I'm overwhelmed by the many lenses that come up in a search. Could someone recommend an inexpensive, wide-angle landscape lens for my Panasonic G85 ? It does not need to be stabilized because it will be on a tripod all the time. Thanks.
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Looking for a budget, non-stabilized wide angle lens for G85
- Thread starter red sled
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6 X 17 Feind
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Roughly what budget are you trying to stay under? Also are you opposed to manual focus only?
Thank you 6 X 17 Feind for your reply. I'd like to stay below $500 dollars and < $250 would be better. Manual focus is not the best for me because I can't trust my eyes for manual focus. This will be used for mostly timelapse shooting of landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, and possibly the night sky. Thank you.
richj20
Forum Pro
Prime or zoom?
KEH has a used Panasonic 7-14 for around $500
https://www.keh.com/shop/panasonic-...de-angle-zoom-lens-for-micro-four-thirds.html
A very versatile lens.
7mm
7mm
12mm
8mm
I have a "mini-review"here:
--
Richard
http://www.rsjphoto.net/
KEH has a used Panasonic 7-14 for around $500
https://www.keh.com/shop/panasonic-...de-angle-zoom-lens-for-micro-four-thirds.html
A very versatile lens.
7mm
7mm
12mm
8mm
I have a "mini-review"here:
Loading…
rsjphoto.net
--
Richard
http://www.rsjphoto.net/
Last edited:
Allan Brown
Senior Member
As you say, there are a lot of choices. I suggest two -
Panasonic 14mm f2.5 prime
Panasonic 12-32 zoom
Both of these provide very good results and are small, light and cheap.
I have both of them.
Allan
brentbrent
Veteran Member
Yeah, I'll also suggest a used 7-14. It looks like you can get one on eBay for around $400. Great lens. I ended up selling mine to get the 8-18, but if that lens had not come out I'm sure I would still be happily shooting the 7-14.
I don't do astro, but I'm guessing f/4 might be a bit slow for that. That's the only negative I can think of, if you are using it on a Panasonic body (it can produce purple blobs on some Oly bodies).
If 12mm is wide enough, OP could also consider a used 12-35 f/2.8. But I'd definitely go for an ultra-wide.
I don't do astro, but I'm guessing f/4 might be a bit slow for that. That's the only negative I can think of, if you are using it on a Panasonic body (it can produce purple blobs on some Oly bodies).
If 12mm is wide enough, OP could also consider a used 12-35 f/2.8. But I'd definitely go for an ultra-wide.
jeffharris
Forum Pro
If you can find one, the new Panasonic 9mm f1.7 would be perfect.
Otherwise, see if you can find a used Panasonic 7-14mm f4. FANTASTIC lens!
Michael Houston
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Personally, I'm a big fan of the Oly 9-18 - small, lightweight, economical compared to some of the other WA zooms.
You should be able to pick one up used for ~$250. Robin Wong is a fan, if you care about that:
You should be able to pick one up used for ~$250. Robin Wong is a fan, if you care about that:
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windmillgolfer
Forum Pro
Wide-angle, wider than the kit lens 12-60mm? If 12mm ( effectively 24mm) is not wide enough, set your tripod head level and stitch as many 12mm shots as you need. Use a right angle bracket if you want great height, or stitch 2 or more rows.
UWA, as in the 7-14 or 8-18, especially at the 7 and 8mm ends, is not necessarily the best for landscape. See last two links below, in my signature, for examples.
BBbuilder467
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You've mentioned having a 12-60, so you must have some idea what focal length you need. If you're looking for an ultra-wide zoom on a budget, the only real choices you have are the Olympus 9-18 and Panasonic 7-14. The 9-18 accepts 52mm screw-on filters, if that matters. It even works with the little Cokin A holder to use GNDs.
I agree with this, either lens can be found for £100 (ish) on the used market!!
Thanks everyone, you've narrowed the field given me some good lens ideas that could work for me.
Yes, I currently have the 12-60 kit lens and it's been good so far. That's why I'm leaning towards one of the Ultra-wides.
You folks who are into Astrophotography... do you think I will regret not getting a faster 2.8 lens for recording night timelapses ? I currently shoot a lot of sunrise and sunset timelapses and want to try night lapses soon.
EDIT: My apologies, this post was supposed to be at the bottom as a reply to everyone.
Yes, I currently have the 12-60 kit lens and it's been good so far. That's why I'm leaning towards one of the Ultra-wides.
You folks who are into Astrophotography... do you think I will regret not getting a faster 2.8 lens for recording night timelapses ? I currently shoot a lot of sunrise and sunset timelapses and want to try night lapses soon.
EDIT: My apologies, this post was supposed to be at the bottom as a reply to everyone.
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Mark Thornton
Senior Member
A great lens at a reasonable price.
Mark Thornton
Mark Thornton
Biggest problem is ultra wide and budget don't go well together.
I have the pl12-60mm and really sometimes i am at lockup 12mm.
I use then the vertical, portret panorama modes of the g80/85.
Downside jpeg only. And auto stitching.
I use / need to use the ultra wide not often enough to buy again an other lens.
Lumix 7-14mm f4 was one of the lenses i looked at. 700 euro new was too expensive for me for those few images.
Looked at two others:
Laowa 4mm f2.8? Fisheye.
300 euro.
Laowa 7.5mm?
And decided not to bother and use the panorama mode if needed.
I have the pl12-60mm and really sometimes i am at lockup 12mm.
I use then the vertical, portret panorama modes of the g80/85.
Downside jpeg only. And auto stitching.
I use / need to use the ultra wide not often enough to buy again an other lens.
Lumix 7-14mm f4 was one of the lenses i looked at. 700 euro new was too expensive for me for those few images.
Looked at two others:
Laowa 4mm f2.8? Fisheye.
300 euro.
Laowa 7.5mm?
And decided not to bother and use the panorama mode if needed.
blue hour
Well-known member
+ 1 for the new 9mm f1.7
Probably not budget options but the
Olympus OM System
8mm to 25mm f4 zoom seems to be very versatile.
The Lumix Leica 8-18mm f2.8-4 is very sharp too.
Probably not budget options but the
Olympus OM System
8mm to 25mm f4 zoom seems to be very versatile.
The Lumix Leica 8-18mm f2.8-4 is very sharp too.
Last edited:
You mentioned $500 as limit in another reply. The following are the only three lenses I see wider than 12mm and faster than f/2.8, at the online store where I buy.
Panasonic 9mm f/1.7 new is right at your budget limit and probably the best option.
The following two are way over $500.
Panasonic 8mm fisheye f/3.5, but personally I don't like fisheye for landscape use.
Olympus 8mm fisheye f/1.8 PRO, same reason as above.
There are 6 lenses that are manual focus only, which you ruled out anyway, but none of them faster than f/2.8
All the best.
nprnncbl
Active member
Do you use the magnify-to-focus option? It's a huge help, and I rely on it all the time with manual lenses. Since your goal is time-lapse of the sky, manual focus actually works very well-- once it's in focus, it stays that way.
If you go with a manual lens, there are a few more affordable options. Among the lenses I've owned:
- Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 fisheye -- excellent for the sky, harder if you don't want the fisheye distortion, unless you keep the horizon perfectly level.
- SLR Magic 8mm f/4 -- decent photos, but a usability nightmare; it's hard to adjust focus or aperture without accidentally changing the other
- Samyang 12mm f/2.8 -- nice and easy to use.
- Fujinon 2.7mm f/1.8 circular fisheye, adapted from C mount -- fun, but definitely a challenge, and doesn't come anywhere near covering the whole sensor
Tim Reidy Productions
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basic wide angles that are not stablized that I own
17mm from laowa f1.8
14mm from lumix 2.5
both are solid the top one is MF only.
17mm from laowa f1.8
14mm from lumix 2.5
both are solid the top one is MF only.
No-one has mentioned the Laowa 10mm f2. It is a good landscape lens by all accounts and I think within budget (cheaper than the Panasonic 9mm). Manual focus, but at least it has the electrical contacts that enable setting aperture from the camera, recording EXIF info, etc.
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