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SLR Magic 23mm 1.7

Rawfa

Active member
Hey fellas,

I´ve just picked up from the post office the 23mm 1.7 for NEX that SLR Magic produced. They were supposed to release it for "mass" production but after a not so good review from Steve Huff (BD and sharpness were not optimum when compared to Sonys´24mm 1.8...which costs 3 times more) and some complaints about the price (us$350 at the time of the review) they decided not to go ahead with this lens and just sold the 100 units they had already made. Since I had applied as a beta tester I ended up getting one of these units.
My first impression is that it´s a solid very well built piece of glass. It´s also a pretty compact lens with a 49mm filter thread.
I´m at work right now and I didn´t have any time to test it yet but I will make some tests and post them here as soon as I have some time. I will probably use it for a video shoot this weekend, so I might post some video too.

cheers

Rafa
 

Rawfa

Active member
I´m by far not a pro tester or anything. So here are some very very basic tests:

f1.7

f2

f2.8

f4

f8



f1.7

f2

f2.8

f4

f8


Some quick and boring self portraits at f1.7





As you can see you can get REALLY close with this lens (about 3 fingers from the point of interest)




A crop of the above


These were all very very basic tests, but so far I like this lens. It has one of my favorite FOVs, it´s fast, it allows for semi-macro photography, it´s compact, not too expensive (actually very cheap if compared to Sonys´ 24mm 1.8).

I´ll post "real" pictures when I have some time to take it out. I´ll also post some videos.
 

pegelli

Well-known member
Rafa, nothing wrong with that lens, you're a lucky guy to have such a rare one.
Is it AF or MF?
Anyway, it'll be a real collectors item soon.
 

Rawfa

Active member
I´ve spent 2 days shooting with this lens for a documentary I was hired as a camera-man/still photographer. So far I absolutely love it. It´s very sharp with a low contrast feel to it that works great for video and allows for a very special photographic look. I´m exhausted from all the long shots during the weekend but I will post some samples as soon as I have some time.
So far I like this lens so much that I´m even scared what will happen if I lose it or break it somehow. Maybe if I post enough pictures and raise enough interest the SLR Magic guys will reconsider and start manufacturing the lens again. :)
 
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