Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye (MFT) - Review / Lens Test - Samples & Verdict
Lens Reviews - (Micro-)Four-Thirds

Sample Images

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Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/250s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/250s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/400s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1600s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Exposure 1/1000s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/500s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/100s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 6.0s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 400
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/15s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure 1/640s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 100
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/250s
Make Panasonic
Model DMC-GF1
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 7.5mm
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure 1/80s

Sample Movie

Verdict

The Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 UMC Fisheye is certainly a more than welcome addition to the Micro-Four-Thirds system. The near-stereographic projection doesn't look quite as extreme as in conventional fisheye lenses despite the similar field-of-view so its applications are in fact broader and even pretty suitable for movies as well.
Furthermore, the lens is pretty sharp throughout the aperture range and this applies also to the image boarders. Lateral CA can be a little high at wide open aperture but this is hardly something to worry about from f/5.6 onwards.
The build quality of the lens is very good and it's compact as well as light-weight design is perfectly suited for the Micro-Four-Thirds system. To date Samyang lenses are purely mechanical beings - they don't offer any AF nor a camera controlled aperture. This may be something to get used to: focusing is normally a non-issue with a fisheye lens anyway and using a working aperture on the lens is no rocket science either.
Fisheye lenses are always fun and often useful but most users will usually not use them on a regular basis so investing big bucks is not an option for most. However, the dwarfish and very light-weight Samyang is not only a pretty good lens it is also a very affordable one and as such we can recommend it to all MFT ultra-wide angle enthusiasts out there!

Optical Quality:
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:
      
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