Rokinon 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens User Manual

Product Overview

The Rokinon 10mm F2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Lens is a prime, fixed mount, wide-angle lens designed specifically for APS-C cameras. It incorporates a Nano Crystal Anti-Reflection Coating System (NCS), Aspherical Lens Elements, and Extra Low Dispersion Glass to deliver high-performance, frame-filling ultra-wide views. This lens provides an angle of view equivalent to a 15mm lens (16mm for Canon APS-C DSLRs) on a full-frame camera. Its fast f/2.8 aperture and 106-degree angle of view make it suitable for architectural and landscape photography, capturing dramatic perspectives. The extreme depth of field and 9.5-inch (0.24m) close focus capability are beneficial for commercial photographers and journalists working in confined spaces.

Figure 1: Rokinon 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS Ultra Wide Angle Lens with lens hood. This image shows the front and side view of the lens, highlighting its robust construction and manual focus/aperture rings.

Setup and Installation

This lens is designed for manual operation, meaning it does not feature autofocus or electronic aperture control. Proper installation and initial setup are crucial for optimal performance.

1. Attaching the Lens: Align the red dot on the lens barrel with the corresponding red dot on your camera's lens mount. Rotate the lens clockwise (for Canon EF-S mount) until it clicks securely into place. Ensure the lens release button on your camera is not pressed during this process.
2. Camera Settings: Set your camera to Manual (M) mode or Aperture Priority (Av/A) mode. Due to the lack of electronic contacts, your camera may require a setting like "Release shutter without lens" or "Shoot without lens" to be enabled in its menu. Consult your camera's manual for specific instructions.
3. Initial Aperture Setting: The aperture ring on the lens barrel allows you to manually set the desired f-stop. For initial use, set it to f/8 for a good balance of sharpness and depth of field.

Figure 2: Side view of the Rokinon 10mm lens, showing the aperture and focus rings. The manual controls are clearly visible for precise adjustments.

Operating the Lens

The Rokinon 10mm F2.8 lens offers full manual control, providing photographers with precise command over focus and aperture. Understanding these controls is key to maximizing the lens's potential.

Focusing

This lens features a manual focus ring. For critical focus, especially with wide-angle lenses, consider the following techniques:

• Live View Magnification: Use your camera's Live View mode and magnify the image on the LCD screen to achieve precise focus.
• Focus Peaking: Many modern cameras offer a "focus peaking" feature, which highlights in-focus areas with a specific color. This is highly recommended for manual lenses.
• Hyperfocal Distance: For landscape photography, setting the lens to its hyperfocal distance can maximize the depth of field, keeping both near and far subjects in acceptable focus. The lens barrel includes a depth of field scale to assist with this.

Aperture Control

The aperture is controlled via a dedicated ring on the lens. The f/2.8 maximum aperture is excellent for low-light conditions and achieving shallow depth of field, while stopping down to smaller apertures (e.g., f/8, f/11) will increase sharpness and depth of field, ideal for landscapes.

Key Optical Features

• Nano Crystal Coating System (NCS): This advanced coating minimizes reflections and flare, enhancing contrast and color fidelity, especially in challenging lighting conditions.
• Aspherical Lens Elements (AS): Two aspherical elements correct aberrations, ensuring high image quality and sharpness across the entire frame.
• Extra Low Dispersion Glass (ED): One ED element reduces chromatic aberration, resulting in clearer images with accurate color reproduction.
• Inner Focusing System (IF): The lens length does not change during focusing, and the front element does not rotate. This keeps the integrated petal-type lens hood properly oriented and is beneficial when using polarizing filters.

Figure 3: Diagram illustrating key optical features of the Rokinon lens, including Internal Focus (IF), Low Coma, Low Flare & Ghost, Low Chromatic Aberration (CA), and Nano Coating System.

Maintenance and Care

Proper maintenance will extend the life and preserve the optical quality of your Rokinon 10mm lens.

• Cleaning the Lens: Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth specifically designed for optical surfaces. For stubborn smudges, use a small amount of lens cleaning solution applied to the cloth, not directly to the lens. Avoid touching the glass elements with your fingers.
• Dust Removal: Use a blower brush to remove dust particles from the lens surface before wiping.
• Storage: When not in use, store the lens with both front and rear caps attached in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. A desiccant pack can be used in humid environments to prevent mold growth.
• Handling: Always handle the lens by its barrel, not by the glass elements. Avoid dropping or subjecting the lens to strong impacts.

Troubleshooting

This section addresses common issues you might encounter with your manual Rokinon 10mm lens.

Specifications

Warranty and Support

For detailed warranty information and technical support, please refer to the official Rokinon website or contact their customer service directly. Keep your purchase receipt as proof of purchase for any warranty claims.

• Official User Manual: A comprehensive user manual in PDF format is available for download. Download User Manual (PDF)
• Protection Plans: Extended protection plans may be available for purchase separately to cover your investment beyond the standard manufacturer's warranty.
• Manufacturer: Rokinon