GH3 Rokinon / Samyang 10mm 2.8 vs 12mm f2.0.

Stab

Well-known member
I can't seem to decide between those 2 lenses...


I shoot a lot of weddings and I'm searching for an ultra wide to accompany my Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 and Rokinon / Samyang 85mm f1.4 on my Panasonic GH3 + G6. The lens will be mainly used on the 2nd camera (G6) during the ceremony for the wide shot.
I've went through 5 different copies of the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8, but it doesn't work well with my setup. Decentering, extreme soft sides, etc. Even though I use expensive adapters (Novoflex / Metabones / Speed Boosters), I couldn't get good results. So now I want to get it over with and buy a native MFT lens.


These are the 2 options I narrowed it down to. The Samyang / Rokinon 10mm f2.8 vs the 12mm f2.0.


Light gathering is important as often ceremonies take place in dark churches. I guess f2.8 is just fine though, but cutting it. 10mm is of course more wide but also have more of a 'wow' factor. 12mm is just plain wide, nothing special but gets the job done.


I can't really decide what's better so I'm asking your opinion. The price difference is no problem here so, what would you prefer? Which one is better?
Or, any other ultra wide angles that do take filters?
 
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A tad wider could be better, especially in cramped ceremony halls for instance so the 10mm has my preference. The problem is, sometimes the ceremony takes place outside and as the 10mm doesn't take any ND filters, I don't know if it would be still possible to get good results. I mean, with a shutter speed of 1/50 on a sunny day, wouldn't that mean that even f16 wouldn't even cut it maybe? The difference between f2 and f2.8 is not the issue for me, neither is the price. The main difference is the abillity to take ND filters.
 
Well if filters are important your choice is made- the 12mm. But if not, and you still have your Speedbooster, and the time for shipping back and forth, I would order the 10mm and try it on the booster and see how you like it- It will be muuuch wider than the 12mm (15mm equiv vs. 24mm equiv). And with a simple swap to a normal adapter you'll still have a 20mm equiv.
 
Oh, right! Well, if that's the case... would you be open to somewhat expensive filter add-ons like Lee Filter's SW150 system to open up your lens options?

And yes, f/16 won't be enough.
 
Alright so I decided to go for the 12mm f2.0. Although the 10mm had my personal preference, I decided that I don't want to fiddle around with adapters anymore in combination with ultra wide angles. Just spend too much of my time lately on getting lenses and adapters exchanged to get good results. It's mainly by B-camera and B-roll anyway that I'm shooting with it.

This (mini) lens seems to get the job done well. No more looking back at the 2mm difference. Thanks for the replies all.
 
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