7-14mm versus 8mm FE

[MJ224]

Just considering swapping my 8mm FE for a 7-14mm. The 8mm is a fun lens, but although i bought it new, I don't use it much at all. I like the idea of having the focal range from 7mm all the way up 600mm with a range of lenses.

As far as I can see, the 7-14mm is a rectilinear lens, so little distortion at the wide end. I still have a manual Meike 6.5mm if I want fisheye ability.

I have traced a 2nd hand 7-14mm at a good price, and would see if I can trade in the 8mm against it...

[griffljg]

I have a 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO lens, which doesn't get used very often. But when I need it, I really need it. That's why I still own it.

Not long after I bought it in October 2019, I took this photo of the Brisbane City Hall. I did as much keystone correction as Capture One Pro would allow me:

Brisbane City Hall by Laurence Griffiths, on Flickr

Then, last week, I was playing around a bit with DxO ViewPoint 3 and reprocessed the image:

Brisbane City Hall by Laurence Griffiths, on Flickr

It might be worthwhile taking at look at DxO ViewPoint 3 if you do decide to get this lens.

[EmPix]

These are great images, Larry, well done! Heartily agree that DXP VP is a great tool for such corrections. Your work illustrates the caution and care one needs when working with such short FLs. I have not tried the 7-14 myself, but I wonder whether the Hi Res mode would give the VP3 software more data to work with?

20MP seems insufficient for correcting the keystone effect for large structures such as the one you have captured. I have faced similar challenges when I used the 10-22 on an APSC 20MP body at the 10mm end. 
One good thing is, you were able to put some distance between yourself and the building. I often find myself taking such images indoors (cathedrals etc) with my back against the wall and in those scenarios correcting for keystone makes me always wish I had more MP to play with.

[OM USer]

A great bit of processing.

[MJ224]

Thanks Larry, the photos look good. They still have quite some distortion, and if corrected, the photo may as well have been taken with the 12mm in first place...

I will go and look at the 7-14mm tomorrow and get the feel of it, and hopefully get a good part-ex for the 8mm. That's if I go for it....:-)

Thanks for your input..

[Phill D]

I've toyed with getting a 7-14 on an off too Mark. I have the 7.5mm Samyang for FE stuff and the little 9-18mm for regular wide angle. The 9-18 does really well to be honest which is why I've never gone for the 7-14mm but occasionally I'd like something a bit wider.

[IainMacD]

How about the PL8-18? It is a cracking lens.

[Walti]

I have the Laowa 7.5mm lens and have got quite used to using it with the camera spirit levels to allow for fairly distortion free images, so the zoom can do the same. Using my feet to zoom as required, playing with the SWA distortion is also quite good fun.

I bought a second hand 4/3 7-14 and found all the photos were at the 7 end, so plumped for the prime.

The advantage is the fact that the zoom (and the Laowa) is a rectilinear lens so requires less PP, though I’ve still to work out why you buy a FE and defish it….

[MJ224]

Done the deed, a 7-14mm in the bag now. Bit bigger than I had reckoned with....but seems to give good results..:-)

Thanks all for comments and advice..

[Walti]

Good, look forwards to some photos.

[pdk42]

Apart from the new 8-25 I've used or owned every single UWA zoom in the system and a few of the primes too. Here's my view:

Olympus 8mm f1.8 FE: Fantastic lens, but it's a fisheye so has a narrow range of uses. However, I do like the FE perspective so I have one and don't intend on letting it go. I don't hold with the idea of de-fishing it to imitate a rectilinear lens. Different tool for different uses IMHO.

Panasonic 7-14: A nice lens. Small and very sharp, but it gives terrible purple ghosting on Oly bodies in some scenarios (UV reflections in the light box). Doesn't take filters.

Olympus 7-14: A really nice lens. Sharper than the Panasonic equivalent, but much heavier. Again, doesn't take filters.

Panasonic/Leica 8-18: Fantastic lens. Super sharp and with excellent "microcontrast". Takes filters. My UWA weapon of choice now.

Samyang 7.5mm f3.5 FE: Very nice lens too. As sharp as the Oly 8mm, but it's only f3.5 (would matter for astro) and it's MF. Build quality is questionable too.

Laowa 7.5mm f2: Maybe I used a bad copy, but it wasn#t good in the edges/corners until about f8. Also MF only.


As regards the Oly 7-14, I use filters on UWA lenses a lot, and whilst there are after-market holders for square filters with the 7-14, I find them cumbersome so as nice as it would be to have a 7mm rectilinear UWA, I compromise and use the PL 8-18.

[BDennis]

An interesting thread. I couldn’t part with my 8mm f1.8 Pro FE as I really like it for astro.

I’d really like a UWA rectilinear AF prime for scenics and cities. I have a 18mm f3.5 OM Zuiko lens which I used to really enjoy using..but of course it is no good to me unless I mount it on a film camera or a full frame digital. This one: https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photograph...htmls/18mm.htm

I might have to compromise and get either the new 8-25mm or the Pana/Leica 8-18mm that Paul mentions in his helpful short review above.

Otherwise, what else is there for prime UWA options?

[pdk42]

Actually, if you like the 18mm equiv FOV, then the little Oly 9-18 is worth looking at. f3.5 at 9mm and very decent IQ. Not a prime I know, but all the prime options <12mm are either non-OEM, or toy lenses (e.g. the Oly body-cap 9mm).

[pdk42]

Oops - forgot to mention this one:

Olympus 9-18: Excellent little lens. IQ is more than decent. A little softening in the corners at all apertures, but wouldn't bother a lot of people. Takes filters and is very light and compact.

[pdk42]

Oops - forgot another one too. Only took some test shots with this one, but it was very nice:

Kowa 8.5mm f2.8: Nice lens in many ways. Built like a tank. No complaints over its IQ. But pricey and MF.

[Walti]

As FE lenses have been mentioned, I really enjoy my Mieke 3.5mm, circular image (give or take a little) gets the grip on my em1ii and needs a little PP to take the image from the lens barrel off the final post processed image but good fun.

makes my lens range, 3.5 to 600mm

[MJ224]

Non-stop??