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One of many nice issues in regards to the Micro 4 Thirds system is that it is easy to discover a good lengthy lens – together with those you used to make use of in your DSLR (keep in mind these?). With its quarter-size sensor the system offers us the attain of a 400mm lens once we’ve solely mounted a 200mm. The draw back after all comes once we desire a extensive angle view, because the 2x crop issue means we’d like a 10mm lens to get the identical view we’d obtain with a 20mm on a full-frame digicam.
Happily although, we now have a fairly respectable array of utmost wide-angle choices for the system (together with fairly a number of zooms). For this text I’ve restricted myself to prime lenses, and have nonetheless put collectively little assortment to match. The thought is each to reveal what’s obtainable and to indicate what affect slight variations in focal size have on the angle of view of the lens. I’ve picked 4 lenses of about the identical focal size and inside a decent value vary, however which have quite a lot of traits that lend every a definite identification. The lenses going head-to-head are:
Laowa 7.5mm F2 MFT $499/£460
Meike 8mm F2.8 $399/£267
Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 ASPH $498/£449
Samyang 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS $430/£429
As is usually the case now, these on the lookout for ultra-wide choices, particularly at an inexpensive value, ought to think about the numerous guide focus lenses available on the market. Thus just one lens on this comparability gives autofocus and comes from a mainstream Micro 4 Thirds producer. I’ll be wanting on the bodily traits of the lenses, their protection, how good they’re to make use of in addition to the standard of picture they produce.
In all the next photos taken with these lenses, the aperture was set to F8 to assist get rid of vignetting as a lot as doable. All samples have been made with a Panasonic Lumix G9. We’re together with the angle of view within the specs so you may get a greater concept of how a lot of a scene you will see, one thing not at all times precisely mirrored by the focal size in millimeters.
Laowa 7.5mm F2 MFT
www.venuslens.web
Fast specs:
Angle of view: 110°
Codecs: MFT
Aperture blades: 7
Min distance: 12cm (4.7″)
Filter: 46mm
Dimension: 50x55mm
Weight: 170g
In case you are on the lookout for extensive, why not go complete hog? Venus Optics claims that is the world’s widest rectilinear (non-fisheye) lens available on the market for the Micro 4 Thirds system. It have to be one of many smallest too; at the very least it is the smallest of this group by far.
Its dimension makes it straightforward to hold round, however these with bigger fingers may discover the thin aperture ring a bit fiddly – it additionally sits very near the physique of the digicam and the aperture markings are actually very small and troublesome to learn. It takes solely 1 / 4 flip of the fairly clean focus ring to take us from 12cm to infinity, so correct focusing at extensive apertures in close-up conditions is perhaps difficult. The lens may be very effectively made although, with a stable really feel, and it comes with a well-made lens hood that detaches to permit you to match screw-in filters – the power to make use of filters can’t be taken with no consideration on lenses as extensive as this.
The model reviewed right here doesn’t have body-controlled apertures, however a premium model does at further price. The copy seen right here has a vinyl wrap on it, which is why it seems to be completely different from the model you might even see on-line.
Optical Qualities
I suppose it’d make sense that the lens with each the widest focal size and the smallest physique struggles to keep up high-end optical efficiency. Fairly heavy nook shading is a characteristic in any respect aperture settings, but it surely’s notably heavy when the lens is used extensive open. Barrel distortion can also be very noticeable, even in straight traces effectively away from the sides of the body. These on the lookout for the most effective decision will discover it at round F5.6, although the widest aperture additionally gives cheap element. If sharpness is a precedence it’s best to in all probability keep away from closing past F8; decision turns into poor by F16 because of diffraction.
Takeaways
It is a properly made, very small lens that can go well with these making an attempt to maintain their equipment compact, and who like a extremely excessive extensive angle of view. The draw back is that it may be fiddly to make use of and its tiny dimensions appear to compromise its picture high quality.
For
Actually small
Very light-weight
Towards
A whole lot of vignetting
Its dimension could make it exhausting to make use of
Meike 8mm F2.8
www.meikeglobal.com
Fast specs:
Angle of view: 109°
Codecs: MFT
Aperture blades: 10
Min distance: 25cm (9.8″)
Filter: 77mm
Dimension: 80x82mm
Weight: 480g
It is a stable little lens that carries a bit extra weight than its dimension may counsel, but it surely has that all-metal no-nonsense development so typically seen in lower-cost Chinese language designs. Notable bodily traits embody a dramatically bulbous ahead factor and a dynamic broadening of the barrel on the entrance finish the place that factor is housed. The steel petal-shaped lens hood just isn’t removable, and is fitted with a screw thread for 77mm filters – although microscopically skinny filters will probably be wanted to keep away from the sides showing in your footage.
The main focus ring is broad, steel and closely textured to permit wonderful buy with chilly fingers or gloves, and it turns properly. Once more the rotation from 25cm to infinity is a slightly quick 90°, however the properly proportioned depth-of-field scale informs us that even at F2.8 all the things from two and half ft to infinity will probably be acceptably sharp.
Potential consumers ought to observe that the aperture ring is clickless – which filmmakers will love and a few stills photographers won’t. But it surely’s an efficient ring with sufficient area to permit us to pick out the wanted aperture shortly and precisely.
Optical Qualities
I’ve been shocked by the optical traits of this Meike lens, because it produces fairly good decision extensive open and barely higher element closed to the center apertures – although it drops off fairly shortly in the direction of F16. Vignetting can also be okay – being worst at F2.8, higher at F5.6 and about the identical at F16, however by no means horrible. Meike has managed to manage curvilinear distortion remarkably effectively and, whereas barreling is clear from the middle of the body outwards, the impact is slight and of the kind that’s straightforward to repair in software program.
Takeaways
You get plenty of lens for the cash right here: regardless of the low price, picture high quality is de facto fairly good. A draw back for some would be the impossible-to-use filter thread – I couldn’t even use a 77-82mm adapter ring with out nook cut-off. Past this subject, although, that is an exceptionally good worth piece of equipment.
For
Low price
Remarkably good picture high quality
Towards
Unimaginable to make use of filters
Fairly huge on the entrance
Panasonic Lumix Leica DG Summilux 9mm F1.7 ASPH.
www.panasonic.com
Fast specs:
Angle of view: 100°
Codecs: MFT
Aperture blades: 7
Min distance: 9.5cm (3.8″)
Filter: 55mm
Dimension: 60.8x52mm
Weight: 130g
We’re used to Panasonic’s premium Leica DG lenses having a steel physique, so it is perhaps fairly a shock to some to search out a lot polycarbonate on this mannequin – it’s actually fairly completely different in development to their 15mm, 25mm, 42.5mm and different small primes. Nonetheless, this can be very light-weight consequently; the truth is it is the lightest of the lenses right here regardless of not being the smallest.
In comparison with the opposite lenses additionally it is fairly minimalist in design, because it doesn’t have an aperture ring and has no markings apart from its title, rank and quantity. Its nice benefit over the others is that it brings autofocus; due to that, nonetheless, the rotation of the main focus ring is barely fluid. However, in lots of Lumix cameras you possibly can customise the ring in keeping with the necessities of the event. It has an distinctive shut focusing distance of 9.5mm.
The plastic petal-shaded hood comes off, however even with it in place we are able to screw in 55mm filters – or take away the hood for bigger filters through an adapter.
Optical Qualities
Communication between this lens and the Lumix G9 that I used to check this group creates one thing of an unfair benefit right here, because the digicam is programmed to repair among the extra apparent aberrations.
In case you are solely involved with the top outcome, although, you’ll discover that RAW and JPEG information supply solely slight vignetting at F1.7, which clears up shortly to the purpose the place there’s none to talk of by F5.6. Barrel distortion can also be notably absent, and even extensive open at F1.7 the decision beats, by some appreciable distance, the most effective efforts of any of the opposite lenses at their optimum mid-range apertures.
Conclusion
It’s exhausting to disregard simply how helpful AF is even in an ultra-wideangle lens, plus customizable guide focus for MF customers. These benefits, in addition to the shut focus functionality and the distinctive picture high quality, make the Panasonic a really troublesome lens to beat regardless of its slight further price.
For
AF and EXIF knowledge
Superb picture high quality
Towards
Not fairly the identical construct as different Panasonic Leica lenses
Some will miss an aperture ring/depth-of-field scale
Samyang 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS
Fast spec:
Angle of view: 93.4°
Codecs: MFT/APS-C
Aperture blades: 6
Min distance: 24cm (9.4″)
Filter: NA
Dimension: 87×130.9mm
Weight: 620g
That is by some margin the biggest of the lenses I attempted, which is probably going defined by its APS-C-friendly optical design supposed for DSLRs – the MFT model is particularly lengthy because it wants extra distance between the rear factor and the mount. Additionally it is the heaviest of the group, however that mass is distributed effectively so it doesn’t really feel too weighty.
Since this lens was designed for DSLRs, it has a really broad rubberized focusing ring and a thicker aperture ring. Of the guide focus lenses, that is the one one to have evenly-spaced aperture settings. It additionally has a properly readable depth-of-field scale, however solely gives measurements for apertures of F5.6 and wider, which appears an odd selection given the wants of panorama and architectural pictures.
The substantial lens hood is completely connected to the barrel so there isn’t a alternative to mount filters or a filter system from the entrance. A six-bladed iris feels a bit of primitive on this subject, however there are plenty of anti-reflective coatings talked about within the title, which the producer claims enhance distinction and assist to keep away from flare.
Optical Qualities
This huge lens, with its not-especially-fast most aperture, its comparatively slim angle-of-view and its extensive overlaying circle, ought to actually have all the benefits. Nonetheless, barrel distortion is sort of current and vignetting is de facto noticeable on the wider apertures – although a lot improved at F5.6. Its finest decision comes on the wider aperture settings – I’m not satisfied we get extra element at F5.6 – and it’s clearly much less sharp when closed to F16.
Takeaways
I had hoped for barely higher issues from this huge Samyang lens. Greater, on this case, is not higher. Merely put, there’s extra vignetting and barrel distortion than there must be.
For
The scale makes dealing with snug
Evenly spaced aperture markings
Towards
It’s huge
Picture high quality is fairly underwhelming
Spherical-up: which prime is price your dime?
All of those lenses are fairly usable and, as long as you are ready to work in your post-capture software program expertise, all will supply an honest sufficient outcome if nobody seems to be too intently. I’ve had nice experiences with Laowa lenses prior to now, however sadly this 7.5mm isn’t pretty much as good as I’d hoped, and I feel comes final within the group. The Samyang 10mm is available in simply forward of it, and the Meike 8mm a great way forward of that. I’ve been bowled over by how good the Meike lens is, particularly contemplating how a lot much less it prices. On the prime I place the Lumix 9mm.
These photos reveal the diploma of vignetting and curvilinear distortion you possibly can anticipate from every of the lenses. Every was examined at its respective widest aperture setting, at F5.6 and at an aperture one cease down from the smallest on supply – some go to F22 and others to F16. The pictures have been taken from a distance of 1m (39″).
Whereas costlier lenses don’t at all times win group checks, I suppose it’s a bit of predictable that the Panasonic Leica 9mm F1.7 would come out on prime – but it surely does so in fairly dramatic type. It performs effectively forward of the others in picture high quality, and gives autofocus, a really extensive most aperture, excessive shut focusing and EXIF knowledge besides.
I suppose the shortage of the standard premium Panasonic/Leica touches like a steel barrel preserve it mild and likewise preserve the worth down, that means it compares properly even there with the remainder of the group. The Leica-approved optics inside give optical traits effectively forward of the pack and make it an distinctive lens.
1st
2nd
third
4th
Distortion
Lumix 9mm
Meike 8mm
Samyang 10mm
Laowa 7.5mm
Vignetting
Lumix 9mm
Meike 8mm
Samyang 10mm
Laowa 7.5mm
Decision extensive open
Lumix 9mm
Samyang 10mm
Meike 8mm
Laowa 7.5mm
Decision at F5.6
Lumix 9mm
Meike 8mm
Samyang 10mm
Laowa 7.5mm
Decision one cease from minimal
Lumix 9mm
Meike 8mm
Samyang 10mm
Laowa 7.5mm
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