Focus Numerique (translation here) tested the new Olympus 7-14mm PRO lens and that’s their PROS and CONS list (google translated):
And also Photoreview (Click here) tested the lens:
The 7-14mm f/2.8 lens is an impressive performer and a worthy addition to the Olympus M.Zuiko PRO range. The relatively high price tag reflects both the build and optical quality of this lens. Neither comes cheap but if you’re prepared to pay the price and you need an ultra-wide zoom lens for your OM-D camera, you’re unlikely to regret it.
Olympus Preorders:
7-14mm f/2.8 PRO lens: Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus, WexUK, AmazonUK, AmazonDE,
8mm f/1.8 PRO lens: Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, GetOlympus, WexUK, AmazonUK, AmazonDE,
15 Responses
“design all times and constant overcrowding”
Thank you translate, i was worried that you started making normal sentences, luckily that’s not the case
Bonjour.
The analyzes of Focus Numérique are “autopsies”. I prefer the ones of DP Review or the Anglo-Saxon press or blogs. More living. As for all of the French photographic press, Focus Numérique only believes in the full format. For other formats, it is only “condescension”.
Focus Numérique also does not know the courtesy of a dialogue with their readers even with other journalists. A few years ago, I contacted them for the DMC-GH2, then again for the GH3. No collaboration was possible. Even not the politeness of an answer. They seize the word.
Cheers,
Very mixed reviews on the frame edges. However on full res samples i have downloaded it looks pretty good.
UWA requires skills to get sharp edges/corners. As the depth of field is very challenging to get right in composition. But those who know how to work with UWA, can get amazing results. UWA isn’t one lens that can be used like any other.
Examples the excellent Nikon 16mm UWA zoom is very sharp but normal shooters gets edges soft.
Can you plz elaborate..in what way do you get sharper edges?
I believe he means to actually get the depth of field correctly.
Example look the Robin Wong samples:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-phyBisa5vFc/VVm3tkNr26I/AAAAAAAAk_0/Pd5lGeErqnM/s1600/P1011318.jpg
There you can see the right edge to be totally un-acceptable, because it is out of focus.
Then look the corner sharpness samples from same corner:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQU-e-RNTgk/VVm4Jpf9l-I/AAAAAAAAlC0/NLoT-DA1Gfo/s1600/7-141.jpg
And you can see it is very sharp.
And then again pretty well focused close-up:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFHEZMDcqM0/VVm4ZETw-zI/AAAAAAAAlEU/9Sv44BP7VBY/s1600/P1010113.jpg
And you can see now the top left pillow has gone out of focus, as well the bamboo sticks at rear on top corner.
And if you look well done focus for interior shots:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HRQ1iF9hr_A/VVm4NpTVLHI/AAAAAAAAlDM/Us0cgbgGnjM/s1600/P1010424.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riewL0duhR0/VVm4QVJ7D5I/AAAAAAAAlDc/zEiMYuguXHw/s1600/P1010410.jpg
You can see it is not soft in any corner.
But when you have focused bad
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O40XZEEbg5Y/VVm4O7H8RwI/AAAAAAAAlDU/zYzqYnFVcXM/s1600/P1010378.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nmklXED6SlY/VVm4BXZUBhI/AAAAAAAAlCE/rf5OQdA5s30/s1600/P1010475.jpg
Again the edge is very soft because out of focus.
The test shots the french site made, made exactly the same errors, the problem exist between camera and the person behind the photographer.
The macro lenses are designed to offer flat focus plane, while non-macro lenses usually have a curvature focus plane, meaning when the center is in focus, edges are out of focus. And when the edges are in focus, center is out of focus.
And while we talk 7mm focal length here, it as well has much narrower depth of field than people really believe. And when you have curvature in focus plane, it is very very easy to throw edges out of focus.
And you can see from the french site test samples how huge the test chart wall is, and to cover whole that in 7mm you need to place the camera very very close to the wall. The curvature problem just multiplies radically.
Why with 7mm and such you need to be extra careful for what to focus, what aperture to use and how to change focusing.
And auto-focus system helps a lot in that! And EVF is excellent tool in that as you can magnify to edges and check different portions of the photo to check do you get everything in focus and ultimate sharpness so on.
But many doesn’t do that because they just assume that you get everything in focus and the focus plane is perfect flat always and then they blame the lens is soft from edges or corners when they don’t know how to handle the camera.
The same problem exist with the Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 fisheye, people believing that if they use f/3.5 and they focus for few meters they get everything in focus, while actually they easily pull focus to around under 1 meter (because the focus scale is so short) and then they have just couple meters in focus and everything else is out of focus.
I don’t anymore use UWA much because it is pain in the ((¤/¤ to get in focus everything as often there is something in edges or corners that gets out of focus and even.
Nice comment. Didn’t realize it was hard to focus an UWA (I never owned one).
Wow thanks for this exhaustive answer!
These guys don’t know how to shoot with an UWA
First line of the sum up.
“In the end, 7-14 mm is the missing link of the infernal trio zooms constant f / 2.8 aperture”.
Must get real hot glass in France.
I agree, another poorly executed review by a so called review site. I’m done with these reviews and I think Olympus should be more careful in how they distribute these lenses for reviews. All are poor, except Robin Wongs assessment, maybe mirrorlessons (final review) and that’s about it. Shame though, as it initially got me doubting to buy this lens…
Lol. Robin Wong is a paid Olympus spokesman.
So? At least his examples are consistent and someone who knows how to take a decent photo. I can not say that of the likes of dpreview, this review or most of them … so called photography (ers) review websites.
“The 7-14mm f/2.8 lens is an impressive performer and a worthy
addition to the Olympus M.Zuiko PRO range. The relatively high price tag
reflects both the build and optical quality of this lens. Neither comes
cheap but if you’re prepared to pay the price and you need an
ultra-wide zoom lens for your OM-D camera, you’re unlikely to regret it.”
—
Info density galore. Really need more time to ponder these sentences in all their depth.
Did somebody do a real good shot by shot comparison with the Pana 7-14?