Samyang 35mm (and a comparison to the P20 f1.7)

It turns out to be an excellent combination (well unless you have ultra-unrealistic ideas of how fast AF should be or how far you can pixel peep the corners at f2.8 on a lens which costs this little).

I was tempted into buying this lens because while I've historically been into wider than 35mm (indeed perhaps 28mm being where I like to start) over the years I've changed.

This is not a strict review of that lens instead it is an oblique look at the angle of view difference between 35mm on (so called) Full Frame and 20mm on micro 43rds.

One of the things which changed me is the little Panasonic 20mm f1.7, which works fantastically on a compact m43 body to give great renderings (indeed the above shot was taken with the 20f1.7 at f4 (because I like my subject to be clear to allow you to look at it, not a personal WankFest on how shallow my DoF is). This is a picture of the P20f1.7 on my GF-1

As a lens its almost the same dimensions as my Samyang.

Now an interesting thing is that the Panasonic GH-1 has a "multi aspect sensor" meaning that if you set 3:2 you don't just get a different crop, you get a slightly wider angle of view (read my post on that over here).

 The P20f1.7 somehow always felt it made my GH-1 feel a little chunky (even though its still a very light and compact camera)

Very similar cameras when you have them in your hand for weight and size.

So I was interested to see (and that's what this post is about) what would the difference be between them in "angle of view" when I set my GH1 to 3:2 ratio. In the following I've made no effort to adjust the pictures, they're Straght Out Of Camera JPG. Camera on tripod and unmoved between images.

Sony A7 & Samyang 35

GH1 and P20 set to 3:2

Well ... just about identical isn't it.

Just for "shits n giggles" I'll throw in a shot taken at 16:9 which I often end up cropping to anyway (well not with the GH1, but other cameras), which shows wider again:

GH1 & P20 @ 16:9

which works out to be a bit wider doesn't it. This is something I've observed a few times here (example), and it gets wider again if you use RAW files and don't do the lens corrections.

Observations

Interestingly even with these SOOC JPG's its pretty evident that the Panasonic is a bit brighter looking in its image. This is something I've observed with every shot I've taken with the two cameras side by side. I'm not sure why, but I assume that Panasonic biases its exposure a bit more to boost up shadows (same goes for my GF-1). Its not a concern of mine, because I like the images both produce. But its an observation.

Also I found that the differences in sharpness and available detail (when looking at 50%) aren't so huge. I wouldn't call it double and unless you're intending to make super huge prints (I mean really, not just in your dreams of when you take that winning shot) that there is really nothing amazing to be had in the Sony A7 from that perspective.

I still like my m43 system (despite its age) and wonder if the Sony is worth having (for my needs and desires).

The experiment of ownership continues ...