Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?

The SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 opens to f/1.6, against f/1.8 on the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8, 0.3 stops brighter.

Which is lighter, the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?

The SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 weighs 330 g, 111 g less than the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 (441 g).

Which focuses closer, the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?

The SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 focuses down to 0.15 m, against 0.2 m for the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8.

Do the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 and the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 have image stabilization?

No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.

Is the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 better for landscape photography?

For landscape photography, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: it is 111 g lighter to carry.

Is the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 better for architecture?

For architecture, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: it is 111 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 vs SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6

Kowa 12mm f/1.8 has a newer design. SLR Magic 12mm f/1.6 is 0.3 stops brighter maximum aperture.

Both lenses are made for the Micro Four Thirds mount: the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 is a 12mm f/1.8 prime, and the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 is a 12mm f/1.6 prime. On paper the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 1, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8

f/1.8 · 12mm · 441 g

SLR HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6

f/1.6 · 12mm · 330 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 better than the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?

Newer design (2014 vs 2011)

Why is the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 better than the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8?

0.3 stops brighter maximum aperture (f/1.6 vs f/1.8)
111 g lighter (330 g vs 441 g)
17 mm shorter (60 mm vs 76.5 mm long)
Focuses 5 cm closer (0.15 m vs 0.2 m)
More aperture blades (12 vs 9)
Smaller filter thread (58 mm vs 72 mm)

Which should you buy?

By use

landscape For landscape photography, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: it is 111 g lighter to carry.
architecture For architecture, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: it is 111 g lighter to carry.
low-light For low-light shooting, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: its f/1.6 aperture gathers more light than f/1.8.
astrophotography For astrophotography, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: its f/1.6 aperture gathers more light than f/1.8.

Specification

15 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8	SLR HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6
Focal length	12mm	12mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/1.6 ◆
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/11
Lens type	Prime lens	Prime lens
Format	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Weight	441 g (15.56 oz)	330 g (11.64 oz) ◆
Dimensions	90.5 x 76.5 mm	73 x 60 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.2 m (7.87 inches)	0.15 m (5.91 inches) ◆
Image stabilization	No	No
Aperture ring	Yes	Yes
Aperture blades	9	12 ◆
Optical construction	12 elements / 10 groups	12 elements / 10 groups
Filter size	72 mm	58 mm ◆
Lens mount	Micro Four Thirds	Micro Four Thirds
Released	2014	2011

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Kowa
B · SLR

76.5 × 90.5 mm
60 × 73 mm

The Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 is 17 mm longer and 111 g heavier than the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens

SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6

Raoul Wallenbergs torg by ernstmikaeljansson

Olympus slr magic 12mm 1.6 by ernstmikaeljansson

Singapore City, Slr Magic 12mm T1.6 at T11. by cliffordlee1

Video reviews

4 on YouTube

Video thumbnail for Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 review 1

Video thumbnail for Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 review 2

Video thumbnail for SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 review 1

Video thumbnail for SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 review 2

Questions

Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?: The SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 opens to f/1.6, against f/1.8 on the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8, 0.3 stops brighter.
Which is lighter, the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?: The SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 weighs 330 g, 111 g less than the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 (441 g).
Which focuses closer, the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6?: The SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 focuses down to 0.15 m, against 0.2 m for the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8.
Do the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 and the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 have image stabilization?: No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.
Is the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 better for landscape photography?: For landscape photography, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: it is 111 g lighter to carry.
Is the Kowa Prominar 12 mm f/1.8 or the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 better for architecture?: For architecture, the SLR Magic HyperPrime 12 mm f/1.6 has the edge: it is 111 g lighter to carry.