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SLR Magic 8mm f/4 – New Extreme Wide Angle Lens for MFT

February 28^th, 20172

SLR Magic 8mm f/4 - New Extreme Wide Angle Lens for MFT

by Jakub HanFebruary 28^th, 2017

Chinese manufacturer SLR Magic expands its lineup of Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lenses with the new SLR Magic 8mm f/4 ultra wide angle lens. The build seems pretty solid and the dimensions tell us this tiny lens could be good for aerial use. The filter thread is also a nice addition, and one not usually found in ultra wide angles.

The new SLR Magic 8mm f/4 MFT lens will be officially announced during the upcoming BVE 2017 fair in Excel London (February 28th – March 2nd). This wide angle lens is fully manual, and equivalent to 16mm in 35mm format, after considering the 2x Micro Four Thirds crop factor.

SLR Magic claims their new wide angle lens is perfect for interior photography, as well as architectural and landscape cinematography and photography. Thanks to its compact design, it could also be a lens of choice for aerial photographers and cinematographers, or in multi-camera setup for 360 VR.

I find the combination of a wide angle and fully-manual lens also good for time lapse, as in this case the automatic aperture control can cause an unpleasant flicker effect. For interior cinematography use, I would prefer a faster lens though. Generally, I see the new SLR Magic 8mm f/4 lens as a cheaper alternative to automatic wide angle MFT lenses.

There is already some aerial footage shot with this lens. Check out the video below.

https://vimeo.com/205525395

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $349 and the lens should be available in March 2017.

Some interesting news directly from SLR Magic is that they are currently looking for volunteers to test this lens at a “special price”. If you’re interested, you can send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “SLR Magic 8mm F4 volunteer”. Include sample videos/photos or link to photo/video reviews you have done in the past.

SLR Magic 8mm f/4 Technical Data

Optical Design – 9 elements in 8 groups
Distance focusing range: 0.10m to ∞ with combined scale meter/feet
Aperture – manually controlled diaphragm, 7 aperture blades , lowest value 16
Angle of view – 140 degrees
Filter thread for 43mm filters; filter mount rotates while focusing. Adapter for 52mm filters is included
Dimensions – Length approxmately 41.4mm (1.63″), Largest diameter approximately 46.1mm (1.81″)
Weight: approx. 110g (approx. 3.9oz)

Lens is now available for preorder. Links below the article.

What do you think would be the best use for this lens? Would you consider it instead of more expensive automatic wide angle lenses? Let us know in the comments below.

slr magic Wideangle lens 8mm lens Micro Four Thirds announcement 8mm mft