Remaster Slim vs. Small Zoom: Nonsense Ponderings.

Remaster Slim vs. Small Zoom: Nonsense Ponderings.

Recently saw a comment on Samyang’s FB page post about the Remaster Slim (Paraphrasing):

“What is the advantage of this over a small zoom?”

I almost took the bait and responded as if this was a genuine question, but ah, ah, ah… Then I remembered that most often these social media comments are not seeking an actual answer. Instead they stand as passive aggressive invitations to a petty comment section squabble. No thanks. I could be wrong, maybe they were well-intentioned… but life is too short to poke a potential comment section troll.

But, I did think this was an interesting question regardless of their intentions. I so happen to have a worthy constant aperture comparison zoom to answer this question.

And I used to have another smaller variable aperture option that I liked.

While the phrasing of the question can be construed as a “which is better” situation, I will treat it as asked. What is the advantage of a Remaster Slim? I say this because there are advantages to the small zooms as well, so I will address both in my humble opinion.

Remaster Slim Advantages Over The Zooms.

• Pancake lens, pancake lens, and in conclusion pancake lens.
  • How much smaller than any other “small” Sony lens cannot be overstated. It is properly puny. It approaches if not quite reaches half as small as the previous champions, Rokinon/Samyang’s own small f/2.8 primes.

• Unrivaled Sony portability.
  • Teamed with the Sony A7C series, which already rivals the size of APS-C and even smaller sensor having cameras, this brings about portability I had once thought impossible for full frame.

• AF/MF switch.
  • The small size is all Rokinon/Samyang had to do, but they went one step further. They added a well executed AF/MF switch that neither of the other two zooms offer.

• Looks cool.
  • I know, I know. This has nothing to do with taking a picture, but it is a much appreciated add on perk. And neither zoom can match it.

• Aperture compared to the Sony 28-60mm.
  • While the Tamron either matches or bests the Remaster Slim apertures available, the slowest Remaster Slim aperture, f/3.5, bests the Sony 28-60mm even at its widest focal length at f/4.
• Wider compared to the Sony 28-60mm.
  • 7mm does not sound like a lot but in practice, 21mm is quite a bit wider than 28mm.
• Niftiness.
  • Was not sure what to call this one, but I must say something about how impressed I am that Rokinon/Samyang conceived of this and executed it so well. In use, despite the innovation and ingenuity at play here, this just feels like a proper lens. Not the toy like or unfinished experience I was concerned about before receiving it. To have them also throw in a carrying case for the whole kit and lens modules just pushes it over the top.
• Value.
  • This may be the biggest surprise on this list. Despite the innovation at play here this Remaster Slim kit costs $300 less than the Tamron and $100 lens than the Sony. Some may have charged a premium for the smaller form factor. It looks like they have started discontinuing their older small f/2.8 lenses and that makes sense. I do not see how I would ever choose either of those over this. Especially when that larger 24mm f/2.8 listed for the same price as this whole kit. When I first heard the price I had thought Rokinon/Samyang was going to sell one lens module and make you pay extra for the others. I was quite surprised when I found out that this price included all three lens modules. Kudos to Rokinon/Samyang for this.

Zoom advantages Over The Remaster Slim.

• Video AF.
  • For stills I find the AF fine for Remaster Slim but video AF produces sufficient chatter that lav mics are a must. Both the Tamron and Sony zooms are significantly quieter for video.
• Flick of the wrist focal length change.
  • While nifty swapping out lens modules will never stand up to the convenience of a zoom ring.
• Broader focal range.
  • The Tamron goes a bit longer at 40mm and the Sony even more at 60mm.
• Flaring and sunstars.
  • Common to pancake lenses is some interesting behavior in direct sunlight an that is the case with the Remaster Slim. I am fine with it as I believe it suits the non serious nature of this lens kit, but flaring and… vertical(?) light aberrations are sometimes apparent. Fortunately, I like it. But if that is not your thing be warned.

Moving on.

Definitive choice?

I have none to give. Largely depends on what matters most to you.

If compactness matters a lot, you mainly shoot stills, and you are looking for something different that also happens to be a solid value then the Remaster Slim might be a good choice.

If a wide aperture and fast and silent video AF matters with a touch more focal length reach, the clear winner is the Tamron 20-40mm.

If reaching 60mm with silent video AF matters most then the Sony is the clear winner.

After using all three I can say that there is not a bad choice in the bunch. All of them create pleasing images at all focal lengths. Good times.

Happy capturing.

-ELW