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: Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM MK II – A worthy Update?

Introduction

sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II on Sony A7rIi

The Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM is my favorite portrait lens out of the almost 300 lenses I have used so far. Being one of the first GM lenses, it features a comparably slow autofocus and some of the recent competitors offer higher contrast and resolution at f/1.4, so Sony decided to update this lens. Does it still have the bokeh qualities of the first generation 85mm 1.4 while making it smaller and sharper? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21Pro | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4 | Ai Denoise
sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21Pro | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4 | Ai Denoise
sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4
sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21Pro | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4
sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21Pro | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4
sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21Pro | Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II | f/1.4 | Ai Denoise

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM MK II – A worthy Update?

Call out to readers: Looking for a Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S

Dear readers,

I plan on doing a comparison of super fast 35mm fullframe lenses (very similar to my comparisons of Super Fast 50mm M-mount lenses and Fast 28mm lenses) and I already gathered the Sigma 35mm 1.2 DG DN Art, Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP, Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 Nokton III, Laowa 35mm 0.95 Argus and a new unreleased 35mm 1.2 AF lens.

I would love to include the recently announced Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S in this comparison, that should hit the market on February 26th. Sadly at the moment I don’t have 3.250€ lying around to just buy one (remember: reviewing lenses doesn’t make you rich).

I reached out to Nikon Marketing Germany, but I haven’t heard back from them yet and as I haven’t worked with them before and just a year ago we started doing Nikon reviews on a bigger scale I doubt I will.

So if someone among you (preferably from Germany) has a Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S on preorder it would be great if you would consider sending it to me first for a week, as then I could include it in that comparison, which would be a great service to the community.

I know chances are slim, but I also know we have a great community, so I am taking my chances here.

Just leave a comment to get in contact!

Thanks in advance
Bastian

Analogue Adventures – Part 39: Fujichrome Velvia 100

fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film velvia 100 france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Fujichrome Velvia 100

Under the label Fujichrome, Fujifilm is still selling several types of slide film and one of those is Velvia 100. Let’s have a look at some pictures taken with this film under varying conditions.
Processing (E-6) and scanning (Noritsu) was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film velvia 100 france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Velvia 100 | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | 70mm
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film velvia 100 france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Velvia 100 | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | 70mm
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film velvia 100 france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Velvia 100 | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film velvia 100 france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Velvia 100 | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | 24mm
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film velvia 100 france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Velvia 100 | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | 24mm

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 39: Fujichrome Velvia 100

Review: Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron

Introduction

voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron on Leica M10

I wasn’t sure, if after the Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.8 Apo-Skopar, Cosina will also produce a faster 90mm lens, but that thinking was put to a stop in early 2025, when they announced this Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron. A direct competitor to the Leica 90mm 2.0 Apo-Summicron, which was first released in 1998. Let’s see how it performs.

Sample Images

voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron | f/2.0
voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron | f/2.0
voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron | f/2.0
voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron | f/2.0
voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron | f/8.0
voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron | f/2.0

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron

Review: Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G

Introduction

nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G via Monster LA-FE1 on Sony A7rII

When released in 2008, the Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G was the first fast prime lens updated to the AF-S standard, adding an in-lens AF-S ring motor and ditching the aperture ring. Already back in the day this wasn’t exactly considered a high performance lens, so where does it stand today? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G | f/1.4
nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G | f/1.4
nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G | f/4.0
nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G | f/4.0
nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G | f/4.5
nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G