GH2 Does anyone know when/where to buy SLR Magic Hyperprime 12mm 1.6?
- Thread starter VLance52
- Start date
I contacted SLR Magic on ebay, and this is what they wrote back:
Kindly send your request to support@slrmagic.com so that we can add you into our notification list.
The lens is planned to launch mid/end December and we have a long notification list at this moment.
Best rgds.,
- slrmagic
Kindly send your request to support@slrmagic.com so that we can add you into our notification list.
The lens is planned to launch mid/end December and we have a long notification list at this moment.
Best rgds.,
- slrmagic
I also emailed them a couple weeks ago and got this as a response:
"Dear J.B.
Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Thank you for your interest in our SLR Magic HyperPrime 12mm F/1.6 lens with black ring, for the micro 43 system. Our lens is available in limited quantity and we are delivering to those in our October notification list.
We have put you in our notification list and we will inform you in 2-3 weeks time about price, delivery and how to order.
Kindly note that there maybe import duty/tax charged by your country's customs office and the buyer is responsible for such import duty/tax. Maybe you can take the time to find out more details from your local customs office.
Best rgds.,
SLR Magic Sales Team"
I heard back from them again yesterday. They are asking for my address, phone number, and other contact info. Once they get it, they said they would send me a paypal money request for $499. Once I do, the lens will ship between Jan 20-30. According to the email I got yesterday, they are currently shipping to the people that are on the November notification list. Is anyone here on that list? Would be nice to hear from someone that was in my situation and received the lens as promised. I've been searching all over for info but haven't found much.
"Dear J.B.
Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Thank you for your interest in our SLR Magic HyperPrime 12mm F/1.6 lens with black ring, for the micro 43 system. Our lens is available in limited quantity and we are delivering to those in our October notification list.
We have put you in our notification list and we will inform you in 2-3 weeks time about price, delivery and how to order.
Kindly note that there maybe import duty/tax charged by your country's customs office and the buyer is responsible for such import duty/tax. Maybe you can take the time to find out more details from your local customs office.
Best rgds.,
SLR Magic Sales Team"
I heard back from them again yesterday. They are asking for my address, phone number, and other contact info. Once they get it, they said they would send me a paypal money request for $499. Once I do, the lens will ship between Jan 20-30. According to the email I got yesterday, they are currently shipping to the people that are on the November notification list. Is anyone here on that list? Would be nice to hear from someone that was in my situation and received the lens as promised. I've been searching all over for info but haven't found much.
aaronsternke
Active member
Ken Rockwell (not a videographer, a photographer) has some interesting opinions about Noktor...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/noktor/index.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/noktor/index.htm
oh my. Hilarious. A good site, some nice pictures and video or two and bam... you're in business.
I am primarily an audio guy and have seen things like this with microphones. One company sells a chinese mic for $250. Another buys the same mic, and after a couple of minor mods, it is a $650 mic. Another took the same mic in a different housing and with their name recognition, were asking $1200 for it. they got busted by the community and eventually redesigned the model.
Many a mic were bought based on online sound clips.
The entire scenario has been repeated so many times that people recognize the mic bodies as they're being introduced as new, from previous vendor offers.
Kudos to Ken and it looks like the FAQ has already been changed. Although, there truly is no foul for finding a niche and making a profit. That is what business is about.
I am primarily an audio guy and have seen things like this with microphones. One company sells a chinese mic for $250. Another buys the same mic, and after a couple of minor mods, it is a $650 mic. Another took the same mic in a different housing and with their name recognition, were asking $1200 for it. they got busted by the community and eventually redesigned the model.
Many a mic were bought based on online sound clips.
The entire scenario has been repeated so many times that people recognize the mic bodies as they're being introduced as new, from previous vendor offers.
Kudos to Ken and it looks like the FAQ has already been changed. Although, there truly is no foul for finding a niche and making a profit. That is what business is about.
You realize that Ken also says it his own FAQ to not trust anything on his website, that it's all for "entertainment". His own logic is as bad as those he criticizes.
David W. Jones
Veteran
I am not a huge fan of Ken, but he is correct here.
His "facts" are not wrong, but he makes it seem bigger than it is. His logic is still faulty - his conclusion/opinion about all CCTV lenses only resolving to 640x480 is laughable.
Marketing firms have been around for a very long time. For example, Vivitar never manufactured a single lens of their own, not even the infamous "Series One" line.
Marketing firms have been around for a very long time. For example, Vivitar never manufactured a single lens of their own, not even the infamous "Series One" line.
parkerdorris
Member
I ordered my 12 mm lens back in January and they estimated the shipping time to be sometime between Feb 10-15. I got a notification today (2/17) that the shipment was on its way, so they seem pretty accurate in their scheduling. I'll post an update when I receive the lens and try it out.
Fresno Bob
Well-known member
Just got mine today. Had to pay £30 charge from UPS on it, some I'm pretty angry about that.
I'm going to do a bit more research about what people think of the lens before I open the box, as money is a lot tighter for me than when I ordered it in November, so I may sell.
I'm going to do a bit more research about what people think of the lens before I open the box, as money is a lot tighter for me than when I ordered it in November, so I may sell.
FrameFarmMedia
Veteran
The UPS charge is probably their bogus brokerage fees if it's the similar to what they do here in Canada. In Canada if you request UPS gives you the import paperwork you can clear the package yourself and pay the taxes without inflated UPS costs. I'm just speculating though.
Fresno Bob
Well-known member
How is everyone getting on with this lens?
I decided to keep it, and have had a few days of testing it in various locations.
My reactions to it are mixed. It has a lovely warm feeling to it, and some shots looks fabulous - looks really good indoors picking up much more light and details than my other lenses.
But it has some quirks, the edges seem to blur a bit, but I can't be sure that's not the LCW Fader ND MKII doing that. I had to upgrade to a 72mm version to fit this lens and it doesn't handle so well - it can't deal with bright sunlight at this size as well, and has that 'black X' appear if you push it too far.
Also, the SLR Magic seems to have some really odd bokeh at times, really swirly and a bit 'cheap' looking, like a $30 CCTV toy lens.
It tends to look better when not opened up to the full.
I decided to keep it, and have had a few days of testing it in various locations.
My reactions to it are mixed. It has a lovely warm feeling to it, and some shots looks fabulous - looks really good indoors picking up much more light and details than my other lenses.
But it has some quirks, the edges seem to blur a bit, but I can't be sure that's not the LCW Fader ND MKII doing that. I had to upgrade to a 72mm version to fit this lens and it doesn't handle so well - it can't deal with bright sunlight at this size as well, and has that 'black X' appear if you push it too far.
Also, the SLR Magic seems to have some really odd bokeh at times, really swirly and a bit 'cheap' looking, like a $30 CCTV toy lens.
It tends to look better when not opened up to the full.
hscully
Veteran
It does have a nice warm feel and that is it's greatest value to me. I like the way it looks. It has a great personality like an older lens.
It works fine >= f2.8. I'm not really a "low light" guy. I don't use it for shallow DOF shots at all. I use longer lenses for that. It works well for me for wides. I will look again but I didn't notice any edge problems. It's a lot smaller than my Oly 11-22 and so works well on the blackbird stabilizer. The workmanship is a little less than I had hoped. The focus ring feels a little tacky on the SLR Magic. It certainly doesn't touch the Voightlander 25mm with regard to workmanship but it does cut nicely with it. So far, so good. I'm not totally knocked out by it but it's a good lens for the AF-100 and GH2 and I think it's a pretty good value.
It works fine >= f2.8. I'm not really a "low light" guy. I don't use it for shallow DOF shots at all. I use longer lenses for that. It works well for me for wides. I will look again but I didn't notice any edge problems. It's a lot smaller than my Oly 11-22 and so works well on the blackbird stabilizer. The workmanship is a little less than I had hoped. The focus ring feels a little tacky on the SLR Magic. It certainly doesn't touch the Voightlander 25mm with regard to workmanship but it does cut nicely with it. So far, so good. I'm not totally knocked out by it but it's a good lens for the AF-100 and GH2 and I think it's a pretty good value.
Fresno Bob
Well-known member
I certainly notice the difference on medium wide shots. Really nice filmic textures with none of the harshness of say the 20mm 1.7 pancake.
robertwerden
Well-known member
Is it me, or does this lens look like it has a wide angle adapter screwed onto it?
Julie_Freed
Member
By "tacky" what do you mean? The placement of it? Does it stick at all?
Also does anyone know how long it would take to get this item in the US? It seems it's been on backorder forever. And is it still a good deal? (the price seems to be creeping upwards, was $399, then $499, now $549)
Some people have ordered this lens successfully direct from the manufacturer in China. I've spent a few weeks trying to order from them. After the details were confirmed, and ready to hit the Paypal button, I didn't hear from them at all for about a week.
Today I checked with them again with their Chat service ( I saved the transcript ) and supposedly they claim it is no longer being made. Hope not! Can anyone confirm or refute this? Thanks!
Today I checked with them again with their Chat service ( I saved the transcript ) and supposedly they claim it is no longer being made. Hope not! Can anyone confirm or refute this? Thanks!
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