Panasonic WVLA2.8 f1.4 2.8mm CCTV lens on Pentax Q7

[iangreenhalgh1]

This is a modern aspherical ultrawide CS mount lens for 1/2" sensors. I removed the mount and adapted it using a D mount adapter I bored out slightly so the rear element would fit through. It was an electronic iris lens but I have modified it so there is a little lever sticking out to control the iris. No focus as it doesn't need it, the dof is immense. It's equivalent to a 12.7mm lens on 35mm fullframe, so it's very wide indeed. Sharpness centrally is very good, but the corners are smeary. Distortion is surprisingly low for such a wide FOV, it is mostly barrel, but also some moustache. Contrast is a little on the lowside, needs a boost in PP, and bright lightsources at nightime flare like hell, so it's probably not got the best coatings.

It's not a Hologon or Heliar 15mm competitor, but it cost less than 20 quid and weighs less than 50g, so it makes a nice toy to play with and is a better lens all-round than the Pentax 3.2mm fisheye.

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#9 wide open at night, check out those flares!

#10 - wide open in a dingy supermarket

100% crop, not bad for f1.4!

[kds315*]

Yeah, cheap is indeed the only term that comes to mind. Bad would be next, or maybe the other way round?

But I have seen even worse than that...

[iangreenhalgh1]

Hiya Klaus. I value all feedback, good or bad!

Of course, this is an item that is more for fun than anything serious, I can use my a850 with Tokina 17mm for anything serious, but that combo won't fit in my pocket!

[Lloydy]

The subjects of your pictures don't do it any favours Ian, although as test pictures they show exactly what you want - if that makes sense?

The straight lines and perspectives that we know are there are badly distorted, and the edges are poor. Maybe used in the natural world those traits will be less evident?
Interesting lens though, these things have to be tried.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Hi Dave. Yup, I did nothing to try to play to the strengths of this thing, perhaps I can find a way to use it that hides it's weaknesses.

I do find it a lot of fun to play with though.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Took it out just before sunset tonight and can say it's a lot of fun to shoot with, makes the Q7 a real point n shoot as it's fixed focus with everything from a few cm to infinity in focus.

However, even trying to pick shots that hide the flaws of this lens the IQ really isn't up to snuff. It's very sharp in a central portion but the left and right edges are smeary crap. The vignetting can be mostly fixed in PP and some of the vignette and smeary edges removed by cropping, but the distortion can't be corrected easily as it's of the more complex moustache type and overall, the IQ just please me enough.

So it's a cheap, fun 'toy' lens to play with from time to time, not so bad for 20quid. I will find a better replacement eventually.

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[scsambrook]

I like #6 - !

[iangreenhalgh1]

Cheers. I thought the curvature introduced by the lens might match up with the curvature of the street and it did.

[Lloydy]

yes, I like those street pic,s as well. The lens has possibilities.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Cheers Dave. I tried a couple of nighttime shots and the lens produces huge flares on every light source. Might be attractive for video, but sadly, the video I have shot with the Q7 so far came out pretty poor quality despite being 1080p.