• Members 360 posts
    April 1, 2023, 6:44 p.m.

    Heya. As this magical lens is tightly linked to the M system, I hope it is not an offtopic here. Just giving some love to the M line.

    The 11-22mm lens is reasonably priced, small and light, sharp, ultrawide, has a healthy range, what´s not to like about it? Well, it has one more trick up its sleeve.

    It can go wider!

    Disclaimer: Although I have tried this trick with three 11-22mm lenses already with zero issues and zero damage, this style of use and handling is only on our own responsibility. Any damages and issues caused by inapproriate or other than intended use are on your own risk.

    Now, the trick:
    The lens has a locking mechanism on its barrel. Until unlocked and turned into its shooting position, a prompt for proper shooting setup is shown on the camera display. When you turn the barrel into the "wide" direction, it is stopped by this lock, so it cannot go wider nor it can retract till you use the switch.
    Well, there is a position, when the switch is unlocked and lens turned only slightly, where you get wider angle from your image while the prompt does not pop up yet, and so it is possible to shoot.

    See images below.

    Standard widest lens position:
    i.ibb.co/1fJ3kG0/Lock01.jpg

    Ultrawide trick lens position just before the prompt shows up on the camera screen:
    i.ibb.co/0yf9462/Lock02.jpg

    It is little tricky first, to get to the widest possible position, and each lens might react little differently (sooner or later on the path), but I would bet that one degree of the angle of view might be gained. Not a world of a difference, but notable!

    See comparison in basic widest position and "cheat" position (you have to open the full image to see into the corners):
    i.ibb.co/nCPS7pm/Wide01.jpg

    i.ibb.co/61SQZHX/Wide02.jpg

    No clickbait, I really did not move the camera. I pinned it down against the table and hard case of a power supply supporting the camera.

    Hope someone finds this usable or helpful. :-)

  • Members 39 posts
    April 1, 2023, 8:15 p.m.

    Good tip, I have read this before and tried it. Sadly, not every lens has a little play in the area that allows you to go a little wider. The tolerance of my copy of the 11-22 lens is exactly zero, any position beyond the lock triggers the message and you can't shoot.

  • Members 360 posts
    April 2, 2023, 4:14 a.m.

    Ouch. That's very unfortunate. All copies that I had in my hands, had some reasonable play. That is.... very unlucky and unsatisfying. My condolences go to you.

  • Members 39 posts
    April 2, 2023, 4:23 a.m.

    Not to worry... I also have the Laowa 9mm f2.8 which satisfies my desire for ultra-ultra-wide rectiliear ---- it's also very sharp and a stop faster than the 11-22 and even smaller, although it is manual focus and aperture and has no IS. It's pricier though (normally $500, lately it's been on sale for $400) but I was able to scout out a bargain on eBay for $300 secondhand.

  • Members 63 posts
    April 2, 2023, 7:53 a.m.

    I am in the same boat as Larry. My copy is one of the first available one in Germanny bought back in sumer 2013.
    The Laowa indeed is very nice, but I still have to make proper use of the wide view.