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The Panasonic 7-14mm m4/3 lens...

post #1 of 5
3/21/10 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
Perhaps too specialized a question (might be better suited for a photography forum), but I know we've got some m4/3 users here on SF - yfyf and I think PG, among others?

Anyone have experience with this lens? I'm interested in overall impressions as well as comparisons to the various UWA offerings that would be available for APS-C Canon cameras (Canon 10-22, Sigma 10-20 and 12-24, Tokina 11-16 and 12-24).

I've been meaning to pick up a GF1 with the 20mm pancake for a while now, and have an opportunity to snag the 7-14 for ~$600, so the price is more in line with what I might pay for an UWA for my 20D.

The 7-14 seems to get a lot of praise, with the main knocks being price and the fact that it's "slow". This seems a bit odd to me, since at f/4 it's faster throughout the range than all but the Tokina 11-16 (maybe folks are comparing to Canon's FF L glass and the Nikon 14-24?)

At an effective 14-28mm, it's at least 2mm wider than any of the above would be for my Canon. I think it would make an excellent small/lightweight travel setup along with the 20mm prime, as landscapes/architecture would be more of a focus than during normal shooting. Several weaknesses of the m4/3 format (slower a/f, less control over DOF) are minimized given the primary uses of an UWA lens.

Any benefits to the Canon lenses that I'm missing?
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post #2 of 5
3/21/10 at 11:32am
I haven't followed the m4/3 stuff so I can't comment too much on it. On 4/3, the 7-14 is an absolute darling of a lens if you like wide-angle, but it's expensive (~1500 iirc). I have seen some really amazing shots taken with it inside cathedrals, underneath arches, of center squares, etc. It's just so wide, and it's super sharp and well-behaved. I don't have one yet but I intend to add it to the arsenal one day.
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post #3 of 5
3/21/10 at 2:14pm
I've got one. It's great. I can't really find fault with it.

I used to own a Nikon 12-24 from the bad 'ol days. That thing was a dog. The Panasonic blows it out of the water.
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post #4 of 5
3/21/10 at 10:52pm
The multiplier on M 4/3's is 2x? Didn't know that.

Anyway, I also can't comment on m4/3 specifically cause I've never owned or used one. But it would be tough for me to pass up a 7-14mm by any make, although as a traditionalist I would balk at Panasonic. I know their stuff has improved drastically but still meh to me.

I'd take a closer look at the Tokina if I were you.
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post #5 of 5
3/23/10 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
I haven't followed the m4/3 stuff so I can't comment too much on it. On 4/3, the 7-14 is an absolute darling of a lens if you like wide-angle, but it's expensive (~1500 iirc). I have seen some really amazing shots taken with it inside cathedrals, underneath arches, of center squares, etc. It's just so wide, and it's super sharp and well-behaved. I don't have one yet but I intend to add it to the arsenal one day.

Have heard that as well, but not sure (other than the focal range) how much the two lenses have in common, the 4/3 being an Oly product and the m4/3 coming from Panny.

Quote:
Originally Posted by yfyf View Post
I've got one. It's great. I can't really find fault with it.

I used to own a Nikon 12-24 from the bad 'ol days. That thing was a dog. The Panasonic blows it out of the water.

Thanks, I went ahead and grabbed it. You know you have a problem when you're buying lenses before you have the camera. Any recommendations for good, cheap vintage lenses and adaptors to play around with?

Quote:
Originally Posted by rjmaiorano View Post
The multiplier on M 4/3's is 2x? Didn't know that.

Anyway, I also can't comment on m4/3 specifically cause I've never owned or used one. But it would be tough for me to pass up a 7-14mm by any make, although as a traditionalist I would balk at Panasonic. I know their stuff has improved drastically but still meh to me.

I'd take a closer look at the Tokina if I were you.

Yup, 2x. Tokina would probably have been the front runner had I not bought the Panny, but the 7-14 is significantly wider (14mm vs. 17.6 35mm equiv, assuming listed ranges are accurate). I also think I'll get more use out of it with the smaller form factor system. Should I change my mind in the future, I doubt I'll have much trouble recouping my investment.

Reviews indicate the 7-14 is very well built and quite sharp....along with the 20mm pancake, Panasonic seems to have put out some really nice stuff lately. My concern was more for whether there was some benefit to the APS-C format vs. m4/3 for UWA that I was overlooking, rather than a concern about the quality of this particular lens (though it's always nice to hear good things from those who've used it).
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