Bower 16mm f/2 ED AS UMC CS micro-four-thirds

The Bower SLY1620OD nails macro with a 54.5 score in the 83rd percentile, but the total score of 27.3 out of 100 is near the bottom of our database. Manual focus only, no stabilization, and a 21st percentile aperture ranking make this a niche lens at best. At $469, you're paying a lot for one specific strength.

The macro performance is the headline here. A 54.5 macro score puts this lens in the 83rd percentile, which is well above average for a wide-angle. The 198mm minimum focus distance, about 7.8 inches, lets you get surprisingly close to subjects. Combined with the 67.6 degree angle of view, you can capture environmental macro shots that most lenses in this class simply can't manage. The two aspherical elements and high index low dispersion glass do real work here, keeping chromatic aberrations in check when you're shooting close-up detail.

But the rest of the performance picture is rough. The optical score of 74 sits in the 74th percentile, which is solid but not exciting. The aperture ranking in the 21st percentile means that f/2.0 maximum aperture is actually a weak point compared to modern competition. Bokeh lands in the 14th percentile, which makes sense for a wide-angle with a relatively modest maximum aperture. You're not buying this for creamy backgrounds. And the stabilization score in the 35th percentile is mediocre, though that's less of a concern at 16mm where camera shake is easier to manage.

Stacked against the competition, the Bower struggles. The Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 offers a massive zoom range with stabilization, and the Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS covers everything from wide to super telephoto with optical stabilization. Both of those lenses are far more versatile, which matters when the Bower's versatility score sits in the 33rd percentile. The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 brings autofocus and Leica optics to the Four Thirds mount, something the Bower can't match with its manual focus only design. The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS also offers stabilization and autofocus in a more practical package. The Bower's only real advantage is that 83rd percentile macro performance, but you have to give up almost everything else to get it.

Pricing is tricky here. The US listing sits at $469, while the Canadian listing is CAD 652. For a manual focus only prime with no stabilization and no weather sealing, that's a tough ask. You're paying for the macro capability and the fast aperture, but the aperture isn't even that fast by modern standards. The build quality score in the 17th percentile doesn't inspire confidence at this price point either. If you can find this used for significantly less, the macro performance might justify it. At full retail, you're paying a premium for a very specific use case.

The Bower SLY1620OD is a 16mm f/2.0 prime for Four Thirds cameras, and the numbers tell a strange story. Its macro score of 54.5 out of 100 lands in the 83rd percentile, which is genuinely impressive for a wide-angle lens. But the total score of 27.3 out of 100 tells you everything else you need to know. This is a one-trick pony, and that trick is getting close to small things.

At 975 grams with a 77mm filter thread and 13 elements in 11 groups, this is a chunky piece of glass. The f/2.0 maximum aperture sounds fast on paper, but it ranks in the 21st percentile for aperture among lenses in our database. That's because most modern primes at this focal length open up to f/1.4 or f/1.8. The 32mm full-frame equivalent field of view is a nice walkaround focal length, but the manual focus only design and lack of stabilization make this a niche tool.

Skip this lens if you need autofocus, image stabilization, or any kind of versatility. The autofocus score ranks in the 15th percentile, stabilization in the 35th, and versatility in the 33rd. The build quality in the 17th percentile means this isn't a lens you'll want to toss in a bag and forget about. If you shoot wildlife or sports, the 15 out of 100 score in that category is a clear signal to look elsewhere. And if you want shallow depth of field with creamy bokeh, the 14th percentile bokeh ranking will leave you disappointed. This is a macro specialist, nothing more.

The Bower SLY1620OD is a specialist's lens, and that specialist is someone who wants wide-angle macro shots on a Four Thirds body and doesn't mind manual focus. The 83rd percentile macro score is genuinely good, and the 198mm minimum focus distance opens up creative possibilities that most wide-angles can't touch. But the total score of 27.3 out of 100 is a blunt reminder that this lens falls short almost everywhere else. No autofocus, weak aperture ranking, mediocre build, and a heavy body make this a hard sell at $469. If you need wide-angle macro and you're comfortable with manual focus, this might be worth a look. Everyone else should keep scrolling.