p.1 #1 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
As a wider companion to my CV 21mm I am looking for a not too heavy (hiking in the mountains) ultra wide.
What do people recomend?
Would the CV 12mm still be up to snuff in 2025?
p.1 #5 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
QuietOC wrote:
Did you search for the F4 G or the F2.8 GM?
The 4/12-24G is also sharper than the C/V 21mm F3.5, if that is the one you already have and also sharper than the 15mm F4.5.
The Sony 12-24f4.. guess I never saw it's price before but was surprised it was 1700+. But if it's really sharp in the corners that would be impressive.
And now that you said 2.8 I searched that and wow.. 3k
Should also clarify I'm not the OP. I just get interested in things like this as that is probably the last lens I need. I have a 35-150 and a 200-600. So an ultra wide is all that is left
I use a Laowa at 14mm- the 14/4 in F-mount. The lens adapted with a dumb tube is right around 400g and, while it's bigger than others of its type, it has a removable hood, 67mm filter thread, and has lower distortion and is better color corrected than the little guys.
p.1 #7 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Jerky_san wrote:
The Sony 12-24f4.. guess I never saw it's price before but was surprised it was 1700+. But if it's really sharp in the corners that would be impressive.
And now that you said 2.8 I searched that and wow.. 3k
Should also clarify I'm not the OP. I just get interested in things like this as that is probably the last lens I need. I have a 35-150 and a 200-600. So an ultra wide is all that is left
You might want to consider a 16-35 instead--not that I've ever used one. I've gone through quite a few other ultra wides. I think I started with an old Tokina 17mm F3.5 that was awful. The old Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 for SLRs was actually pretty good and very affordable used.
I like the Sigma 16-28mm F2.8 DN I currently have. The little C/V primes are fun especially the 10mm. Maybe Sony will do something wider than 12mm eventually.
p.1 #8 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Is 16mm considered ultra wide?
I've been looking at the Viltrox 16/1.8 mainly due to the reviews that speak highly of its overall image quality.
It's affordable for a lens I'll use sparingly.
p.1 #10 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
ATPphoto wrote:
Is 16mm considered ultra wide?
Sony describes their 20mm F1.8 G as ultra-wide. It's also about the sharpest lens I have in any focal length. Sony also describes the 21mm converter for the 28mm F2 as ultra-wide. That was one of the worst combinations I've tried. The OP was asking for at least 14mm.
p.1 #12 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Knut. wrote:
As a wider companion to my CV 21mm I am looking for a not too heavy (hiking in the mountains) ultra wide.
What do people recomend?
Would the CV 12mm still be up to snuff in 2025?
---------------------------------------------
QuietOC wrote:
The Sony 12-24mm F4 G is sharper in the corners than the C/V 12mm F5.6 but also bigger, heavier, and more expensive.
I've been round and round on the quest for a modestly sized, high performance, ultra-wide lens for travel.
I've owned:
- 10mm Voigtlander
- 12mm Voigtlander
- 14mm Sony GM
- 15mm Voigtlander
- 12-24mm G
- 12-24mm GM
- 16-25mm G
and probably more I'm forgetting right now.
I'd been shooting the 12mm VC most recently, but didn't like that it's a ƒ5.6 and really needed to be stopped down a bit for peak performance. So, a couple months ago I decided to go back to the 12-24 ƒ4 for my upcoming vacation. It is a fabulous performer for its weight and price, but alas, turned out to be a little too bulky for my compact travel kit. So, before I even got back from the trip, I sold it and ordered the 14mm GM again. The 14mm GM is not a small lens, but it's much smaller than the 12-24mm G and performs at a very high level. It's also a ƒ1.8, which is a nice benefit for interior shooting.
If the 14mm GM fits your size/weight criteria, I'd recommend it highly.
p.1 #13 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Thank you for all the helpful suggestions.
I actually have both CVs (21/3.5 and 21/1.4). I tend to stick to the 21/3.5 when hiking.
In the mountains I sometimes have the need for a lens that is really wide. The horizontal FOV of the 21 is 81.2 degrees. 15mm is 100 degrees, that is just 23% more.
Size and weight wise I would love the 10 or 12mm CVs, they seem OKish.
An interesting suggestion was the Sony 12-24/f4 as it is only 565g, but this is already the maximum I want dangling from my neck when hiking. Looked at a few copies, did not find a lens that was well centered at all focal lengths. In addition I found the Viltrox 16mm (similar weight) a bit too much on my neck for longer distances. (Unfortunately at infinity my Viltrox couln‘t get the right and left side sharp simultaneously, I had to chose right or left sharp. Centering is always an issue with these lenses).
A sharp to the corners 10 or 12mm CV would really interest me. 12mm is discontinued, and 10mm was released 9 years ago, before Voigtländer‘s push for excellence with the Apo Lanthars came. Would be really interested in an improved version (I know, the 10mm already has 3 aspheric surfaces and 3 ED elements, but the effort put into the 35mm Apo Lanthar is higher: 4 aspheric surfaces and 5 ED elements. Considering the wider angle, I believe CV needs to invest more in an ultra wide than for the 35mm. I‘m unsure, if they are willing to).
p.1 #14 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
ATPphoto wrote:
Is 16mm considered ultra wide?
I've been looking at the Viltrox 16/1.8 mainly due to the reviews that speak highly of its overall image quality.
It's affordable for a lens I'll use sparingly.
I have the Viltrox 16mm f1.8. I do use it sparingly though. I used it in West Fork at Oak Creek, Sedona during the fall. Used it during my 3 day 2 night off road trip in the Mojave Desert Preserve and in the Grand Canyon last year. And have used it for astro here and there.
I think it's a great lens and sharp. I bought it based on Dustin Abbotts review as well as others. It is a bit heavier than the new Sony. But that's not really a deal breaker for me. Even with my health issues.
p.1 #15 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
ATPphoto wrote:
Is 16mm considered ultra wide?
I've been looking at the Viltrox 16/1.8 mainly due to the reviews that speak highly of its overall image quality.
It's affordable for a lens I'll use sparingly.
I thought the same, so I purchased one. It lasted about one month before it stopped working on my A7c. It froze my A7c to the point that I had to remove the lens and camera battery to "restart" my A7c. I returned it to Viltrox for a partial refund.
I've been round and round on the quest for a modestly sized, high performance, ultra-wide lens for travel.
I've owned:
- 10mm Voigtlander
- 12mm Voigtlander
- 14mm Sony GM
- 15mm Voigtlander
- 12-24mm G
- 12-24mm GM
- 16-25mm G
and probably more I'm forgetting right now.
I'd been shooting the 12mm VC most recently, but didn't like that it's a ƒ5.6 and really needed to be stopped down a bit for peak performance. So, a couple months ago I decided to go back to the 12-24 ƒ4 for my upcoming vacation. It is a fabulous performer for its weight and price, but alas, turned out to be a little too bulky for my compact travel kit. So, before I even got back from the trip, I sold it and ordered the 14mm GM again. The 14mm GM is not a small lens, but it's much smaller than the 12-24mm G and performs at a very high level. It's also a ƒ1.8, which is a nice benefit for interior shooting.
If the 14mm GM fits your size/weight criteria, I'd recommend it highly....Show more →
Most likely this is the best available solution. Most zooms (while exceeding fixed focal performance nowadays) are really heavy. And getting a well centered copy (at all focal lengths) is cumbersome.
The Sony 14mm has 104 degrees horizontal FOV and weighs 450g, it is really worth a thought.
How strong is the midfield dip of the GM 14mm?
At what f-stop does it go away?
p.1 #17 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Knut. wrote:
The Sony 14mm has 104 degrees horizontal FOV and weighs 450g, it is really worth a thought.
How strong is the midfield dip of the GM 14mm?
At what f-stop does it go away?
I haven't observed or tested for this. But I find the performance to be excellent.
p.1 #18 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
snegron7 wrote:
I thought the same, so I purchased one. It lasted about one month before it stopped working on my A7c. It froze my A7c to the point that I had to remove the lens and camera battery to "restart" my A7c. I returned it to Viltrox for a partial refund.
Ouch.
Hopefully that was a one-off. I just ordered one.
p.1 #19 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Knut. wrote:
Thank you for all the helpful suggestions.
I actually have both CVs (21/3.5 and 21/1.4). I tend to stick to the 21/3.5 when hiking.
In the mountains I sometimes have the need for a lens that is really wide. The horizontal FOV of the 21 is 81.2 degrees. 15mm is 100 degrees, that is just 23% more.
Size and weight wise I would love the 10 or 12mm CVs, they seem OKish.
An interesting suggestion was the Sony 12-24/f4 as it is only 565g, but this is already the maximum I want dangling from my neck when hiking. Looked at a few copies, did not find a lens that was well centered at all focal lengths. In addition I found the Viltrox 16mm (similar weight) a bit too much on my neck for longer distances. (Unfortunately at infinity my Viltrox couln‘t get the right and left side sharp simultaneously, I had to chose right or left sharp. Centering is always an issue with these lenses).
A sharp to the corners 10 or 12mm CV would really interest me. 12mm is discontinued, and 10mm was released 9 years ago, before Voigtländer‘s push for excellence with the Apo Lanthars came. Would be really interested in an improved version (I know, the 10mm already has 3 aspheric surfaces and 3 ED elements, but the effort put into the 35mm Apo Lanthar is higher: 4 aspheric surfaces and 5 ED elements. Considering the wider angle, I believe CV needs to invest more in an ultra wide than for the 35mm. I‘m unsure, if they are willing to)....Show more →
Have you tried taking multiple pano shots and stitching in post with your current lenses?
Viltrox 16mm 1.8 is on the heavy side for my taste as well. Recently announced Sony 16G 1.8 is in my radar, check it out. It's smaller and lighter than 20G.
I've been round and round on the quest for a modestly sized, high performance, ultra-wide lens for travel.
I've owned:
- 10mm Voigtlander
- 12mm Voigtlander
- 14mm Sony GM
- 15mm Voigtlander
- 12-24mm G
- 12-24mm GM
- 16-25mm G
and probably more I'm forgetting right now.
I'd been shooting the 12mm VC most recently, but didn't like that it's a ƒ5.6 and really needed to be stopped down a bit for peak performance. So, a couple months ago I decided to go back to the 12-24 ƒ4 for my upcoming vacation. It is a fabulous performer for its weight and price, but alas, turned out to be a little too bulky for my compact travel kit. So, before I even got back from the trip, I sold it and ordered the 14mm GM again. The 14mm GM is not a small lens, but it's much smaller than the 12-24mm G and performs at a very high level. It's also a ƒ1.8, which is a nice benefit for interior shooting.
If the 14mm GM fits your size/weight criteria, I'd recommend it highly....Show more →
+1 on the 14GM. I picked up on the B&S a well-tested copy of it a few years ago, and am shocked at how much use it gets in some of my use cases, such as when I want/need wide and fast due to lighting. We just got back from New York City where I could get everything in frame (normally) and could do pics of my wife/daughter either in dimly-lit museums, or in front of buildings etc. without worrying about working space (because there typically isn't any). Also was fun to use walking around Las Vegas earlier this year, fast enough for night shooting of neon lights etc. For reference I also have a CV10 (unique situations), CV15 (sunsets & tripod cityscapes), and a 16-35pz (hiking & outdoors).
