Hands On Review: SLR Magic 12mm f1.6 Noktor Lens for Micro Four Thirds

When news of the SLR Magic 12mm f1.6 Hyperprime broke, we announced it on our Facebook page. Our copy literally just came in the door yesterday, here’s a quick video preview of the lens. Note that this lens was primarily developed for videographers and in my conversations with the SLR Magic reps, the lens actually has T-stops and not F-stops. So like the Zeiss 85mm that we had hands on time with, it’s a cinema prime. What are T-stops? We explain it a bit in this article; but they’re f-stops only much more accurate.

Here are some stats right from SLR Magic:

1) 12mm Wide Angle
2) F1.6 Max Aperture (Best performance is at F4 but we were told to make this lens as wide aperture as possible)
3) ~2% distortion (optical distortion correction for natural perspective when taking photos of people)
4) 0.15m Minimum Focus Distance
5) 12 Stepless Aperture Blades for always round aperture opening like a cinema lens for better compatibility with GH2 and AF-100
6) Depth of field scale included
7) $499 MSRP due in October

Here’s an image sample I shot with the lens on my EP2 at f4 and without any editing. Indeed, this lens is significantly larger than both the Olympus 12mm f2 and SLR Magic 11mm f1.4; but to me it already seems to be giving both a run for their money: if you manually focus that is.

How does the lens feel? It’s very well built: all metal body and quite heavy for a micro four thirds lens. But it’s not overpoweringly heavy. More to come in the full review; stay tuned!

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

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Tagged as: 12mm f1.6, hyperprime, lens, macro, micro four thirds, noktor, review, SLR Magic, t stop lens

Southboy

i would like to see the comparison between well-known 12mm f2 olympus vs this
Ernest B

So, if it really is calibrated in T-stops, why the markings on the front say F 1.6? Shouldn’t it be more like F 1.4? Just sayin’ …

Lower part of your flower picture is smeared quite hideously, but I assume that it is out of focus? Are you sure it was taken at F4? Centering issues maybe? Steve Huff’s sample seems to be much sharper than yours… How about breathing? Does the lens exhibit any noteworthy breathing when focusing?

Nonetheless, M43 is heading the right direction. Interesting times! More affordable cinema-primes please!
Ernest B

So, if it really is calibrated in T-stops, why the markings on the front say F 1.6? Shouldn’t it be more like F 1.4? Just sayin’ …

Lower part of your flower picture is smeared quite hideously, but I assume that it is out of focus? Are you sure it was taken at F4? Centering issues maybe? Steve Huff’s sample seems to be much sharper than yours… How about breathing? Does the lens exhibit any noteworthy breathing when focusing?

Nonetheless, M43 is heading the right direction. Interesting times! More affordable cinema-primes please!
- Anonymous
  
  I asked about the markings as well, it’s because people are more familiar with F stops.
  
  That area is out of focus. I believe that it’s actually the angle that I was focusing at that’s the problem. I’m also focusing on the center petals.
  I didn’t see breathing yet but I have more work to do with the lens.
  
  Borrow lenses published a chart yesterday showing the differences between units and lenses. When I read it, it made a ton of sense to me.
  
  Chris Gampat,
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
  - http://cullervocoivistoproductions.fi Cinemator
    
    Correct me if i’m wrong. Hyperprime 12mm is most likely based on Kowa 8mm f1.4 C-mount lens with a possible custom teleconversion to enlarge the image circle. What puzzles me is how did they manage to keep the light loss so minimal? Astonishing!
    
    Original Kowa 8mm lens has claimed 120 lp/mm resolution at center and 80 lp/mm in corners. That custom teleconversion means more lenses, so final resolution is most likely lower than that.
    
    Sources:
    
    http://machinevisionstore.com/Catalog/Details/134
    
    http://www.uniel-denshi.co.jp/CCTV-LENSES/KOWA/LM8HC.html
  - http://cullervocoivistoproductions.fi Cinemator
    
    Correct me if i’m wrong. Hyperprime 12mm is most likely based on Kowa 8mm f1.4 C-mount lens with a possible custom teleconversion to enlarge the image circle. What puzzles me is how did they manage to keep the light loss so minimal? Astonishing!
    
    Original Kowa 8mm lens has claimed 120 lp/mm resolution at center and 80 lp/mm in corners. That custom teleconversion means more lenses, so final resolution is most likely lower than that.
    
    Sources:
    
    http://machinevisionstore.com/Catalog/Details/134
    
    http://www.uniel-denshi.co.jp/CCTV-LENSES/KOWA/LM8HC.html
    - Support
      
      Dear Cinemator,
      
      It is not possible to keep light
      loss to such a minimal from teleconversion. It would result to soft corners as
      well. We made a survey on dpreview forum asking what the most wanted lens for
      micro four thirds was. Everyone voted and this was what they have requested for
      us to design. This is an all new lens design and not converted from anything as
      you said. 58mm filter thread was chosen so that there is no lens shading from
      internal flash of the G3 and GH2. The front is large for optical distortion
      correction and large aperture. It is a very common design for MF wide angle
      prime lens.
      
      Andrew Chan
      Product Manager
      SLR Magic
      - Take 2
        
        bravo team SLR Magic! this is for grown ups that understand Oly or Pan would never take this chance for us. I love the old school Cin idea and ‘slight’ lens light beam distortions…the oly f2 has great auto focus -very sharp-lots of purple pitch in blue and white back drops @ f2 to f3 range.
- Anonymous
  
  I asked about the markings as well, it’s because people are more familiar with F stops.
  
  That area is out of focus. I believe that it’s actually the angle that I was focusing at that’s the problem. I’m also focusing on the center petals.
  I didn’t see breathing yet but I have more work to do with the lens.
  
  Borrow lenses published a chart yesterday showing the differences between units and lenses. When I read it, it made a ton of sense to me.
  
  Chris Gampat,
  Editor in Chief
  The Phoblographer
- Anonymous
  
  I just looked again. That area is clearly out of focus. I’m shooting that at f4 and focusing in the center. That area shouldn’t be in focus to begin with. Also notice that I’m not shooting straight on, so the plane of focus isn’t flat.
- Anonymous
  
  I just looked again. That area is clearly out of focus. I’m shooting that at f4 and focusing in the center. That area shouldn’t be in focus to begin with. Also notice that I’m not shooting straight on, so the plane of focus isn’t flat.
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Theresazphotography

I am looking forward to your full review, I am curious about the AF speed of this lens. It’s half the price of the 12mm f/2.0. If it’s giving the other two lenses a run for their money it may be a good way to go if on a budget.
- Theresazphotography
  
  Also, regarding your picture. I get the same effect of blur when I am shooting a macro and get very close to the subject.
  - Anonymous
    
    Hi Theresa,
    
    It’s a manual focus lens.
    
    Chris Gampat,
    Editor in Chief
    The Phoblographer
  - Anonymous
    
    Hi Theresa,
    
    It’s a manual focus lens.
    
    Chris Gampat,
    Editor in Chief
    The Phoblographer
    - Theresazphotography
      
      Thanks Chris
- Theresazphotography
  
  Also, regarding your picture. I get the same effect of blur when I am shooting a macro and get very close to the subject.
- Rs9058212591
  
  MF
  - Theresazphotography
    
    Thanks
Theresazphotography

I am looking forward to your full review, I am curious about the AF speed of this lens. It’s half the price of the 12mm f/2.0. If it’s giving the other two lenses a run for their money it may be a good way to go if on a budget.
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Ckjanes

Just got my SLR 12mm 30 mins ago, every review I have read talks about the excellent build quality, the lens flare, and other aspects of the camera.

Is it just my lens or what….but whats up with the aperture and focus ring?

Its absolutely horrible, especially for a lens having so much hype. The aperture rings pulls smooth but tight,,,and the focus ring is 10x worst. Not SMOOTH, and really TIGHT….REALLY disappointed about this lens, and I haven’t even taking a single shot….
- Felix Esser
  
  I’d say use it for a while; eventually the aperture and focusing ring will loosen a bit and become more smooth to operate. Otherwise, if you don’t want to wait, have the vendor exchange it for another copy. But bear in mind that QC doesn’t necessarily mean that only 100% perfect lenses get through. Also, as long as the optics are fine, I wouldn’t worry too much about a slightly stiff focusing ring. But that’s just my personal opinion.