The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM and the Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 is the longer of the two lenses at 96mm. The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM with a length of 40mm, is 56mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM's 69mm diameter.
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 RF 16mm F2.8 STM weighs 165g, which means it is 484g (74%) lighter than the Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 which has a weight of 649g.
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 is also available in Canon EF-M , Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon F (FX) and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 16mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
25.6mm.
On the other hand, the Samyang MF 14mm F2.8 Mk2 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 14mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 22.4mm.