Nikon 55-200mm Zoom Lens
Score: 69/100
Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8
Score: 71/100Rankings
The Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 is an ultra-wide manual-focus prime for Canon EF offering a 115.7° field of view and a bright aperture in a lightweight package. Its lack of autofocus, filter thread, and weather sealing limit its use for fast or protected shooting. Best for landscape, architecture, and night-sky shooters on a budget.
Nikon's 55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR lens provides a versatile telephoto range with effective 4-stop vibration reduction in a compact, retractable design. Softness at the 200 mm end and a plastic build detract from its otherwise strong value. Ideal for budget-conscious DX users needing a lightweight zoom for travel and general photography.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 14 mmbest | |
— | 2.8best | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.1 m | 0.28 mbest |
| ↓ lower better | 335 gbest | 552 g |
3.6best | — | |
— | 6best | |
0.3best | — | |
— | 14best |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Compatibility(1) | ||
Lens Mount | Nikon F | Canon EF |
Features(3) | ||
Image Stabilization | true | false |
Autofocus Type | SWM | Manual |
Focus Type | auto/manual | Manual |
Optics(3) | ||
Focal Length (mm) | 55-200 mm | 14 mm |
Maximum Aperture (f‑stop) | 4.0-5.6 | 2.8 |
Minimum Focus Distance (m) | 1.1 m | 0.28 m |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 335 g | 552 g |
Length (mm) | 78.7 mm | 96.01 mm |
Maximum Diameter (mm) | 68.6 mm | 87.12 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consistently highlight the lens's exceptional value, compact build, and effective 4-stop VR, noting very good sharpness through most of the zoom range. However, they point out a clear weakness at 200mm where sharpness falls off, as well as chromatic aberration at the extremes, slower autofocus, and a plastic construction that feels cheap. The lack of advanced VR modes is also mentioned as a limitation for demanding shooting scenarios.
Everyday users echo the professional praise for value, lightweight design, and VR performance, often calling the lens a great addition to kit setups for travel and general photography. Common praise centers on sharp center performance and portability. Recurring complaints mirror the expert critiques, focusing on softness at 200mm, plastic build quality, and sluggish autofocus, with several users noting the limited VR mode options.
“"4-stop Vibration Reduction system enables handheld shooting at slow shutter speeds, improving low-light performance."”
“"Compact, retractable design reduces storage size and keeps lens weight at only 300 g for easy portability."”
“"Noticeable softness and loss of sharpness at the 200mm focal length, especially when shooting wide open."”
Professional editors and reviewers consistently praise the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for its sharp, low-distortion rendering and bright aperture, noting that it rivals much more expensive lenses in image quality. They also commend the integrated hood and UMC coating for flare control, but caution that the manual-focus only design and lack of weather sealing limit its suitability for fast-action or harsh-environment work.
Everyday photographers love the dramatic ultra-wide perspective, edge-to-edge sharpness and affordable price, especially for landscapes, interiors and night-sky photography. Common frustrations revolve around manual focusing challenges, the inability to use screw-in filters, occasional shutter-lock quirks, and a perception of a plasticky build.
