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7mm lenses that you would recommend?
  • Hi all, I want to achieve a 14mm look. In GH13 language that would translate as 7mm lens. Has anyone come across a decent 7mm or even a 6mm lens that could be used without vignetting?

    Many thanks!

  • 72 Replies sorted by
  • Samyang 8mm F3.5

    image

    Samyang's offering is not only a good performer for its type, it also comes with an affordable price tag.

    http://www.photoreview.com.au/reviews/lenses/aps-c/samyang-8mm-f-3.5-umc-fish-eye-cs-ii

    taurus_dolly12.jpg
    595 x 398 - 29K
  • @zcream tried that, not working

  • Im going to port this to osx and post it back.

    1. First stage, download and install hugin.

    2. Copy all the files in /Applications/Hugin/HuginTools/ to /usr/local/bin

    3. Copy this to a script :-

    >

    #!/bin/bash
    clear
    set -x verbose #echo on
    export pwidth=5184
    export pheight=3456 
    mkdir panini
    for tiffs in $(ls -1 *.tif); do
    echo Defishing $tiffs
    echo p f16 w$pwidth h$pheight v140 n"TIFF" >> defishPANINI.pto
    echo o w$pwidth h$pheight f2 v140 y0 p0 r0 n"$tiffs" >> defishPANINI.pto
    echo m i0 >> defishPANINI.pto
    nona -o panini/P_$tiffs defishPANINI.pto
    rm defishPANINI.pto
    done
    

    >

    Lets call it hugin.bsh

    1. Modify pwidth and pheight with the resolution of your tiffs. They should all be the same dimensions.

    2. Change the permissions - chmod +x

    3. Copy it in the same directory as your tiffs and execute.

  • Im going to port this to osx and post it back. First stage, download and install hugin. Copy all the files in /Applications/Hugin/HuginTools/ to /usr/local/bin

  • @peternap did you get around to the ETC test with this lens? No worries if not. My camera is in the shop for an LCD issue, so I still have a couple weeks to think about a new lens.

  • @peternap Yes I know all about the fingers. Still happens to me and I have been using it for 2 months... :)

  • @peternap gotcha, they look interesting.

    Vitaliy definitely gets on this forum more than most forums OP's about keeping on topic, but I actually appreciate it despite my tendencies to meander off subject on occasion. 7mm lens 7mm lens 7mm lens =)

  • @mee I'm talking about the cameras HD2's. The software comes free (and still costs too much IMO) Glad the TV worked out and we'd better get back on topic before Vitaliy_gets a big stick.

  • @peternap Thanks !

    So you are refering to the cineform software, or the cameras? I have used the software a bit, but forgot whether I liked it =P I am reinstalling it now to have a look.

    A little bit off topic but I dumped my (rather my wifes) TV which doubles as my monitor off the stand today and lost the picture, I could see months without a new lens flashing before my eyes, and when my wife came downstairs to explore the racket, she said "thanks for buying me a new TV" to confirm what I already knew would be the scenario. Luckily with a dinky screwdriver I got the back off and wiggled connections till I found the right one! Game on!!!!!!! New lens is still in my sites =) though I was almost getting excited about finally replacing this mediocre non 1080 screen with something that would show the full quality of what I am filming ;)

  • @peternap Yeap it's sharp on par with 20mm 1.7. I have no freaking idea why Samyang isn't releasing new m43 lenses.

  • I'll do it today @Mee!

    Gopro http://gopro.com/ I have12 of them. We have a thread here somewhere on them. Rambo is the resident expert.

  • @peternap what is goPro?

    Also when you have a chance could you post a static shot of a room or something using the lens in ETC and one in Regular non ETC mode?

  • @duartix The corners are amazingly good, especially for an inexpensive lens. I straightened one clip in PP just to see what it was like and it's usable without cropping. To be honest, I like the fisheye look in some shots, I guess that's the GoPro in me. The color is excellent and it's plenty sharp although I don't think it's the best choice for any distance.

    My biggest problem so far is keeping my fingers out of the shot.

  • @peternap I guess I should have warned you it was going to be like that... :) About the cap, I really think you should get a holding string. I really hate them but then again, I rarely loose caps...

  • I just got the Samyang and after 3 minutes of playing....I'm in love, of course I love GoPro's too.

    The only concern I have right now is the lens cap. With no filter threads, it takes a special cap. I lose lens caps and buy them a half dozen in every size at a time.

    I have to find a source for these.

  • @duartix

    Thanks a lot!!! You are developing a Java app for that? Cool stuff.

    Yeah I like Samyang 7.5mm lens. Super sharp.

  • @mee : Using ETC is cropping on the sensor. You'll loose the wide angle because the framing will be tighter. The formula should be simple even though I can't produce it. The distortion is indeed reduced because it's naturally higher on the corners and lower on the center of the frame and you are going to crop it. There is however a penalty by using ETC and that is IQ (detail and noise levels). When you use ETC a captured pixel on the sensor is used to produce a pixel in your video output as opposed to the normal mode where a lot of sensor pixels from the 16MP are binned to produce each of the video output pixels.

    @peternap : I can guarantee you that it will end up mounted on the camera a lot more times than you would expect it.

    @stonebat : Yes, that is the workflow. Stereographic projection? I didn't have any plans but because you asked ok, but I'm not supporting the batch script because I'm devoting my time to a Java app that will do the same but a lot better. If you can't just wait, I'd say you take the batch script and change the choice block of code to this:

    • :Projection
    • Choice /C PRS /D P /T 5 /M "Which projection Panini/Rectilinear/Stereographic"
    • Echo:
    • If ERRORLEVEL 3 Goto :Stereographic
    • If ERRORLEVEL 2 Goto :Rectilinear
    • If ERRORLEVEL 1 Goto :Panini

    And you'll need to add another block:

    • :Stereographic
    • Echo Images in this folder will be converted to the Stereographic Projection.
    • Set folder=Stereographic
    • Set projparameter1=f4
    • Set projparameter2=v130
    • Goto DetectFileTypes

    f4 is Stereographic

    v130 I suspect it controls the crop. Possibly it's the final angle of the view but I could be very wrong. I suggest starting with 130 and see how tight is the crop. If it's cropping too much or too little change that v parameter until it fits tightly. Don't forget to report back!

    P.S. If my suspicion is right we might have a problem because that v parameter might depend on the aspect ratio but we'll worry about that later...

  • @peternap Sweeeet, I look forward to finding out, but surely not as much as you. Congrats on the new addition to your family ; )

  • @duartix

    Is this your workflow?

    • Convert avchd (or transcoded) file to TIFF sequence
    • Convert each TIFF to Panini or Rectilinear by Hugin
    • Import the new TIFF sequence into video editor

    Cool stuff. Any plan to add stereographic projection?

  • @mee I'll let you know after tomorrow mee. I just pulled the trigger on the 7.5 Samyang. Good old Amazon Prime next day delivery.

  • Sorry to repeat myself ... "If you use ETC mode on the 7.5mm samyang lens does it reduce the barrel distortion? If so how much? Does anyone have some examples?"

    too add a bit more to this question, I am basically wondering how this works with all lenses other than micro 4/3rd. It makes the image/ crop 2x zoom right? so I know this is probably obvious, but is it just using the center of the lens, and if so, does this completely change the angle of say a 180 degree lens, and if so is their simple formula for figuring the new angle, or does it vary from lens to lens?

    ad finally, am I correct in believing that a M 4/3rd lens that is say 7.5mm is in fact not cropped at all by the sensor, as the lens is presumably made specifically for the m 4/3rd sensor, and not adapted to it after the creation.

    Sorry for the noob questions, but I am really in need of a wide lens for work and am trying to wrap my head around it. A 7mm is a bit too fishy for my taste, and a bit wider than I need, so I am wondering if with the crop factor on a non m 4/3rd lens 7mm it would not be so fishy.

  • @DirkVoorhoeve Stick with MFT version, it was redesigned from scratch and has overall better quality. APS version is not only soft at wide open but you get 180 degrees angle only on APS cameras, for MFT that's slightly narrower. Native MFT lens is true 180.

  • If you use ETC mode on the 7.5mm samyang lens does it reduce the barrel distortion? If so how much? Does anyone have some examples?

  • Cheers @DirkVoorhoeve

    The wider the better because you'll need less pictures or end up with bigger overlap which eases the software's work. In this case there is little to choose from between a 7.5mm or a 8mm because you can probably get away with either one by taking 4 horizontally panned pictures, one extra for the sky and another one for the ground (to make your legs or the tripod's disappear).

    This guy has got some incredibly useful tutorials:

    In the end I would get the Samyang 7.5mm but that's because the lens is simply stunning. It's got top notch centre and corner sharpness, almost 0 chromatic aberration, stellar flare resistance, great build and amazingly small size. It's easily the best lens I own.

  • Sorry if this is a NOOB question, I want to buy the Samyang 7,5mm MFT or the Samyang 8mm Canon Cine lens. Main reason is to use it for 360 degrees panorama projections like this: http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/miscellaneous/domefisheye/extremefisheye/ I like the 8mm more because I could also use it better for video, but I am afraid that the angle of view or the projection is not right for my main goal (360 degrees photo).

    I did make a succesful projection with footage from my 14mm lens but am missing top and bottom info. So now I need a true 180 degrees diagonal angle camera. Please advise...