Thoughts on wideangle zoom lenses.

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Yoak

Well-known member
I´ve mentioned in another thread that I just started a docu TV series with my brand new 101.
I have the Oly Zuiko 14-35 as my main lens, a set of Canon FD´s with a Novoflex adaptor where I will use the 50mm 1.4 probably for interviews.
I realized on my first day of shooting that due to the nature of the series I would need a really wide zoom lens. (I will shoot quite a bit inside cramped airplanes/cockpits)

I took my camera to a shop today to test out 3 different lense, I list them in the order I thought I wanted them:

The Oly 7-14mm Zuiko, as it would match my other Zuiko quite nicely
The Oly 9-18mm , because it was half the price and got very good reviews
The Panny 7-14mm, well it was there and I might as well try it
They all have a near focus around 25cm

I thought to share my experience so maybe it can help someone out that are not in the position to try them in person

The Zuiko, like the 14-35mm is huge compared to the 9-18mm (and the Panny as well)
It feels great, looked great, but was very big a concern to me due to the cramped spaces.
On the wide end it´s just too wide IMHO for video, but it could save the day if I really had to get a shot, and you don´t have to use it at it´s widest of course.

The Oly 9-18 looked like a toy in comparison, but for my need the size was perfect. The 9mm was more than wide enough I thought. As with it´s big brother it had very little distortion (amazingly little I thaught).

So I put on the Panny, another very small lens (a bit bigger), but at least it was black and looked more professional than the 9-18 (I know that souldn´t matter, but to certain clients it does;-))
Distortion wise this one was also very very good I think, but the focus ring didn´t feel very smooth. It was harder than the other two, but not as smooth.

So, firstly I decided against the Zuiko 7-14 as it was just too big for the locations I would bring it on this job.

I was set on the Oly 9-18mm as I thought it was more than wide enough, but then realized it had serious breathing problems, I mean serious.

SO I put the Panny back on to double check that one, and it had no breathing to speak of at all. Amazingly little for a still lens I thought (guess they had the 101 in the back of their mind when they made it ;-))

The Panny was in the middle price wise and part of me wanted to spend a little more to get the Zuiko (nice to have matching lenses, it looks good, it´s sealed etc etc), but in the end I decided on the Panny! The one I trie just for "fun" , there you go...

My reasoning was that the super wide is such a specialty lens, that when I need it (on this job) it would be nice to "carry it in the pocket" sort to speak, so I could just quickly throw it on and off.

I think they are all quality glass (I read a lot of reviews before I went as I only had my camera monitor to judge from in the shop), so if you need a ultra wide it really comes down to what you need it for and how the form factor fits your shooting style I think.

I would advise against the 9-18mm for video due to it´s heavy breathing though
 
The 7-14 is one of my favorite lenses, might be my favorite Lumix lens of all. It's sooooo wide, and it's smooth, and it's sharp, and it's rectilinear, and it's small, and (for what you get) it's getting downright affordable. I spent almost $1000 on it, and its price has come down to about $850 or so, and I still think it was worth it.

It is, as you say, a specialty lens. But it's just too much fun, and it performs very well.
 
I´m amazed at how "straight" the angles at the edge of frame is. I´m used to the ENG Canon HJ11 and it really distorts the image at the widest. I couldn´t belive what I saw when i put these lenses on.
I got one of the last in stock here in Norway, so I didn´t get it very cheap. I´m sure the price will go down when the next batch comes around, but I need it for Monday so even BH wouldn´t have made it in time. They usually only take 3 days to ship over here, but still I couldn´t risk it.

I do shoot quite a bit of extreme sport so it should really find it´s place there I think. Looking foreward to take it to the mountains
 
Yes, the edges are quite rectilinear. But, do watch out for the "stretchy corners" effect. Because it's rectilinear, the amount of distortion at the corners of the frame can be significant. It's like the lens is actually supposed to be rounding off the edges, but the rectilinear nature of it makes it stretch the corners so that they fit the edges. You'll notice it with faces in the corners, or when panning when at 7mm. It's not necessarily a problem, but it is something to be aware of when working with such an extremely wide optic.
 
Do you remember what the degree of rotation was on the focus ring for each lens? I know that at this wide angle it's less of an issue, but I was just curious. Thanks.
 
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