Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? at DVinfo.net

Richard Tetik · February 4th, 2014, 07:57 PM

Hi guys,

My wife currently shoots weddings (cinematography), using a GH3 with the following lenses:
Zuiko 12mm f2.0
Pana Leica 25mm f1.4
Pana 35-100mm f2.8

I'm looking at helping her shoot and am about to get a GH3 for myself. Now I'm trying to decide whether to go for the same lenses above or I'm considering going down the Samyang & speedbooster route and would like to get your opinions.

The reason that I'm thinking about this is that the Samyang lenses look well built and will be a bit faster than the current combination of lenses used and I may be able to get a wider angle lens that the Zuiko. However, I love just hot tack sharp the Zuiko and the Pana lenses are. Will I be sacrificing any sharpness on the Samyang lenses?

So Lenses I would look to get would be:
Samyang 16mm f2.0 or Tokina 11-16mm
Samyang 35mm f1.4

My questions are:

1. Firstly what are your overall thoughts?
2. I really like the focus throw of the Pana 25mm and its easy to focus. Are the Samyangs focus throws too long to be manually focus pulling, or are they good to use?
3. Is the Tokina 11-16mm usable on a MFT? I've heard mixed reviews.
4. Are the Samyang lenses sharp wide open? I would be hoping to use them wide open with the speedbooster.

Thanks,
Rich

Patrick Janka · February 5th, 2014, 01:17 AM

I just bought the new Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye with m4/3 mount brand new for $265 on eBay. I played around with it today and I noticed the focus ring was a little stiff. I wish it had autofocus like the Pana 8mm, but that would require spending over twice as much. Not sure about the other lenses or if their focus rings will be the same, or if they'll unstiffen over time.

Jeff Harper · February 5th, 2014, 10:59 AM

Personally I'd stick with Panasonic/Olympus lenses, but that's me. The 12-35mm F/2.8 would be awesome and save you a lot of grief and time changing lenses.

Nigel Barker · February 9th, 2014, 07:11 AM

Unless you are mad keen on manual focus & the look of old stills lenses (soft & with a colour cast) then you are far better off using the purpose designed Panasonic or Olympus MFT lenses with AF. The proper lenses are small & light & very sharp. The camera bodies 'talk' with the lenses & correct spherical aberration etc

Noa Put · February 9th, 2014, 07:28 AM

Samyang lenses don't mix that well with the lumix ones, the lumix lenses render the color in a different way and they are also sharper.

Chris Gillooly · February 10th, 2014, 12:14 PM

I would go for the 12-35 lens you can normally get a deal on this package with the body, it's a great lens very versatile and image quality is excellent.

February 4th, 2014, 07:57 PM	#1
Richard Tetik Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 32	Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? Hi guys, My wife currently shoots weddings (cinematography), using a GH3 with the following lenses: Zuiko 12mm f2.0 Pana Leica 25mm f1.4 Pana 35-100mm f2.8 I'm looking at helping her shoot and am about to get a GH3 for myself. Now I'm trying to decide whether to go for the same lenses above or I'm considering going down the Samyang & speedbooster route and would like to get your opinions. The reason that I'm thinking about this is that the Samyang lenses look well built and will be a bit faster than the current combination of lenses used and I may be able to get a wider angle lens that the Zuiko. However, I love just hot tack sharp the Zuiko and the Pana lenses are. Will I be sacrificing any sharpness on the Samyang lenses? So Lenses I would look to get would be: Samyang 16mm f2.0 or Tokina 11-16mm Samyang 35mm f1.4 My questions are: 1. Firstly what are your overall thoughts? 2. I really like the focus throw of the Pana 25mm and its easy to focus. Are the Samyangs focus throws too long to be manually focus pulling, or are they good to use? 3. Is the Tokina 11-16mm usable on a MFT? I've heard mixed reviews. 4. Are the Samyang lenses sharp wide open? I would be hoping to use them wide open with the speedbooster. Thanks, Rich Last edited by Richard Tetik; February 4th, 2014 at 10:51 PM.

February 5th, 2014, 01:17 AM	#2
Patrick Janka Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 623	Re: Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? I just bought the new Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye with m4/3 mount brand new for $265 on eBay. I played around with it today and I noticed the focus ring was a little stiff. I wish it had autofocus like the Pana 8mm, but that would require spending over twice as much. Not sure about the other lenses or if their focus rings will be the same, or if they'll unstiffen over time.

February 5th, 2014, 10:59 AM	#3
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? Personally I'd stick with Panasonic/Olympus lenses, but that's me. The 12-35mm F/2.8 would be awesome and save you a lot of grief and time changing lenses.

February 9th, 2014, 07:11 AM	#4
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? Unless you are mad keen on manual focus & the look of old stills lenses (soft & with a colour cast) then you are far better off using the purpose designed Panasonic or Olympus MFT lenses with AF. The proper lenses are small & light & very sharp. The camera bodies 'talk' with the lenses & correct spherical aberration etc Last edited by Nigel Barker; February 9th, 2014 at 07:44 AM.

February 9th, 2014, 07:28 AM	#5
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? Samyang lenses don't mix that well with the lumix ones, the lumix lenses render the color in a different way and they are also sharper.

February 10th, 2014, 12:14 PM	#6
Chris Gillooly New Boot Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: England Posts: 9	Re: Should I go Samyang (Rokinon) Speed booster route with my GH3? I would go for the 12-35 lens you can normally get a deal on this package with the body, it's a great lens very versatile and image quality is excellent.