The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM and the Rokinon 24mm f1.4 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM weighs 260g, which means it is 320g (55%) lighter than the Rokinon 24mm f1.4 which has a weight of 580g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Wideangle Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Wideangle Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Rokinon 24mm f1.4 has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Rokinon 24mm f1.4:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM and the Rokinon 24mm f1.4 has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Rokinon 24mm f1.4 is also available in Nikon F (FX) , Four Thirds, Pentax KAF, Sony Alpha and Samsung NX mounts.
Focal Range
Canon 28mm f2.8 IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 28mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
44.8mm.
On the other hand, the Rokinon 24mm f1.4 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 24mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 38.4mm.