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: Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE

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.

Sample Images

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
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 14mm | f/2.8
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
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 14mm | f/2.8
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
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 14mm | f/5.6
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 14mm | f/4.0
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
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 18mm | f/2.8
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
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 18mm | f/2.8
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
Sony A7III | Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE | 24mm | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Samyang AF 14-24mm 2.8 FE

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE EVO Apo

Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo on Sony A7rII

Not that long ago we reviewed the Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo – the first lens of the Evo series – and it turned out to be a very compelling lens; correcting most optical aberrations very well in a compact, affordable package. It didn’t take long for Viltrox to extend the lineup, so here is the Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 Evo and this time Viltrox even added an “Apo” tag, hinting at even better optical performance. Did they design the ideal compact autofocussing 35mm lens?  Let’s find out in this review.
Update May 4th: new sample pictures added

Sample Images

viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE EVO Apo

Review: Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G

Introduction

nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

One of the first reviews I wrote here was for the Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G in 2016. A lot has happened since: Nikon now has its own mirrorless system, many new ~20mm lenses have been released in the meantime and also my testing methods have improved. A lot of reasons, to have another look at this lens.
Update April 2026: complete rewrite of the review.

Sample Images

Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8
nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8 | two exposures merged
nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/8.0
nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8
sony a7s nikon 20mm 1.8g black and white mustek prague
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8
nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/1.8
nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/11
nikon af-s 20mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G

Analogue Adventures – Part 51: Kodak Pro Image 100 ECN-2

Kodak Pro Image 100

I already shot Kodak Pro Image 100 and had it developed in the typical C-41 process, this time we see how it turns out when developed in the more complex ECN-2 process.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany. The pictures in this article are from one roll of film. Per recommendation when having the film ECN-2 developed I shot it at half box speed (ISO 50).

kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film Leica M6 ecn-2 50
Leica M6 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | ECN-2 | SLRmagic 50mm 0.95 | f/2.0
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film Leica M6 ecn-2 50
Leica M6 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | ECN-2 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film Leica M6 ecn-2 50
Leica M6 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | ECN-2 | SLRmagic 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film Leica M6 ecn-2 50
Leica M6 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | ECN-2 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film Leica M6 ecn-2 50
Leica M6 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | ECN-2 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film Leica M6 ecn-2 50
Leica M6 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | ECN-2 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/2.0

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 51: Kodak Pro Image 100 ECN-2