Best Wide and Ultra-Wide for Sony NEX?

[cooltouch]

I have a Sony NEX 7 and I've been very happy with the camera for the most part, except for the fact that all of my MF ultra-wide and wide lenses don't give me much because of its APS-C sensor size. The way I see it, I have a couple of options. The most expensive one is to buy a good full-frame camera, preferably a mirrorless. And the other is to just buy wides and ultra wides that will fit the NEX. There's a third option, I suppose, and that would be to buy a Lens Turbo or LT II for my NEX, which would allow me to use my MF wides and ultra-wides. But I wonder about the image quality, which is very important to me. I've come into some money recently so I can afford to buy an FF camera, but I just can't justify that sort of expense. I don't even want to justify the expense of the Sony 10-18mm zoom ($848 at B&H), so I've been looking at Samyang-made primes instead. Specifically the 12mm and 16mm ones. They both get good reviews at B&H, but I'm wondering if anyone here has tried either one and what your impression is of it? If you have any images taken with either of these lenses, I'd appreciate it if you would post them.

[calvin83]

Samyang have many wide angles:

1) 10mm F2.8 ED AS NCS CS for APC-C SLR/MILC
2) 12mm F2.0 NCS CS for APC-C MILC, can use filter.
3) 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC for FF SLR/MILC
4) 16mm F2.0 ED AS UMC CS for APC-C SLR/MILC, can use filter.

1) is the widest for APC-C camera.
2) is the fastest and most compact for your NEX 7.
3) If you want to maximum compatibility, this may be the best choice.
4) is not wide enough on APC-C camera and you should have a 17mm.

[Gerald]

Take a look at here:
http://www.lenstip.com/index.html?test=obiektywu&test_ob=404
http://www.lenstip.com/380.1-Lens_review-Samyang_16_mm_f_2.0_ED_AS_UMC_CS_Introduction.html

Maybe the Samyang 10mm f2.8 interests you, too:
http://www.lenstip.com/index.html?test=obiektywu&test_ob=407

The articles have a lot of sample shots at the end.

[sceptic]

I had the 12 mm f/2 for my Fuji X-E1 and found it to be very sharp (especially in the centre) and overall a solid performer. Some examples:

Bench by scepticswe, on Flickr


Split by scepticswe, on Flickr


Reluctant model by scepticswe, on Flickr

[TrueLoveOne]

I've been at that point as well, first i thought about buying a lens turbo but none of the results i've seen were satisfying, then i thought about buying "modern" wides for my 5D, but focusing a manual lens on it has it's limitations. (my eyes are not what they used to be anymore....)

But the fact that i still shoot film with my Minolta lenses and i didn't give them a lot of use on the crop-NEX because of the crop factor made me buy the A7 in the end.

Couldn't be happier! Best choice i've made i think, all of my old manual glass gets what it deserves now: a sensor as big as a film-frame combined with a (for me) perfect peaking system to focus.

Cheers, René!

[Antoine]

Same for me ...except I have not yet bought a full frame Mirroless. I use a Vivitar/Tokina 17mm f 3.5 and Minolta lenses from 20 mm to 500mm (mirror) on my A 6000 which gives me 25.5mm to 750mm eq FF and will end up FF. Don't know yet whether the Stabilisation is required or not as it comes with more weight and for more cash though.
Indeed, the focusing is harder than with film camera despite the focus peaking and magnifier. Hope they can improve in future.

[LucisPictor]

Sigma 12-24 with LensTurbo: https://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/schone-neue-weitwinkelwelt/

Sony 10-18 @ NEX-6: https://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/die-sony-nex-6-als-weitwinkel-kamera/ (Scroll down)

My final choice for my Fujis = Samyang 2.0/12

https://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/2014/07/05/samyang-2-012-cs-fuji-x-teil-1/

https://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/samyang-2-012-cs-fuji-x-teil-2-erste-fotos/

https://retrocameracs.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/das-samyang-2-012-cs-uberzeugt-mich-immer-mehr/

[newst]

[Lightshow]

I love my NEX-7, if only the sensor wasn't so picky, CV15III(Voigtlander) would be my first choice, it's small, light, and good image quality, but also $750, there is also the current CV12, it performs fairly well on the 7, a new version is coming this sprin(or sooner), and also a 10mm, plus all3 are getting a native E mount version, whatever you pick I would consider what future camera you may get, if you get a FF mirrorless in the future, any APS-C lenses will be of little use to you, and will end up selling and getting another lens that does cover FF.

RMC Tokina 17mm
The Samyang has good optics, but I am turned off by their build quality.

[tb_a]

Michael, I would also suggest rather the CV 12 mm lens over the Samyang.
I am very happy with this lens on APS-C, it's definitely wide enough and the advantage is that it covers FF as well. For the rare circumstances I would really need native 12 mm I would use it with film on any analog RF camera for max. FOV (a cheap Zorki or FED is good enough for that but you may need the optional finder as well). You may get the CV lens in M39 used for apprx. the price of the Samyang when new (I've paid apprx. 300 Euro for this lens but without finder which was nearly 100 Euro additionally). The rather slow max. aperture of only F5.6 is also OK for me as I'm rather looking for max. sharpness on ultra wide pictures and don't need any bokeh on a 12 mm lens at all. Maybe the CV 15 mm might also be wide enough for you, I don't know. It would be smaller and 1 stop faster. I own and can therefore recommend both.
In other words: The CV lenses give you more options incl. FF-usage.
Just my 2 cents.