OM System 7-14mm f2.8 Review For Astrophotography

[@tomweis1194]

An Olympus rep with a dry sense of humor once said to me that the 7-14mm f2.8 is "... sharper in the corners than it has the right to be." He was right! I love this lens. I use it for architecture (dentist offices which can be very tight), and some event work. I also have the 9mm f1.7 when I need more speed and/or screw-in filters. As always, thanks for your video!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

He does have a good sense of humor.

[@chepo1956]

Glad you're doing well, Ben! Jose, from Puerto Rico. I bought this lens used in mint condition, and it's wonderful for landscapes. Yes, it's hefty, but the quality shows throughout. I really enjoyed the review.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Great to hear!

[@BelfastBiker]

what are you saying at 5:08, just before metioning 3d printing?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Bahtinov mask.

[@lzwnn]

It’s my favorite Olympus lens, bar none. I have my old FT version and the MFT version, and they both rock. Nice review of an underrepresented lens! And you’re looking and sounding great!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Awesome, thank you! This week has been better.

[@lzwnn]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel so glad to hear it! Every day is a gift.

[@matttheking1655]

Thanks for your take on the lens, Saving up for it right now...👍 Hope your doing much better...

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I am! Each day is one to get through though.

[@bellasvistas3463]

I love that lens too. It's much smaller than the old version for my E series also 1 stop faster. I did have an issue Star Stacking in Lightroom and Photoshop I got a checkerboard pattern. I finally reduced the size of the Tiff Files and stacked them that worked. There was a lot of talk about a lens profile in the meta data. I know about Live Comp that works great as long as nobody looks at my camera with their red headlight on. Any idea how to avoid the interferenceproblem?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Small lights in the dark become really bright to sensors. Really you just have to keep them away. When you go to star parties sometime other attendees are really strict about it. I had a usb cable with a light on it that had people 30 yards away complaining once. Had to cover it with tape.

[@wolfgangkuechle9085]

Great review of a great lens. This is the perfect lens for capturing meteors like the perseids. However, don't forget to use a dew heater. The large glass element may dew up quite fast depending on your local conditions.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Thanks for the tips! I should have mentioned that and forgot.

[@RTFM70]

Thanks Ben. Very informative review.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

This is on my list to obtain, for even though my older FT 11-22mm has served me ever so well, I think this will be an excellent partnership with my new E-M1X (I've come to love this body over the past couple of months). I'm slowly but surely filling out my glass needs (just obtained the 100-400mm after a lot of debate over the 300mm prime) and this is likely the next to fill my landscape needs. Ever since discovering your astrophotography videos, I've been contemplating the darker skies here in western North Dakota and eastern Montana (once away from the oilfield flares, of course lol), so I might be dabbling with that a bit in the future, as well (thanks... I think... lol). Take care and feel better... Thanks, as always, for sharing the insights.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Em1x is a great camera. This lens fits it very well.

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel I shot roughly 1500 .raw files yesterday and never made it to the second card or battery. I was pleased, needless to say. The 100-400mm performed better than I expected and this lens is next to seek... Buying used "9's" or "9+'s" via BH has cut a lot (it saved me about $300 off the telephoto and I could find only the slightest of scuffs on the lens hood), so this is one I'll have in my kit relatively soon.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

@@johnniewelbornjr.8940 Agreed and I buy most of my gear used too.

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel Ordered a used "9" condition and saved about $325, so I can finally replace the 11-22 mm I've been using for a few years (a good 4/3 lens that's been around for eons but I have certainly found its weaknesses when I am doing my post-processing). I'm shooting mostly landscapes in a generally wide-open region, so this will be an interesting step up. The 8mm is one that's further down the list. Thanks again for assisting in the decision to obtain this glass.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

DUDE! Yur lookin great! I have this lens, but I have an astro question, just acquired the EM1.3, and is it better to use higher ISO's with low read noise for tracked shots of the milky way? Cheers!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

For that camera ISO2000 was my go to. But I you're not stacking your shots then use any of the lower ISOs you feel good with.

[@ridealongwithrandy]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel thanks 😊

[@JeffreyMcPheeters]

That lens has been a bread winner for me since 2015 and works well for event work, sports sideline and end zone shots, and all kinds of landscape/nightscape scenes. It’s outside on an OM-1 doing a Timelapse tonight along with a second OM-1 and 8mm to prepare for Perseids. I never thought to appreciate the novel way the front element moves to take advantage of the lens hood. Your powers of observation are formidable. One feature of the clutch I appreciate on all the lenses that have it is that it remembers the focus distance. If I want to “remember” a spot and won’t have time to reaquire focus I pop the clutch, focus manually on that spot, then re-engageto continue with AF. When the moment comes to take a quick shot at that spot, I point the camera and pop the clutch and it’s right where I set it.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I think I was aware of the clutches ability to remember focus position but have never thought of its use case. Nice thing to remember though. Thank you for sharing. See I learn things from your comments.

[@ABCMO-bl5pi]

You look and sound a lot better, in fact a lot like the old you. I hope my perception is correct and that things are indeed improving.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I seam to be improving with each treatment once I recover from it.

[@Canon1DMkII]

As a long-time Canon shooter, I have long dreamed of owning the very expensive and highly regarded EF 11-24mm F/4L. This lens is the m/43 equivalent of that lens. It is really fantastic and just so much fun to shoot.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

I really like this lens I have it. But I wish there was also a 8-34mm f2.8 for wedding photography. Most of the time when I'm on the dance floor I'm using my Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 sometimes I need something wider then 12mm and other times I need something longer then 14mm. I know there is the Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 might give that lens a try but its not a full f2.8 and f2.8 comes in handy for autofocus in low light.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I would love something like a 10-50 f2.8 but that might be a little larger. Would be great for weddings. I used to do wedding a lot but do not any more. I totally agree though the 12mm is not wide enough.

[@lightbox617]

Does anyone have a comparisom with the LUMIX 7 to 14?. I'd like to get an 18 to 25 but the cost is way above my literal pay-grade.

[@gregm6894]

I actually am trading the Panasonic 7-14mm for the Olympus 7-14mm. The Pany lens is small and lightweight, which is really nice, and it is very sharp. I've gotten some outstanding landscapes with it, but it is not weather sealed, it's an f/4 (no biggie), and most importantly since I shoot Olympus/OM cameras, it is pretty bad about producing ugly purple lens flares and Olympus bodies do not correct for that. I struggled with this decision because the Olympus lens is bigger and heavier, but I'm willing to deal with that increase.

[@2epete]

I've had a love hate relationship with the 7-14 due to it's propensity for lens flair if the sun is anywhere within frame, and it mostly stays in my bag on sunny days. I haven't tried it much for astrophotography, so that could be fun to play with at night.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I don't think I have ever put the sun in frame that often with this lens. That might be why.

[@kbruff2010]

Thanks for this ---- one other mention is that it is a weather sealed lens.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Yes, it is I should have mentioned it.

[@kbruff2010]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel all is good !!!! Best wishes to you Brother

[@johnsousa6708]

Thanks for your knowledge & time

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

You bet!

[@gamingwithstand6886]

I have this lens for wedding photography only used it a few times but it does come in handy when you need it.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Big groups in tight places for sure.

[@simonc8265]

If I already have this. Is there any benefit from the 8mm fisheye?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

That lens is a bit wider. I do have it also. A fisheye is always fun to use.

[@colintraveller]

Lense shares similarities with a Samyang 10mm F2.8 which i use for night sky captures and landscapes... How's your treatment coming along ?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Getting better with each round. I hope that means cancer is shrinking.

[@earthling8635]

Didn't actually tune in for the lens Ben. Man, you're looking solid!! So pleased. You're beating this dude!! 🙂How's the SVBony122mm? Still pleased with it? I have the 70ED and am delighted even with that!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Yes I am. It's a big jump though from a 70mm. I might recommend the 80mm triplet.

[@ffoeguk]

its a good lens Ben but I find difficult to use. I carry it everywhere but seldom use it. I have just bought a MSM and i am hoping to use it more with my OM1 now the dark skies are coming back. Have you used a MSM?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I do not have any experience with the MSM. Chasing luminance has some great advice about it though and he uses OLy gear too.

[@MoarenaZ]

I like more prime than zooms lens, now mi favourite is the 9mm lumix-Leica 1.7 with the OM 5 HHHR for Milky Way, light and compact setup for hiking and traveling!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I wish for a 10mm f1.8 and 6mm f1.8 from Oly. Maybe someday .

[@jimstirling7223]

I don't shoot astro very often but find the excessive field curvature even after extensive software corrections to be unacceptable in this lens and it holds zero appeal to me . Though I am a m43 shooter of many years now. There are a few better options amongst m43 mount lenses.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I have never noticed field curvature myself. Even with terrestrial and architectural targets. For astro even if it is a thing it's a non issue.

[@bamsemh1]

Which do you like better? 8mm f1.8 or this?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I do have both. The 8mm has its place but it is a fisheye and that is how I use it. In the corrected mode it feels to narrow.

[@bamsemh1]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel I will also use it as it is, whenever I get it 😊 if possible, I would also turn off the correction on the 12mm f2 lens, but it's always on as standard, from the lens information 😬 got too bored of turning it off on every single photo 😴 But is the 1 stop worth the sacrifice 🤔 1.8 vs 2.8

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

@@bamsemh1 That lens is quite good even wide open.

[@albutt7132]

I had the 8mm it was very sharp across the whole lens but very wide. For Milky Way I found it too wide in my area as there are always lights on the horizon. I appreciate that this can add to the photo but no way to avoid them. For really dark sites I imagine this lens would be great.

[@jeffslade1892]

I got the Lumix 7-14 f/4 years ago. It is slower but smaller, lighter, and importantly for me, cheaper. Both lenses are rectilinear. At f/5.6 - f/8 they're about equal, which is where you would be shooting conventional landscape. But my point, if you are thinking 8-18 or 8-25, there is a fair bit of difference between 7mm and 8mm. That last notch produces quite a big throw in the angle.

[@BethC.-cd7nu]

Great videos. interesting and great information...

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Agreed and that is one reason I picked the 7-14. I purchased mine right when the 8-25 came out.

[@jeffslade1892]

Filters on a UWA? They see too much light variation across their field of view to make filters useful. 7mm is nearly the whole dome of the sky, a CPL gives a very strange effect. An ND might be right one side but very wrong the other.

[@MarcoPi-pq5kg]

I ask to you and all the community. I am starting now with amatorial astrophotography, woth my om-1 and the 12-40 2.8. I am going to buy 9mm 1.7 panasonic lens, because i miss a brighter and wide lens and the lumix is tiny, light and affordable. Is it better to invest in a brighter lens but only 9mm or a wider one but darker, like 7mm 2.8? Thanks to everyone

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Depends on if you can use it wide open. I would search for others astro images amd see what stars look like in that lens.

[@joanantonim.p.2400]

👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻 Thanks 👋🏻🙋🏻‍♂️

[@pinkzombie]

I still own Olympus 7-14. But once I got a hand on Laowa 6mm f/2.0, 7-14 never leave my house again. It is that much better.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

It's wider too. Do Wish we had some fixed supper wide lenses in the MFT system. I actually blame this lens partly. It's so good I can see why there is little room for others though really there is room.

[@Jgatti41]

I've acquired this lens twice as part of trades for other gear. No matter how much I tried, I just could not like this lens. Mostly I do not shoot anything it works well for. I will say though the lens overall if excellent. Just not for me.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I bet the 8-25 would probably fit your uses better then. Not everyone needs a lens this wide and it is wide. Even I use it on rare occasion.

[@everythingfelixstowevideo328]

You must have some nerdy friends who find that clutch cool when you show them. 🤭

[@guthriethornley8245]

'Promosm' 🙄