p.2 #1 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
jp.gomez wrote:
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.
Panos might be a solution I did not think of to date. I‘ll try that as well. Need some experimenting.
p.2 #2 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
I’ve owned the Voigtlander 10/5.6 for several years and it performs admirably. The best part is shooting it on a A7R5 where I can get 10mm if I need it (corners are sharp enough) all the way to 20mm with cropping. Small, light, high quality, flexible, and WIDE. It’s not easy to shoot but when you get it right the images are fabulous. Crop mode gives you a quick 15mm which is nice.
p.2 #3 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
mudlake wrote:
I’ve owned the Voigtlander 10/5.6 for several years and it performs admirably. The best part is shooting it on a A7R5 where I can get 10mm if I need it (corners are sharp enough) all the way to 20mm with cropping. Small, light, high quality, flexible, and WIDE. It’s not easy to shoot but when you get it right the images are fabulous. Crop mode gives you a quick 15mm which is nice.
So you were not put off by weak corners?
I really like, that it transfers exif information to the body, supports full IBIS and weighs only 375g.
p.2 #4 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Knut. wrote:
So you were not put off by weak corners?
I really like, that it transfers exif information to the body, supports full IBIS and weighs only 375g.
Here are a couple of posts on the 10mm. I’ve posted a bunch of images in these. Check out the corner sharpness to see if you are ok with it. For me, the 10mm is sharp enough and I love the overall images. If you need sharper corners, you can always crop them and still have an 11mm or 12mm lens.
p.2 #5 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
Knut. wrote:
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?
If both the body and 14GM are good copies, well flange distance tolerance and centered copy , then the FC is a gentle forward curved, focus on the border (mid-field) for best performance.
p.2 #6 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
My current UWA lenses in service:
What I use,espsecially for architecture interiors, is Sony GM 12-24/2.8.Tack sharp across the frame and throughout the zoom range from wide open.
My second choice for other applications and when want to have something smaller and lighter is Sony GM 14/1.8,however for tack sharp corners it needs to be stopped down to f2.8.
The third is Sigma 14-24/2.8 - almost as sharp as GM 12-24/2.8,but with more limited focal range (I prefer 12-24/2.8 as I use 12mm pretty often).
The fourth is Voigtlander Heliar 10/5.6 - small and robust but corners are good only at f11.
p.2 #7 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
I own a Sigma 14-24mm DG DN ART and IMO it is a very remarkable lens. Heavy though!
I've read reviews that the Sony 12-24mm GM is better. Considering those reviews I've taken a pixel deep look at the corners of images taken with my Sigma ART and for the life of me can not comprehend buying the Sony @ 2x + the cost of the Sigma. ($2998 vs. $1389). The Sony has a low end of 12mm and the Sigma is 14mm and so I guess it is up to the buyer to decide if 2mm is worth laying down a credit card for the extra $1,600!!
If I was in the market for a Prime lens these two would be considered:
-Sony 14mm GM
-Sigma 14mm DG DN ART
p.2 #8 · 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?
The Sony 14mm GM may be the best compromise for you. It is remarkably lightweight considering the aperture. For carrying in the mountains, the weather sealing is a worthwhile advantage over the CV lenses. It never gets quite as sharp in the corners as the Sigma 14-24 or Sony 12-24 GM. But the 14mm is almost half the weight of the zooms.
p.2 #9 · Best (sharpness in corners, color) ultra wide (9-14mm) for e-mount under 550g?
jeffbuzz wrote:
The Sony 14mm GM may be the best compromise for you. It is remarkably lightweight considering the aperture. For carrying in the mountains, the weather sealing is a worthwhile advantage over the CV lenses. It never gets quite as sharp in the corners as the Sigma 14-24 or Sony 12-24 GM. But the 14mm is almost half the weight of the zooms.
These are very good points. Hiking is the real issue here. I found the weight dangling from my neck to be more critical than an additional pound or two in the rucksack.
A lightweight setup with 3 to 4 distinct lenses could do the trick (zooming with ones legs) and still maintain a high to very high quality:
Autofocus and splash water proof::
14-40-85 (Sony-Batis-Batis) - 1263g
Mostly manual focus (which I prefer):
12-21-40-90 (CV-CV-CV-Sigma) - 1228g
