03-26-2012, 02:24 AM
Thank you for this review, and especially many thanks for including information on the performance of the ultra-wide converter (which has rarely been discussed elsewhere, as far as I can tell).
I understand most people are disappointed in this lens, but I would like to ask whether there are in fact any alternatives in the same price range. More generally, does there exist ANY lens that covers 12-14mm focal length for ANY camera with APS-C sized sensor on the market at a comparable price? Remember that the 16mm lens and the ultra-wide converter will add up to little more than $300.
The only half-decent ultra-wideangle lenses that I can find online are the Tokina 12-24 f/4 (starting around $450) and maybe the Samyang/Rokinon 14 f/2.8 ($400, haven't read reviews of that one yet). Neither of these are available for mirrorless systems (except the Rokinon for Samsung NX). Moreover, both are very large. Then there are also Sigma 10-20 and Tamron 10-24 (and 12-24), but it seems their optical performance is clearly worse than the tiny Sony E 16 f/2.8.
So in sum, this lens may be a poor fit for the NEX-7, but with the ultra-wide converter it seems like a bargain option to cover the 12mm focal length for photographers who don't want to spend more than a few hundred dollars on such a specialty lens.
So despite the negative conclusion of this review, based on its lab results it seems to me that it may be a good and fantastically affordable complement for NEX (3/C3/5/5N) owners who may own the 18-55 or an 18-200 by Sony or Tamron and want to go wider.
I understand the disappointment in this lens, but it seems that it occupies a bargain niche makes it a very attractive purchase for some shooters. Therefore I don't understand why this lens seems to be so widely despised.
Again, thank you for going to the trouble of revising this review and including the ultra-wide converter.
Captain Cope
I understand most people are disappointed in this lens, but I would like to ask whether there are in fact any alternatives in the same price range. More generally, does there exist ANY lens that covers 12-14mm focal length for ANY camera with APS-C sized sensor on the market at a comparable price? Remember that the 16mm lens and the ultra-wide converter will add up to little more than $300.
The only half-decent ultra-wideangle lenses that I can find online are the Tokina 12-24 f/4 (starting around $450) and maybe the Samyang/Rokinon 14 f/2.8 ($400, haven't read reviews of that one yet). Neither of these are available for mirrorless systems (except the Rokinon for Samsung NX). Moreover, both are very large. Then there are also Sigma 10-20 and Tamron 10-24 (and 12-24), but it seems their optical performance is clearly worse than the tiny Sony E 16 f/2.8.
So in sum, this lens may be a poor fit for the NEX-7, but with the ultra-wide converter it seems like a bargain option to cover the 12mm focal length for photographers who don't want to spend more than a few hundred dollars on such a specialty lens.
So despite the negative conclusion of this review, based on its lab results it seems to me that it may be a good and fantastically affordable complement for NEX (3/C3/5/5N) owners who may own the 18-55 or an 18-200 by Sony or Tamron and want to go wider.
I understand the disappointment in this lens, but it seems that it occupies a bargain niche makes it a very attractive purchase for some shooters. Therefore I don't understand why this lens seems to be so widely despised.
Again, thank you for going to the trouble of revising this review and including the ultra-wide converter.
Captain Cope