SLR Magic 12mm Good or just average?

I've seen tests on wides from canon and nikon and it seems most usually shows some minor vignetting when at wide stops. With the 12mm I can't see it on footage but if I were to chart it it would probably show some slight darkening on the corners.
 
mico said:
I've seen tests on wides from canon and nikon and it seems most usually shows some minor vignetting when at wide stops. I can't see it on footage but that doesn't mean if I were to chart it it wouldn't show some slight darkening on the corners.
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Translation: I'm being too nit picky?.....lol
 
David W. Jones said:
To check for vignetting you would shoot a white screen then bring the stills into photoshop to check.
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Yeah sadly unless noktor owners do that test for us then we are out of luck. It's not like its available at our local retailers or rental houses. Otherwise its about biting the bullet and pulling the trigger on a purchase. I for one would love to see that test along with the tokina, olympus and maybe even a canon 16-35 or nikon 17-35 just for fun.

Hint, Hint.:)
 
Even though its a simple test it seems theres always someone with an issue about how a test was done so I'll exclude myself from that torture. I mean some people chased away John Brawley from the magic cam forum for being generous with his time. Ill leave the testing to the more masochistic types. There are videos in this thread , there are videos on youtube, and if you purchase from the Noktor site directly, like I did, you have a 14 day return window.
 
I'm with mico on this, in that I'd prefer not to be sucked into providing test footage because some folks are never satisfied, but at least here's a few screen grabs. Take it for what it is. Keep in mind this is with a 72mm CPL attached. There may be the slightest hint of darkening in the corners on some of the middle f stops, but I don't know if it's the CPL causing it. For my purposes, which is to shoot rather than pixel peep, there is no vignetting issue whatsoever.

http://oi47.tinypic.com/33axwd3.jpg
 
I have this lens.

Overall I'm quite happy with it.
Footage comes out very 'yellow', almost sepia at times.
Results can be a mixed bag - some stuff I get is incredible, other stuff looks a bit too digital - and used wide open the bokeh almost looks like a fake focus filter, with smeary graduations.

I'm undecided on it, and I've had it about 4 months and only used it about 4 times. Vintage lenses stay on my camera more. It can be hard to match the SLR to vintage lenses in post.
 
How are people finding this lens after having owned it for a while?

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit of a weak link in my collection.
I had a conversation on vimeo recently and some posters raised the rumour that it's a rehoused CCTV lens. My main complaint beforehand about the lens was that it reminded me of CCTV lenses in that it has funky bokeh and distortion.

I shot of a couple of nice things on it in full sunshine, but it disappoints me more often than not. And for the high price I paid to get it from China I do not expect to be let down.
 
Fresno Bob said:
How are people finding this lens after having owned it for a while?

To be honest, I'm finding it a bit of a weak link in my collection.
I had a conversation on vimeo recently and some posters raised the rumour that it's a rehoused CCTV lens. My main complaint beforehand about the lens was that it reminded me of CCTV lenses in that it has funky bokeh and distortion.

I shot of a couple of nice things on it in full sunshine, but it disappoints me more often than not. And for the high price I paid to get it from China I do not expect to be let down.
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Let me know if you want to sell. From experience this lens is amazing! Also it was proven countless times that it is NOT a rehoused CCTV lens. Furthermore the latest revision of this lens also has minimizing flares.
 
J.F.R. said:
Let me know if you want to sell. From experience this lens is amazing! Also it was proven countless times that it is NOT a rehoused CCTV lens. Furthermore the latest revision of this lens also has minimizing flares.
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I've got the first edition with the odd flares.

Can you point me in the direction of anything on the web about that proof it is not a CCTV?

I hadn't read anything about the CCTV rumours - I came upon that suspicion myself as there is just too much distortion and quirks in the image.
I'm no lens expert, so I can see how others would come to the same conclusion.

I gave it another go last Friday on some night shots, and yet again it was the weak link in my bag - nasty video-looking footage.
I'm going to need to take it out for a whole day to test it completely.
 
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I've got the Second Edition with the gear etc.

Never comes off of my GH2, shoot photos with it and video. Right now the only let down is that it's a 12 and I can't use it for EVERYthing, and that I don't have my MFT Blackmagic yet. =[

The 12/1.6 made me an SLRMagic convert, and I really am looking forward to what they do in the future.

I doubt it's a CCTV lens, comparing this to the 11-16/2.8 Tokina at the same/similar focal lengths it had less distortion and was (of course) a sharper lens by 2.8~4.
 
Kholi said:
I've got the Second Edition with the gear etc.

Never comes off of my GH2, shoot photos with it and video. Right now the only let down is that it's a 12 and I can't use it for EVERYthing, and that I don't have my MFT Blackmagic yet. =[

The 12/1.6 made me an SLRMagic convert, and I really am looking forward to what they do in the future.

I doubt it's a CCTV lens, comparing this to the 11-16/2.8 Tokina at the same/similar focal lengths it had less distortion and was (of course) a sharper lens by 2.8~4.
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Thanks Kholi.
Did you try the original lens that I have? Do you think there could be any differences in the image it gives?
As it's odd I have a real problem with the output of mine, and you swear by yours!
 
Fresno Bob said:
Thanks Kholi.
Did you try the original lens that I have? Do you think there could be any differences in the image it gives?
As it's odd I have a real problem with the output of mine, and you swear by yours!
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I have actually heard that there is a difference between the first version and the version I have, and a lot of people that owned the first version who've switched over said that they can see the difference as well.

IT's a pretty darn solid lens, to me. Some people may not like the flares wide open which is reasonable, but to me it's very usable at all apertures.
 
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