All posts by BastianK

My name is Bastian and I am your expert here when it comes to ultra wide angle lenses, super fast portrait lenses (ranging from a 50mm f/0.95 to a 200mm f/1.8) and I also have reviewed way too many 35mm lenses. Don't ask me anything about macro or wildlife shooting though.

Review, Sigma, Sony E-mount

Review: Sigma 35mm 1.2 DG Art II

August 29, 2026 BastianK Leave a comment

Introduction

sigma 35mm 1.2 dg art ii mk2 mark 2 fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7ii a7rii a7rv a7v z6 z7 z8 z9 zf l-mount leica sl panasonic — Sigma 35mm 1.2 DG Art II on Sony A7rII

Released in 2019, the original Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN was the first 35mm 1.2 AF fullframe lens. 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 the Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 LAB. It seems Sigma saw some room for improvement, as in late 2025 they released an updated version, this Sigma 35mm 1.2 DG Art II. On paper it is surprisingly lightweight and small compared to its predecessor, but what about the optical qualities? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Images

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Analogue, Nikon

Analogue Adventures – Part 56: Nikon AF3 35mm 2.8

August 26, 2026 BastianK 3 Comments

nikon af3 af 35mm 2.8 f/2.8 compact camera anlogue simple — Nikon AF3

Among all the Revueflex and Porst junk cameras I usually see on the local flea markets, I discovered the familiar “Nikon” logo on a compact analogue camera. The cameras was very dirty, there was no way of knowing if it actually works, but for 25 bucks I decided to take the gamble.

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 56: Nikon AF3 35mm 2.8 →

Nikon, Review, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss Otus 100mm 1.4 Apo Sonnar

August 23, 2026 BastianK 16 Comments

Introduction

zeiss 100mm 1.4 otus t* germany german high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp sonnar planar — Zeiss 100mm 1.4 Otus Apo Sonnar on Sony A7rII

Released in 2019, the Zeiss 100mm 1.4 Otus Apo-Sonnar might actually be the last lens Zeiss designed for DSLRs. Having been released shortly after the Sigma 105mm 1.4 DG HSM Art – but costing 2.5 times as much – surely puts it in a tough spot. Is there a reason to still get this rare and exotic lens today? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Images

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Canon EF-Mount, Nikon, Review, Vintage, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss 28mm 2.0 Distagon ZE/ZF/ZF.2

August 15, 2026 BastianK 12 Comments

Introduction

zeiss 28mm 2.0 milvus classic t* germany german high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp zf.2 ze — Zeiss 28mm 2.0 ZF.2 on Nikon FM2n

We haven’t seen a lot of exciting fast 28mm primes for the mirrorless mounts (yet), so today I am having a look at the Zeiss 28mm 2.0 Distagon (ZF.2 version) first released in 2009. Is there still a reason to consider this lens today or will it suffer the same fate as the Zeiss 18mm 3.5 Distagon I previously reviewed? Let’s find out!

Sample Images

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Review, Sony E-mount, Thypoch

Review: Thypoch 24-50mm 2.8 AF Voyager

August 11, 2026 BastianK 11 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!
Update 08/26: I received a mass production sample and had a look if there are any changes compared to the pre production model, but I found it to perform identically. After some delay the lens finally ships to the buyers.