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.
Laowa, lenses, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa 35mm 0.95 – The world’s fastest 35mm lens

55 Comments

Introduction

laowa 35mm 0.95 worlds fastest lens review bokeh 42mp 61mp laowa venus optics venuslens fullframe contrast resolution bokeh
Laowa 35mm 0.95 FF on Sony A7rII

By now I have used over 150 lenses – of which 20 are 35mm lenses and most of them reviewed here – and it is safe to say that nowadays I am rarely excited about a new release in this focal length range. This Laowa 35mm 0.95 is not only the fastest 35mm fullframe lens though, it is also the widest f/0.95 fullframe lens – so two records in one lens (as of 2021 and counting).
Such bold designs often spot noticeable compromises, will this also be the case here? Let us find out in this review.

Sample Images

laowa 35mm 0.95 worlds fastest lens review bokeh 42mp 61mp laowa venus optics venuslens fullframe contrast resolution bokeh optical vignetting fall off
Sony A7III | Laowa 35mm 0.95 | f/0.95
laowa 35mm 0.95 worlds fastest lens review bokeh 42mp 61mp laowa venus optics venuslens fullframe contrast resolution bokeh optical vignetting fall off
Sony A7III | Laowa 35mm 0.95 | f/0.95
laowa 35mm 0.95 worlds fastest lens review bokeh 42mp 61mp laowa venus optics venuslens fullframe contrast resolution bokeh optical vignetting fall off
Sony A7III | Laowa 35mm 0.95 | f/0.95
laowa 35mm 0.95 worlds fastest lens review bokeh 42mp 61mp laowa venus optics venuslens fullframe contrast resolution bokeh optical vignetting fall off
Sony A7III | Laowa 35mm 0.95 | f/0.95

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Review, Sony E-mount, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 E

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Introduction

ttartisan 50mm 1.4 sony a7riii a7riv sharpness bokeh resolution contrast review e-mount
TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 E on Sony A7rII

The TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 M is one of my favorite affordable modern manual focus lenses, now after the M-mount version we are getting a native (and cheaper!) E-mount version.
What has changed? Optically: nothing, mechanically: a bit, MSRP: a lot. So let us have a closer look which makes more sense to get as an E-mount user.

This lens is optically the same as the M-mount version so I will reuse many sections of my review of the M-mount version here.

Sample Images

ttartisan 50mm 1.4 sony a7riii a7riv sharpness bokeh resolution contrast review e-mount
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 E | f/1.4
ttartisan 50mm 1.4 sony a7riii a7riv sharpness bokeh resolution contrast review e-mount
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 E | f/1.4
ttartisan 50mm 1.4 sony a7riii a7riv sharpness bokeh resolution contrast review e-mount
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 E | f/1.4

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Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM – The perfect 35mm lens?

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Introduction

sony fe 35mm 1.4 gm gmaster za art 1.2 contrast resolution bokeh 42mp 61mp
Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM on Sony A7rII

A fast 35mm lens is one of the most popular lenses for wedding and reportage photographers. In the Sony world we had to wait a long (read: very long) time for a really good one though, as the Sony FE 35mm 1.4 ZA was a bit of a dud with its huge sample variation and even the third party manufacturers were a bit late too the game (I am looking at you, Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN).
Now Sony has proven they know what the duds in the lineup are and after 5 years released the Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM to rule them all. Let us have a look, if this really is the perfect fast 35mm lens.

Sample Images

sony fe 35mm 1.4 gm gmaster za art 1.2 contrast resolution bokeh 42mp 61mp
Sony A7III | Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 35mm 1.4 gm gmaster za art 1.2 contrast resolution bokeh 42mp 61mp
Sony A7III | Sony FE 35mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4

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Laowa, lenses, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa 33mm 0.95 CF APS-C

4 Comments

Introduction

laowa 33mm 0.95 f/0.95 portrait lens review sharpness contrast resolution bokeh venus optics
Laowa 33mm 0.95 CF APS-C on Sony A7rII

Regulars know we only rarely review APS-C lenses, but a 33mm f/0.95 lens with floating elements did manage to catch my attention, especially as it should give an idea of what to expect from the future full frame lenses of Laowa’s Argus line, so let us see what the Laowa 33mm 0.95 CF has in store for us!

Sample Images

laowa 33mm 0.95 f/0.95 portrait lens review sharpness contrast resolution bokeh venus optics
Sony A7III | Laowa 33mm 0.95 CF | f/0.95 | crop mode
laowa 33mm 0.95 f/0.95 portrait lens review sharpness contrast resolution bokeh venus optics
Sony A7III | Laowa 33mm 0.95 CF | f/0.95 | crop mode
laowa 33mm 0.95 f/0.95 portrait lens review sharpness contrast resolution bokeh venus optics
Sony A7rII | Laowa 33mm 0.95 CF | f/0.95 | crop mode

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Leica M, Review, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 90mm 1.25

10 Comments

Introduction

ttartisan 90mm 1.25 f/1.25 review test comparison leica m m10 m10r m9 sony a7rii 42mp 24mp contrast bokeh sharpness
TTArtisan 90mm 1.25 via metabones adapter on Sony A7rII

To me the TTArtisan 90mm 1.25 was an unexpected lens, as Leica just recently put a 90mm 1.5 for 14 grand on the shelves, I did not expect anyone offering a faster 90mm M-mount lens. But here we are with a very chunky and massive 90mm 1.25 portrait lens. But is this the new M-mount bokeh king or is the design simply too ambitious? Let us find out in this review!
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

ttartisan 90mm 1.25 f/1.25 review test comparison leica m m10 m10r m9 sony a7rii 42mp 24mp contrast bokeh sharpness
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 90mm 1.25 | f/1.25
ttartisan 90mm 1.25 f/1.25 review test comparison leica m m10 m10r m9 sony a7rii 42mp 24mp contrast bokeh sharpness
Leica M10 | TTArtisan 90mm 1.25 | f/1.25
ttartisan 90mm 1.25 f/1.25 review test comparison leica m m10 m10r m9 sony a7rii 42mp 24mp contrast bokeh sharpness
Leica M10 | TTArtisan 90mm 1.25 | f/1.25

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