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.

Analogue, Nikon, Nikon, Sigma

Analogue Adventures – Part 55: Kodak Ektachrome 320T (expired)

August 5, 2026 BastianK 3 Comments

ektachrome kodak 320t tungsten slide film germany tübingen deutschland review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80 — Kodak Ektachrome 320T

As already pointed out: in 2025 no one makes slide film faster than ISO100 anymore. And no one makes slide film to shoot under artifical light (“Tungsten based”) anymore either. That wasn’t always the case and from 1992 to 2003 Kodak offered this Ektachrome 320T, a higher speed tungsten based slide film. These have all long expired, but thanks to our readers I got my hands on a roll. Let’s see what we can do with it.
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.

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 55: Kodak Ektachrome 320T (expired) →

Pergear, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Pergear 50mm 1.4

August 2, 2026 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

pergear 50mm 1.4 f/1.4 review sony e fe fullframe e-mount a7riv a7rv a7riii a7rii 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review coma vignetting bokeh — Pergear 50mm 1.4 on Sony A7rII

In 2023 Pergear surprised us with their Pergear 35mm 1.4 lens, as it turned out to be a compact and very affordable 35mm 1.4 lens with surprisingly decent image quality. In 2026 – 3 years later – Pergear released this Pergear 50mm 1.4: similar size, similar price, different focal length and a lot more competitors. Can this new lens also convince us? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Images

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Review, Samyang, Sony E-mount

Review: Samyang 100mm T2.3 V-AF

July 25, 2026 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

samyang v-af video cine 100mm af T2.3 f/2.2 2.3 2,3 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma sunstars z6 z7 z8 z9 lightweight small — Samyang 100mm T2.3 V-AF on Sony A7rII

In 2023 Samyang introduced a new line of Cine lenses called “V-AF”. Mid 2026 this lineup consists of 6 lenses, 4 of which are rehoused photography lenses. The 20mm T1.9 and this 100mm T2.3 are new designs though. At first sight there do not seem to be any disadvantages to using these lenses for photography – actually their casings look and feel much nicer than Samyang’s other lenses – and there are not a lot of alternatives with similar specifications available, so I decided to have a closer look at this Samyang 100mm T2.3 V-AF.

Sample Images

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Nikon, Review, Sigma

Review: Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX DG HSM

July 22, 2026 BastianK 3 Comments

Introduction

sigma 85mm 1.4 ex dg hsm sony a7riii a7riv a7v a7iv a9 a9ii a1 nikon zf z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 z6iii sharpness bokeh resolution contrast review — Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX DG HSM via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

During their EX era Sigma released two f/1.4 primes, the Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX HSM and this Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX HSM. The 50mm is a lens that can still be interesting today due to its good sharpness, appealing bokeh and very low price. Will the same hold true for this 85mm lens as well? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX DG HSM →

Leica M, Review

Review: Mandler 35mm 2.0 7e

July 18, 2026 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

mandler summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 seven element 7e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue — Mandler 35mm 2.0 7e on Leica M10

We have seen many new lens manufacturers from China and there are still more coming. This new manufacturer gave itself the name of a famous Leica designer: “Mandler”. And as their first lens they fittingly decided to bring us this Mandler 35mm 2.0 7e, which from the outside looks exactly like a Leica 35mm 2.0 Summicron-M IV. Will it also perform like the vintage Leica lens? Let’s find out in this review.
This lens will be reviewed on the 24mp Leica M10.