Review: Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 AF Voyager

May 14, 2026 BastianK 7 Comments

Introduction

review thypoch dzo dzofilm 24-50mm 2.8 voyager af fe sony e-mount fe-mount fe lens contrast resolution sony a7riv a7rv a7v a9 a1 a9ii 42mp 24mp 61mp zomm bokeh vignetting — Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 AF FE Voyager on Sony A7rII

By mid 2026 we have seen a lot of lenses from the Chinese manufacturers: some with class leading optical performance, some with unique specifications, some very affordable. There is one thing we haven’t seen yet though (at least not that I can recall): an autofocussing zoom lens. I would have first expected a lens like that from Viltrox, Laowa or 7Artisans, but it is Thypoch – so far specialized in all manual M-mount lenses – bringing a lens like this to the market: the Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 Voyager. Did they succeed in designing a lens like this, or was it too ambitious? Let’s find out together in this review!

Sample Images

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Color Reversal (slides)

Analogue Adventures – Part 52: Kodak Ektachrome E200 (expired)

May 13, 2026 BastianK 2 Comments

Kodak Ektachrome E200 is a daylight slide film whose production ceased a very long time ago. I got my hands on a roll (expired in 2009), so let’s see what we are missing out on these days.
Processing (E-6) was done at ProLab in Stuttgart, scanning was done by one of our readers via a DSLR. The pictures you see in this article are from one roll.

review slrmagic hyperprime lm T0.95 leica m 50mm 0.95 lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignettingreview canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting — Leica M6 | SLRmagic 50mm 0.95 Hyperprime | f/0.95 | Kodakchrome E200 | E-6

Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 3.5 Color-Skopar | f/3.5 | Kodak Ektachrome E200 | E-6

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lenses, Nikon Z, Review, Takumar/Pentax

REVIEW: Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f/3.5

May 10, 2026 Martin 28 Comments

Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f/3.5

Introduction

Today I’m looking at another vintage lens: the Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f/3.5, made by Asahi Optical Co. before the company became Pentax. Over the years, this lens has earned a legendary reputation among vintage wide-angle lenses, praised for its sharpness and coatings that were considered exceptional for their time. Naturally, I wanted to see if the hype was real. Does it still hold up today, or is it simply a relic carried by nostalgia? Let’s find out.

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f/3.5 | f/8

Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f/3.5 | f/5.6

Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f/3.5 | f/3.5

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Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB N

May 4, 2026 BastianK 70 Comments

Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.2 lab fe pro af bokeh master gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 — Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB on Sony A7rII

Since its release in 2019 I have been using the Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN as my main lens for any kind of reportage work. It took until 2025 for another manufacturer to challenge Sigma by releasing a 35mm 1.2 lens with autofocus of their own. Actually, there were two at almost the same time: Nikon with their Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S and Viltrox with this Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB. As the Nikon lens sells for 3 grand it is out of reach for most people. This Viltrox lens is way more attractively priced, so let’s find out if it is time to retire my Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN after 6 years of usage.
Last Update May 2026: information on new “N” version added

Sample Images

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Review, Samyang, Sony E-mount

Review: Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE

May 2, 2026 BastianK 19 Comments

Introduction

samyang af schneider kreuznach lk 14-24mm 2.8 FE sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma sunstars z6 z7 z8 z9 lightweight small — Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE on Sony A7rII

Released in 2007, the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G was the first ultra wide angle zoom combining a 14-24mm viewing angle with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Coming in at almost 1 kg, many people considered it to be too heavy to carry around all day and that bulbous front element didn’t help either. Almost two decades later Samyang decided to show us what the advantages can be, designing a lens with the same specifications, but for today’s mirrorless cameras. Let’s have a look together at the smallest and lightest 14-24mm 2.8 lens – that even comes with a standard 77mm filter thread – the Samyang x Schneider Kreuznach AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE.