Samsung 16mm f/2.4 i-Function NX

This compact ultra wide has a surprisingly large f/2.4 aperture for its diminutive size, how does it perform?

Samsung has a nice set of pancake lenses that all measure about 62x22mm, and this is the widest of them advertised at 16mm, with a very decent f/2.4 aperture. The closest pancake is probably the Sony 16mm f/2.8 Pancake for NEX, and even for SLR lenses there are very few dedicated wide angle primes for APS-C. The Pentax DA 15mm f/4 is a nice lens, and even though it is small it is almost twice as long and 1 and 1/2 stops smaller aperture.

The build quality of this lens is better than the other pancake lenses. Instead of having a plastic ring behind the focus ring, it is brushed aluminum. However, the rest of the construction is similar to the other pancake lenses.

The lens has 7 elements in 6 groups, with a 7 bladed diaphragm, with circular aperture opening. The minimum focus distance is good at 0.185 m (7.3 inches), but the lens is a light weight for a large aperture wide angle, weighing only 75 g (2.6 oz).

Corrected JPEG

• MTF 50
• MTF 20
• CA
• Distortion

Uncorrected RAW

• MTF 50
• MTF 20
• CA
• Distortion

Comments on the Results

Uncorrected, this lens has fairly uniform performance across the frame on the test chart photographed at 1:53 magnificationHow large an image appears on the image sensor compared to how big it is in real life. Life size magnification means the image is the same size as the real object. My charts are photographed at 1:53 magnification, so if I photograph an area 53" wide it would appear as 1" wide on the sensor.. Performance is okay wide open, but excellent across the frame from f/4. In its corrected state, the corners get a bit softer (due to the correction for the barrel distortion). The default sharpening settings might over-sharpen the center a bit. Remember anything in the blue region is somewhat meaningless on MTF20I use the term resolution to refer to the MTF20 graph. This is how well the lens can resolve fine detail, but the contrast is low at this point. as this is above the Nyquist frequencyThe maximum resolutionI use the term resolution to refer to the MTF20I use the term resolution to refer to the MTF20 graph. This is how well the lens can resolve fine detail, but the contrast is low at this point. graph. This is how well the lens can resolve fine detail, but the contrast is low at this point. based on the size of the pixels, anything higher than this frequency isn't meaningful (it will alias). For my graphs this number should equal the number of pixels on the vertical edge of the sensor and corresponds to the blue (top) region in my MTF 20 graph..

After lens correction there is no visible distortion, but the uncorrected RAW files have a massive 5% barrel distortion. I noticed very little field curvature on my chart at 1:53 magnificationHow large an image appears on the image sensor compared to how big it is in real life. Life size magnification means the image is the same size as the real object. My charts are photographed at 1:53 magnification, so if I photograph an area 53" wide it would appear as 1" wide on the sensor..

Lateral CADifferent wavelengths (colors) of light have different magnifications and produce colored halos around high contrast objects near the frame edges. is acceptable, but visible. Oddly, the corrections don’t remove it. Longitudinal CADifferent wavelengths (colors) have different focus points, causing colored halos in out of focus regions of the image; typical is magenta in front of focus plane and cyan behind. is noticeable wide open, but mostly disappears when stepping down.

Purple fringingPurple fringing occurs around high contrast edges in a lens with high longitudinal CA in the focused areas; the slightly out of focus red and blue are fairly balanced and combine to create a purple halo. The sensor microlenses and color filter can aggravate purple fringing as well. is visible. It is mostly in the corners on the uncorrected images. It improves on stepping down, but is still visible.

ComaPoints of light are distorted near the edges of the frame. A circular point of light might be more comet shaped. is very noticeable wide open, but disappears when stepping down the lens.

The lens is extremely resistant to flareInternal reflections on the lens elements causes ghost images and other artifacts to appear in the captured image. Most common is internal lens elements and diaphragm shapes will show when a bright light source like the sun is in or near the frame.. I found it difficult to get any sort of flareInternal reflections on the lens elements causes ghost images and other artifacts to appear in the captured image. Most common is internal lens elements and diaphragm shapes will show when a bright light source like the sun is in or near the frame. spots to appear.

Measured focal length corrected distortion is approximately 17.7 mm at 1:53 and 17.5 mm at infinity.
Measured focal length uncorrected distortion is approximately 15.5 mm at 1:61.

Pros and Cons

Bottom Line

Gallery

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