Introduction
We rarely review APS-C lenses here, but this tiny ultra wide angle looked so cute that I couldn’t resist to have a closer look at it.
Sample Images
Review: Laowa 9mm 2.8 APS-C
THE MANUAL PHOTOGRAPHERS SERIES PART 9: Hispan
B: Hi Hispan, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to use manual lenses?
H: Originally I studied history at the university (my PhD is still in progress) but I’ve always been interested in theoretical physics and cosmology, which is a quite wide range of interest. Photography came to my life later, in 2011 to be exact, and I was using only modern lenses in the first 3 years. The beginning of my “vintage adventure” dates back to 2014, after I got my first “fast” Canon 1.4/50 USM lens, and I wasn’t really satisfied with the image quality.
Continue reading THE MANUAL PHOTOGRAPHERS SERIES PART 9: Hispan
Zeiss Batis Sonnar T* 85mm f1.8: A Review
The Zeiss Batis 1.8/85mm lens has generated less excitement than any other Batis. Perhaps because it falls between the stools of two competitors: the excellent and cheaper Sony 1.8/85, and the Sony G Master 1.4/85. People think if you don’t want the GM lens, with it’s beautiful bokeh and low mechanical vignetting, you should maximise your savings get the Sony.
Often in the introduction to reviews we write teasers – Is this true? Read on to find out!! No teaser here. It’s not true. By all means get the Sony if you aren’t up for the added cost of the Batis. But the Batis is a great lens, worth the price if you can easily afford it and are looking for an all-rounder. Now for the teaser: read on to find out why.
Samples
135mm legacy Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M f/3.5 vs Canon nFD f/3.5 vs. Panagor f/2.8
Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 vs. Canon nFD 135mm f/3.5 vs. Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8
In my search for a compact but good budget telelens I came across the SMC Pentax-M 135mm f3.5 and the Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5. Later, I also found a Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 in Canon FD mount. These lenses are cheap, light, and small, but how do they perform?
Disclaimer: I only tested one sample of the Canon and Panagor, and two samples of the Pentax. Since these lenses are old there might be more sample variation than usual, other samples might perform slightly better or worse. Both Pentax samples displayed similar performance.
Specifications
| Specifications | Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5 | SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 | Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 (FD) |
| Diameter | 63 mm | 63 mm | 61 mm |
| Length | 85 mm | 66 mm | 88 mm |
| Filter diameter | 52 mm | 49 mm | 55 mm |
| Weight (ex. Adapter) | 325 g | 270 g | 411 g |
| Aperture | f/3.5-32 | f/3.5-32 | f/2.8-22 |
| Minimal focus distance | 1.3 m | 1.5 m | 1.5 m |
| Elements/groups | 4/4 | 5/5 | 4/4* |
| Aperture blades | 6 | 8 | 6 |
(*Based on the optical design of this lens for other mounts)
Continue reading 135mm legacy Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M f/3.5 vs Canon nFD f/3.5 vs. Panagor f/2.8
Hands On: Olympus 250mm 2.0 OM Zuiko Auto-T
Introduction
The Olympus OM 250mm 2.0 Zuiko Auto-T is one of those legendary lenses. Only few have been made and there has never been something similar again. So I was very excited to get the chance to have a look at one.
Samples
Continue reading Hands On: Olympus 250mm 2.0 OM Zuiko Auto-T