M43 Ultra-wide ideas

[SZRitter]

I would like to add an ultra-wide into my setup for landscapes and interiors. The two requirements are it has to be below $500 and accept filters. Size is not a primary concern, but bonus points for balancing well on an E-M5 with grip. Manual focus and aperture is also 100% acceptable. That instantly knocks out the Panny 7-14mm.

My current three ideas are:

Olympus m.Zukio 9-18mm - About $500 to $550 used (haven't found any under $500 yet)
Olympus Zukio 9-18mm w/ cheap ebay MMF 2 knock off - About $400 to $450
Sigma 10-20mm w/ cheap focal reducer - About $450 to $500 (Not sure if a DX lens w/ focal reducer works or not)

The side advantage to the 10-20mm is that focal reducer, which would also work with my 55mm f3.5 pre-AI Nikkor, which may be my all time favorite lens on any camera, as long as you don't wash out the sky or point it into a light source.

Thoughts, other ideas?

[RichDesmond]

I would like to add an ultra-wide into my setup for landscapes and interiors. The two requirements are it has to be below $500 and accept filters. Size is not a primary concern, but bonus points for balancing well on an E-M5 with grip. Manual focus and aperture is also 100% acceptable. That instantly knocks out the Panny 7-14mm.

My current three ideas are:

Olympus m.Zukio 9-18mm - About $500 to $550 used (haven't found any under $500 yet)
Olympus Zukio 9-18mm w/ cheap ebay MMF 2 knock off - About $400 to $450
Sigma 10-20mm w/ cheap focal reducer - About $450 to $500 (Not sure if a DX lens w/ focal reducer works or not)

The side advantage to the 10-20mm is that focal reducer, which would also work with my 55mm f3.5 pre-AI Nikkor, which may be my all time favorite lens on any camera, as long as you don't wash out the sky or point it into a light source.

Thoughts, other ideas?

UWA isn't m4/3's strong suit, unfortunately.
The focal reducer option will be the most flexible, there's some info on it over on the m4/3 site:

http://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=52850&highlight=metabones

other threads there too if you search.

It will be well over your budget but Kona has announced an 8.5mm prime.

[SZRitter]

UWA isn't m4/3's strong suit, unfortunately.
The focal reducer option will be the most flexible, there's some info on it over on the m4/3 site:

http://www.mu-43.com/showthread.php?t=52850&highlight=metabones

other threads there too if you search.

It will be well over your budget but Kona has announced an 8.5mm prime.

I've been searching that site for a while and completely missed that one.

I know UWA isn't the format's strong suit, and it isn't why I bought into it, but it is something I am going to be needing soon, and I don't really want to spend the money for another body.

[Sam Chapman]

I'm sorry, but I can only presume you are referring to a lack of ultra-wide prime lenses. The the 7-14mm Panny is based on the 4/3rds Zukio 7-14mm zoom which is an outstanding optic which I have been using since 2006, and am currently using this on my E-M1 via an MMF3 adaptor; unfortunately, unless it's it's in lousy condition, stolen or/and being sold by an idiot, you won't find one of these for $500! Apparently, Olympus is currently working on a m4/3rds f2.o version of the 7-14mm, which might appear around 2015.

[SZRitter]

I'm sorry, but I can only presume you are referring to a lack of ultra-wide prime lenses. The the 7-14mm Panny is based on the 4/3rds Zukio 7-14mm zoom which is an outstanding optic which I have been using since 2006, and am currently using this on my E-M1 via an MMF3 adaptor; unfortunately, unless it's it's in lousy condition, stolen or/and being sold by an idiot, you won't find one of these for $500! Apparently, Olympus is currently working on a m4/3rds f2.o version of the 7-14mm, which might appear around 2015.

The 7-14 doesn't work for me as it lacks the ability to use filters.

That said, after a bit of experimenting, I figured out that 12mm is ample for what I need. So, I am getting either the 12mm f2 or the 12-40mm f2.8.

I thought the 7-14mm PRO was going to be f2.8, not f2.0. I believe they are also working on a fixed 9mm for the PRO line.