I want a UWA prime. What are my options?

mickledore

mickledore

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I'm running the Fuji X-T2 which has a sensor with a 1.5 crop factor.
I normally shoot primes and my widest is the 14mm. I also have a 23mm, a 58mm and a 90mm macro lens.
I have a 10-24 but I only use this for holidays/days out on walkabouts. The 10mm can show quite a bit of distortion, so I'd rather not rely on this; besides it's a big lump to carry round for occasional use.
I have a hankering for something wider.
I have the Samyang 8mm fisheye which is a great lens, but if I correct for distortion I loose quite a bit of my shot.
Laowa are reported to be bringing out a 9mm in Fuji fit that is distortion free. IIRC they made the Jupiter lenses which were very good so I'm happy to have another of theirs - but there is no info on when it will be available, or at what price.
Are there any alternatives out there at present, without paying silly money?
It doesn't have to be Fuji because they don't make one but Fuji fit would be nice. I'm not averse to legacy lenses with an adaptor and don't mind manual focus. All I need is a focus ring and an aperture ring. I want nice and sharp even in the corners.

Anybody got any ideas of what might be available?
 
Mixed reports about the 12mm. Some copies are good others not so. I know of guys who have sold theirs as not being sharp especially in the corners. Also I'd like a bit wider.
 
mickledore said:
Mixed reports about the 12mm. Some copies are good others not so. I know of guys who have sold theirs as not being sharp especially in the corners. Also I'd like a bit wider.
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No worries! Your probably right about the QC though, its much the same with the other Samyang UWA primes!
 
Frank

12mm gives quite a. noticably wider view than 14mm, but as you go wider you always (potentially) get more optical distortion. The Zeiss 12mm didn't get super flowing reviews and it is possible that the Samyang is optically better. Now on my second Samyang, I starting to get to grips with it, and I'm getting much sharper images now, I think the main issue is the focus distance rmarkings are completely out of kilter, with infinity actually being past infinity causing softer images, setting it surprising short, eg 1 to 3m seems to result in much sharper images.

Currently I have the Samyang 12 and the Fuji 14 and 16. The Fuji's are much easier to use, and I believe sharper and with less distortion (the 16mm is amazingly sharp). At this ate I'm probably going to keep the 12mm and 16mm, but I won't be upset if the 14 doesn't sell!!

I'm definitely interested in the Laowa 9mm, but will wait to see both initial reviews and price.

The Fuji 8-16mm might answer your prays, allowing you to chop in 10-24 and perhaps some primes, but it won't be cheap, or small, and will require different filters
 
David,

Thank you. I've seen the roadmap with the 8-16 showing. Agree it won't be cheap, and images I've seen don't seem to show it small. I've not explored the filter aspect yet as it's only a probable at the moment.

I seem to remember something, maybe on Fuji rumours (your favourite site!), about some other lens in the 8mm region but I can't find it now or remember too much about it.

The initial reviews of the Laowa seem to show minimal distortion, if they can be believed, which attracts me. I seem to use the fisheye to get more in but when I correct I loose a lot of what I gained so an alternative seems worth considering. I struggled yesterday to get the Ladybower plughole in shot with the 14mm and couldn't get the Derwent dam at all. I finished up doing a pano with the 23mm in portrait mode, but that was wonky because I really needed a nodal plate being stood so close to the wall.

Maybe I want the impossible. Wouldn't be the first time:(
 
THIRTYFIVEMILL said:
Irix do an 11mm which I believe is decent. Not sure if they do a Fuji mount, tho.
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Hello again. Are you back? Where are you living these days? Surrey, France, Isle of Wight?
I'l have a look at Irix. Thanks for the tip.
 
mickledore said:
Hello again. Are you back? Where are you living these days? Surrey, France, Isle of Wight?
I'l have a look at Irix. Thanks for the tip.
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Hey buddy!! Isle of Wight now. Been here 6 months. Yes, back now. Had to take a forced break as just too much happening but all settled and camera back in hand!! :D
 
Fuji seem to have been very good at plugging gaps in their range but I do think a nice fast, wide prime is missing. would love to see something in 9/10/11mm range, f/2 and weather sealed.

I too have the Samyang 12mm. Was lucky to get a sharp one straight off the bat but it seems there are some issues there. It serves a purpose for me but doesn't have any of the quality feel of the Fuji primes.
 
THIRTYFIVEMILL said:
What's ya budget like, mate? I read the Zeiss Touit 12mm F2.8 works and is supposed to be a good lens.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carl-Zeiss-12-TOUIT-12-Lens/dp/B00COJR5A8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515372544
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That lens was mentioned earlier. There are mixed reviews even though it's a Leica. Not sure I want to spend that much on an occasional lens.
Suppose I really need to try out a 12mm to see if I'm happy with the FOV, but that's difficult without buying one. Local shops just don't stock that sort of gear to try befor you buy.

gad-westy said:
I too have the Samyang 12mm. Was lucky to get a sharp one straight off the bat but it seems there are some issues there. It serves a purpose for me but doesn't have any of the quality feel of the Fuji primes.
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I have the Samyang 8mm fisheye. Agreed, it serves a purpose but just doesn't have the quality feel. Although it could be argued that is secondary to performance, I still like to feel quality gear in my hands.
 
mickledore said:
That lens was mentioned earlier. There are mixed reviews even though it's a Leica. Not sure I want to spend that much on an occasional lens.
Suppose I really need to try out a 12mm to see if I'm happy with the FOV, but that's difficult without buying one. Local shops just don't stock that sort of gear to try befor you buy.
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Frank, I should be able to manage a day out next week, if you want to give the 12mm a whirl
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Frank, I should be able to manage a day out next week, if you want to give the 12mm a whirl
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Thanks for the offer. However...if this weather holds I'm probably out tonight; I'm in London all day Saturday, and Leeds all day next Tuesday. The week after I'm on a photoshoot all day on Tuesday so somewhere along the line domestic harmony will have to be brought into the equation. Not sure what I'm doing at the weekends - I've not thought about that yet.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
And has a completely different colour rendition to the Fuji lenses
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This and the fact I kept getting my fingers in the corner of shots was why I bought the Fuji 14mm and got rid of my Samyang 12mm. Samyang also do a 10mm, but it's not a native mirrorless lens, so it's huge and not as good as the 12mm supposedly.
 
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