Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly

I’ve been wanting to bring you this review for a while, but between one thing and another, I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time to it as I would have liked, so it’s been delayed a bit more than planned.

The Irix Lens team sent me this lens a long time ago, and since then, I’ve been testing it in various situations. I decided to wait until now to publish the review so I could offer a more detailed analysis, ensuring I thoroughly tested this lens in every possible circumstance. I particularly wanted to put it to the test in a discipline where I’m still a bit of a “novice” but where I’m gradually making progress: night photography.

With a fixed focal length of 21mm and a maximum aperture of F1.4, this lens presents itself as a very interesting option for landscape, architectural, and of course, night photography. In fact, it is in this latter discipline where this lens truly stands out as an excellent option.

My main goal with this review is to provide information as accurate as possible, based on my own experience with the lens, highlighting both its strengths and its less favorable aspects. I hope to help you determine whether this lens is right for you and your photography projects.

Without further ado, I invite you to join me on this journey through the Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly and discover how it performs. Let’s get started!

First Impressions

Once again, I have to admit that I loved the presentation of the lens. I already mentioned it in the review of the IRIX 150MM F2.8 DRAGONFLY, and the brand has done it again.

The lens comes in an entirely black box, with inscriptions and information highlighted in blue and white, Irix’s characteristic colors. Upon opening it, we find the iconic dragonfly that identifies the Dragonfly models and a rigid neoprene case that houses the lens inside.

First time in my hands, and first impressions. One word could sum it up: Robustness.

When you first hold the lens, you immediately notice the robustness I’m talking about—the solidity, the quality of its materials, its finishes—just as is usually the case with Irix lenses. The Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly is part of the Dragonfly manufacturing standard (as the box indicates right when you open it), characterized by an internal structure reinforced with metal elements, a scratch-resistant finish, a non-slip focus ring, and markings engraved with UV-reactive paint. Its construction is based on a magnesium alloy, a standard adopted by the brand, and it is also sealed at key points, providing resistance to the elements in adverse weather conditions.

Technical Specs

The Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly lens offers a range of features that make it an attractive option for wide-angle photography enthusiasts. I won’t delve too much into this aspect since this information is available on the Irix Lens website.
Below, I’ll highlight some points of interest:

Details

Bright Lens: Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly boasts a wide maximum aperture of F1.4, making it an excellent choice for low-light shooting and creating captivating bokeh effects.
Wide-angle Perspective: With its fixed focal length of 21mm, this lens provides a expansive 89.7° field of view.
Optical Excellence: The lens’s optical design incorporates 4 ultra-low dispersion glass elements, 4 highly reflective elements, and 2 aspherical elements arranged in 15 elements across 11 optical groups. This configuration is engineered to minimize distortion, maintaining it below 2%. We’ll explore this further!
Smooth Bokeh: Its 11-blade diaphragm ensures smooth and pleasing out-of-focus areas.
Weather Resistance: Special seals protect the lens against moisture and dust, enabling confident shooting in challenging weather conditions.
Convenient Control: You can adjust aperture settings directly from the camera.
Focus Confidence: Enjoy focus confirmation either through the viewfinder or via an audible signal.
Precision Focus: The lens’s focus ring features a unique texture and high-quality rubber material, enabling precise manual focusing with sensitivity to ring positioning. It also includes a “Focus Lock” function to prevent accidental adjustments during critical moments, like stacking shots.
Seamless Communication: Full EXIF data recording and transfer to the camera streamline post-production workflows.

Real-World Testing

It’s time to move from theory to practice, to what I consider truly important in a review and where I’ll invest more time.

Let’s see what my experience with the Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly has brought forth!

Wide, Yet Not Overwhelmingly So

One aspect that posed both a challenge and an advantage was the fact that, despite being a 21mm lens, it doesn’t quite match the field of view I’m accustomed to.

Let me elaborate!

I’m accustomed to using my Irix 15mm Blackstone for the majority of my shots; I have a fondness for that focal length, and out of habit (or perhaps laziness haha), it tends to stay mounted on my camera. Transitioning from the 110° field of view of the 15mm to the 89.7° of the 21mm shifts the paradigm and forces a reconsideration of your mental approach to composition. Initially, this presented a challenge and made it somewhat difficult to start shooting with the 21mm, but it gradually turned into an advantage, opening up a range of new compositional possibilities.

Here’s a brief comparison of perspectives to illustrate the difference:

Geometric Distortion: Slight Barrel Distortion

One observation I made while processing the images is the lens’s slight barrel distortion. This became evident when closely inspecting one shot, where the horizon exhibited a subtle curvature in the center, causing a slight elevation in the horizon line.

For easier viewing, I’ve added a red line along the horizon and adjusted the curves to enhance contrast in the sample image. This provides a clearer illustration of the distortion.

You can see that the horizon slopes downward on the sides, with a greater gap from the red line in the center.

It’s worth noting that the Irix 21mm lens doesn’t have lens profiles available for Capture One (I’m not sure if they exist for other software), which is my go-to software for initial processing. This means that correcting lens distortion needs to be done manually. Thankfully, addressing this distortion isn’t overly complex and can be achieved with some care during editing.

Remember, while this distortion is noticeable, it’s relatively minor and may not pose a significant issue for most photographers, especially those willing to make adjustments during post-production.

Vignetting: Minimal to Nonexistent

Vignetting, the gradual darkening at the edges of an image, is a common issue with wide-angle lenses. Surprisingly, this lens exhibits minimal to no vignetting, ensuring consistent illumination across the frame. This feature proves particularly advantageous in low-light conditions or high-contrast scenarios.

Cropped image to examine both lower corners.

Hyperfocal Scale

One thing I find lacking compared to other Irix lenses is the absence of hyperfocal distance markings, which make manual focusing much easier.

However, this can be remedied by performing the necessary calculations or utilizing apps like Photopills.

Consistent Sharpness in Every Situation

In Low-Light Conditions

The Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly lens delivers impressive results even in low-light conditions. I’ve taken night shots at F11 with a 30-second exposure and ISO 1600. These photos were intended to challenge the lens’s sharpness in low-light settings, and it has exceeded expectations.

And everything gets better with more light

Beyond excelling in low-light scenarios, the Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly lens showcases remarkable prowess in capturing crisp, detailed landscapes in daylight.

Here are 100% crops of select daytime landscape shots, captured in diverse locations and lighting conditions.

These close-ups showcase the lens’s optical quality, delivering outstanding sharpness even in the most intricate details. Moreover, color accuracy and contrast are consistently impressive.

Creating Stars: Sunstars

One of the delightful surprises I stumbled upon while testing this lens was its knack for producing sunstars with just a slight adjustment to the aperture, typically around F8.

These sunstars add a unique flair to photos, an extra touch that I enjoy incorporating in certain situations. This adds an extra layer of versatility, enabling us to play with light in a more imaginative manner.

Furthermore, being able to achieve sunstars with such a wide aperture helps sidestep significant diffraction problems.

Corner Distortion at F1.4: Something to Note

Through extensive testing of the Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly lens in nighttime shooting scenarios at its widest aperture of F1.4, I’ve noticed minor distortion in the image corners.
This distortion becomes apparent when capturing nighttime sky details, where stars in the corners may lose clarity and resemble comma shapes.

It’s worth noting that this distortion is more noticeable when shooting wide open at F1.4 and its impact can vary depending on the composition and specific shooting conditions. While some photographers may find this effect acceptable, it’s important to keep this observation in mind when planning to shoot in low-light environments at maximum apertures. Personally, it’s not a major concern for me.

To address this issue, some users may opt to slightly close down the aperture or explore post-processing techniques to digitally correct this distortion during editing.

Constraints with Screw-on Filters

Until recently, one of the aspects we had to consider when looking at the Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly was the inability to use filters due to the lack of a threaded filter mount. I understand this is a result of its specific design aimed at night photography and astrophotography. However, Irix Lens has addressed this issue and provided a potential solution for those of us who frequently use polarizing filters.

Recently, the brand sent me a new accessory designed for this lens: an adapter that attaches to the hood’s thread and allows for the attachment of 105mm screw-on filters. This adapter resolves the initial problem and provides the flexibility to use circular filters.

With this adapter, Irix Lens demonstrates its commitment to continuous improvement and attention to photographers’ needs, as some of us discussed this issue with them, and they ultimately provided a solution.

Check it out here: Irix Edge Filter Adapter for 21mm lens + Lens Cap

The only point of improvement I would add is that I expected the adapter to be somewhat more robust. I’m not sure if it’s a prototype still in development or if it’s the final version. Regardless, it’s fully usable and serves its purpose.

Concluding Thoughts: My Impressions

The Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly could offer an intriguing option for specific photographic pursuits. With its pros and cons, this lens proves its worth in nighttime and astrophotography, thanks to its wide maximum aperture of F1.4.

Despite a minor barrel distortion, it doesn’t seem to impede its capability for strong performance in both day and night landscape photography. It’s crucial to consider this aspect as it might necessitate adjustments during post-processing. The absence of lens profiles for certain software means these corrections may require manual intervention. However, in my view, this isn’t a significant concern.

The Irix 21mm F1.4 establishes itself as a sturdy choice, tailored particularly for photographers specializing in nightphotography and astrophotography.

Ultimately, the decision to opt for this lens hinges on individual needs and preferences.

As a testament, here are some sample photographs taken with this lens.

Nighttime Landscape Photography

I was excited to try out the Irix 21mm F1.4 Dragonfly at this spot. That’s why I aimed to capture the entire arc of the Milky Way over the Punta Nariga lighthouse. Furthermore, I looked for a fresh perspective that would provide an intriguing foreground to complement the composition.

Additionally, this summer I was able to visit some locations to further improve my skills in night photography. Here’s another photo I took in the Concello de Muras in Lugo.