The Samyang exceeds the decency level even at the maximum relative aperture and on more pronounced stopping down the results are around 36-38 lpmm. Still there’s also some bad news: this is actually the worst performance of all lenses, compared here. The older Samyang was able to get to almost 40 lpmm, the result of the Irix was over 41 lpmm and the Sigma 1.8/14 reached 39 lpmm.

The performance on the edge of full frame recompenses that failure a bit – in that category the Samyang 2.4/14 Premium seems to be the leader of the group. It brushes against the decency level already at the maximum relative aperture, no mean feat with such parameters. The Irix 2.4/15, a bit easier to construct because of a narrower angle of view, had results by 4 lpmm worse than the tested lens. What’s more, on stopping down the Premium model is able to exceed 35 lpmm, a level unavailable for other rivals including the much faster and bigger Sigma 1.8/14.

To sum up the Samyang 2.4/14 Premium seems to have the most even performance out of all the group of full frame 14-15 mm instruments tested by us so far. It doesn’t give you any reasons to complain practically at any combination of aperture and frame position.

At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart, saved as JPEG files along RAW files we used for the analysis above.

Nikon D3x, JPEG, f/2.4