Review: 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF

Introduction

7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF on Sony A7rII

It was the beginning of 2019 when I published my first review of a 7Artisans lens, the 28mm 1.4 FE+ – an M-mount lens optimized for Sony E-mount. Now, 5 years later, this 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF is their first autofocus lens. Let us find out what it is capable of.

Sample Images

7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF

Nikon AF 180mm 2.8(D): Versions, Teardown and Repair Guide

Introduction

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D on Nikon FM2n

As you may or may not know there have been several different versions of the Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 over the years. Most notable was the addition of the “D” feature in 1994, allowing the lens to transmit distance information to the camera for more accurate usage of camera flash. As this lens was first released in 1986 some of the samples approach an age of 40 years. As with every product that old, there are some things to be aware of when you are looking to buy a used sample. One of our readers, Q. Xu, did a side-by-side teardown of both versions, so we get to have a closer look at the differences between these versions and what to watch out for.
Of course this article may also be of help if you are looking to perform some kind of repairs on this lens on your own.

Continue reading Nikon AF 180mm 2.8(D): Versions, Teardown and Repair Guide

Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired)

Kodak Farbwelt 200

I found a few rolls of Kodak Farbwelt 200 that must have expired some 20 years ago and most likely they haven’t been properly stored at all. This first roll I exposed as ISO50 and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The lab wasn’t happy and told me the film was massively expired and the scanner had a hard time scanning the negatives. Let’s see if some usable pictures came out of this.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/5.6 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle canon 50mm 1.4 ltm m39
Minolta CLE | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/2.8 | Kodak Farbwelt 200

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired)

Lens & Accessory Spring Sale

Many of us here at the Phillipreeve team acquire too many lenses (and sometimes also accessories) and with some of the manufacturers it also isn’t easily possible to return the review samples after we reviewed them, therefore a bunch of stuff is for sale.
Update March 11th 2024: added new items, removed sold items

I will ship to all european countries and all prices are without shipping. If you live in Germany you can add 7€ for shipping, within EU should be around 16€.
Payment is possible via Paypal or Bank Transfer. If you decide by Dec 25th shipping will be carried out directly, afterwards shipping date will be Jan 10th.

I will only ship insured with DHL. If you want to come to Stuttgart you can also check out the lens you are interested in in person and we have a little chat.

All the items come without warranty.

If you are interested, leave a comment with your Email address (it will not be visible to the public) and I will get back to you.

PS: I might also be interested in trading in some of these things for stuff on my Lenses I would like to review list, especially a Canon 50mm 0.95 for M-mount.


The following items are former review samples:


AstrHori 50mm 2.0 E

astr hori sony fe 50mm 2.0 fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait compact
AstrHori 50mm 2.0

The same exact lens from this review.

This lens has only been used for the review and is in as-new condition.
Update: comes with retail box and both caps.

49€ + shipping


Continue reading Lens & Accessory Spring Sale

Review: KMZ Helios 40, 85mm f/1.5 – Can the Legend Live up to Its Reputation?

Introduction

Review KMZ Helios 40 40-2 Zenit 85mm 1.5 nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 on a Nikon Z 7II

Impact-Site-Verification: a2860072-f116-4f45-9cf9-c8b7959dd6e4

This time we take a look at another famed vintage lens, namely the legendary Helios 40. It’s an 85mm f/1.5 lens, known for, let´s see if we get it from its many titles: The King of Bokeh, The Bokeh King, the Russian Bokeh King, The Funky Bokeh King, The King of Russian Weird Bokeh, The Vintage Lenses’ King of Bokeh, etc. etc. etc. Dear child has many names. You get it, it has a reputation for its bokeh. It is also very popular among videographers seeking a dreamy vintage look with beautiful bokeh in their footage. While this lens was quite popular even back in the day, it has grown in popularity during the digital era to new heights and created kind of a cult around itself.

It was made by KMZ in the former Soviet Union for the Zenit range of SLR cameras. Like the previously reviewed “Helios 44”, there is a belief that when Russians got their hands on Zeiss Jena factory by the end of WWII, they took back the technology and drawings of many lenses to the Soviet Union, copied, and manufactured them. This one is believed to be a “copy” of Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 from 1938. While the optical formula is very similar, it is a widespread Double Gauss Planar design. Besides, it is an 85mm lens. Therefore, some claim it was designed by Russian engineers themselves “based on” the Biotar 75/1.5 in 1950. Anyway, let’s have a closer look at it!

Sample Images

Review KMZ Helios 40 40-2 Zenit 85mm 1.5 nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z 7 z 7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5
Review KMZ Helios 40 40-2 Zenit 85mm 1.5 nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z 7 z 7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5
Review KMZ Helios 40 40-2 Zenit 85mm 1.5 nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z 7 z 7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5
Review KMZ Helios 40 40-2 Zenit 85mm 1.5 nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z 7 z 7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5

Continue reading Review: KMZ Helios 40, 85mm f/1.5 – Can the Legend Live up to Its Reputation?

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