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Around Havant with a Risespray 7.5mm lens

ByGarf 2025-07-192025-08-18

I rather like Micro Four Thirds. Currently I have three µ4/3 bodies and a collection of both dedicated AF (autofocus) and adapted vintage MF (manual focus) lenses. Trouble with µ4/3 is that whilst we are very well catered-for in terms of long lenses, there’s a bit of a vacuum in shorter ones. So I decided to rectify this with the purchase of a Risespray 7.5mm lens, and tested it by wandering around the old English town of Havant.

Shortest lens I had before this was 12mm (that’s has the same effect as a 24mm lens would have on a standard 135 film or “full frame” camera). So this is quite an interesting experiment for me. Don’t let the bloody silly name put you off. Whilst “Risespray” sounds like some sort of garden hose attachment, it is the same as the “7 Artisans” 7.5mm f/2.8, but less than 2/3 of the price. It’s a beautifully made lens too – all metal and glass.

A focal length of 7.5mm is not as extreme as it may at first seem. 7.5mm on µ4/3 is equivalent to 15mm on 135 – with a viewing angle of approximately 190°. Judging by the various on-line reviews, it seems this lens is particularly happy on µ4/3 – though there are versions for other small formats too. So it’s bendy and a bit soft at the edges, as one might expect with such a wide angle lens, but not ridiculously so. Anyway, here are a few snaps from earlier today,as I wandered about the southern English town of Havant.

A few snaps

Camera: a rather battered Lumix DMC-GX7 mirrorless µ4/3….

South east entrance to the 2.9 hectare Havant Park. Pretty enough, but a tad boring. — South east entrance to the 2.9 hectare Havant Park. Shot makes the park look much larger than it really is.

West elevation of Havant's hideous Meridian Centre. I wonder if its architects ever considered careers in prison design? — West elevation of Havant’s hideous Meridian Centre. I wonder if its architects ever considered careers in prison design?

The local Waitrose. Whilst it's almost as ugly and down-at-heel as the Meridian Centre, this thing looks very nearly almost quite pleasant when viewed wide-angle, especially when topped with lots of fluffy white clouds. — The local Waitrose. Whilst it’s almost as ugly and down-at-heel as the Meridian Centre, this thing looks very nearly almost quite pleasant when viewed wide-angle, especially when topped with lots of fluffy white clouds.

A pleasing splash of summer colour - the flowerbeds just outside Havant Park. — A pleasing splash of summer colour – the flowerbeds just outside Havant Park.

The now defunct Whitehart pub, on the junction of North Street and East Street, with West Street and South Street just visible at the extreme edges of the image.

Another snap from the old town, looking south along Homewell

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I’m still very much at the learning stage with this sort of thing. But my early snaps suggest that it has the ability to make very ordinary boring things look quite interesting, perhaps even spectacular on occasions. So I anticipate plenty of shits and giggles with this lens. However, the jury is still out with regard to whether it is useful for anything more serious…

A few snaps

Gallery

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