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: 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF

Introduction

7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF on Sony A7rII

It was the beginning of 2019 when I published my first review of a 7Artisans lens, the 28mm 1.4 FE+ – an M-mount lens optimized for Sony E-mount. Now, 5 years later, this 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF is their first autofocus lens. Let us find out what it is capable of.

Sample Images

7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
7Artisans AF sony fe 50mm fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF

Nikon AF 180mm 2.8(D): Versions, Teardown and Repair Guide

Introduction

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D on Nikon FM2n

As you may or may not know there have been several different versions of the Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 over the years. Most notable was the addition of the “D” feature in 1994, allowing the lens to transmit distance information to the camera for more accurate usage of camera flash. As this lens was first released in 1986 some of the samples approach an age of 40 years. As with every product that old, there are some things to be aware of when you are looking to buy a used sample. One of our readers, Q. Xu, did a side-by-side teardown of both versions, so we get to have a closer look at the differences between these versions and what to watch out for.
Of course this article may also be of help if you are looking to perform some kind of repairs on this lens on your own.

Continue reading Nikon AF 180mm 2.8(D): Versions, Teardown and Repair Guide

Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired)

Kodak Farbwelt 200

I found a few rolls of Kodak Farbwelt 200 that must have expired some 20 years ago and most likely they haven’t been properly stored at all. This first roll I exposed as ISO50 and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The lab wasn’t happy and told me the film was massively expired and the scanner had a hard time scanning the negatives. Let’s see if some usable pictures came out of this.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/5.6 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle canon 50mm 1.4 ltm m39
Minolta CLE | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/2.8 | Kodak Farbwelt 200

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired)

Lens & Accessory Spring Sale

Many of us here at the Phillipreeve team acquire too many lenses (and sometimes also accessories) and with some of the manufacturers it also isn’t easily possible to return the review samples after we reviewed them, therefore a bunch of stuff is for sale.
Update March 11th 2024: added new items, removed sold items

I will ship to all european countries and all prices are without shipping. If you live in Germany you can add 7€ for shipping, within EU should be around 16€.
Payment is possible via Paypal or Bank Transfer. If you decide by Dec 25th shipping will be carried out directly, afterwards shipping date will be Jan 10th.

I will only ship insured with DHL. If you want to come to Stuttgart you can also check out the lens you are interested in in person and we have a little chat.

All the items come without warranty.

If you are interested, leave a comment with your Email address (it will not be visible to the public) and I will get back to you.

PS: I might also be interested in trading in some of these things for stuff on my Lenses I would like to review list, especially a Canon 50mm 0.95 for M-mount.


The following items are former review samples:


AstrHori 50mm 2.0 E

astr hori sony fe 50mm 2.0 fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait compact
AstrHori 50mm 2.0

The same exact lens from this review.

This lens has only been used for the review and is in as-new condition.
Update: comes with retail box and both caps.

49€ + shipping


Continue reading Lens & Accessory Spring Sale

Review: Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton

Introduction

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton on Leica M10

Before the release of the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton in 2022, this Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton was Cosina’s most expensive M-mount lens and also one of their most complex ones – thanks to 13 elements in 11 groups, 4 aspherical surfaces and a floating elements design. Unfortunately this also made it one of their heaviest and most expensive lenses and I have the feeling it didn’t quite get the momentum Cosina expected for their flagship lens, hence in many parts of the world the price has been reduced several times since release – reason enough to have a closer look at this intriguing lens now.
Lens is being reviewed on Sony A7rII and Leica M10

Sample Images

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4 | see this article
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/11
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Sony A7rII UT | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton