EMWL - 100 v 160

[jjmochi]

Hi all

 

I’ve been tempted by the EMWL for a while and recently found someone selling a second hand set w the 100 degree objective. I shoot a Sony A7R5 w the standard 90mm macro and the Nauticam 40 degree VF. The A7R5 has the ability to invert the LCD but not the viewfinder. I’m struggling to decide:

 

1) whether I really need the relay lens or not? I can shoot w camera inverted LCD and save some money on the relay. But I can’t seem to find much info on using it this way. Or with the EVF can you ever get used to shooting it upside down?

 

2) should I save on the second hand 100 or go straight for a new 160? If money is not a consideration my preference would be the 160. But the 160 is $2000+ more than the second hand 100 and I find myself going back and forth between just splurging for the 160 and thinking the 100 would be good enough. Does anyone have both and can comment on their experience?

 

thanks!

[Isaac Szabo]

1) I'd tend to recommend going without the relay (unless the used price is quite good). In my experience, the relay has some downsides, including reducing the image quality a little and making the system awkwardly long (though with some skittish subjects the extra length could sometimes be helpful). Going without the relay and flipping the image on your LCD is a viable option. Moving the focus point, reading the settings, and navigating the menu will all be inverted in that configuration, but in my experience that's not too difficult to adjust to. On the other hand, I don't think trying to compose without fixing the inverted image is viable. If you can't fix the inverted image, I find it's better to not even look at the image and just watch the front of the lens in relation to your subject instead. 

2) It depends on what kinds of photos you're wanting, but most people much prefer the 160 over the 100. If you're wanting the EMWL for extreme wide angle perspectives of small animals, I'd think you'd want the 160. The 100 is just not that wide. But again, if you can get the 100 at a considerable discount, it could maybe make sense to use it for a while and save up for the 160 later on. Or if you're not a big fan of fisheyes and prefer more moderate wide angles, the 100 might be a good fit.