All posts by BastianK

My name is Bastian and for many years I have been mostly shooting Nikon DSLRs. As of today I have made my transition from Nikon to Sony and I am mainly using small but capable manual lenses. My passion is landscape photography but I also like to delve into other subjects from time to time.
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How to take better pictures? Bastian’s favorite composition techniques

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How to take better photos?

Sony A7rII | Zeiss Loxia 21mm 2.8 | f/8.0 |

Most of you are here for lens reviews and other articles covering gear but we think it is only responsible to look beyond gear from time to time, since your skills as a photographer are much more important in the end. In this article Bastian describes his most often used composition techniques and we hope that you can get some inspiration from them to improve your own photography skills.

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Review: Carl Zeiss Jena 35mm 2.4 Flektogon

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Introduction

carl zeiss jena flektogon retrofocus m42 prakticar 35mm 2.4 review sony 42mp a7rii a7rm2 a7rm3 sharpness close focus
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm 2.4 with K&F II M42 adapter on Sony A7rII

The Flektogon 35mm 2.4 is a highly regarded lens from Carl Zeiss Jena in the former German Democratic Rebpulic. It is the predecessor to the Distagon design still used for many modern lenses. But does this oldie still have a place on today’s digital cameras? Let us find out in this review.

Sample Images

carl zeiss jena flektogon retrofocus m42 prakticar 35mm 2.4 review sony 42mp a7rii a7rm2 a7rm3 sharpness close focus
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm 2.4 | f/2.4
carl zeiss jena flektogon retrofocus m42 prakticar 35mm 2.4 review sony 42mp a7rii a7rm2 a7rm3 sharpness close focus
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm 2.4 | f/2.4
carl zeiss jena flektogon retrofocus m42 prakticar 35mm 2.4 review sony 42mp a7rii a7rm2 a7rm3 sharpness close focus
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm 2.4 | f/2.4

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Review: Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4

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Introduction

leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz
Sony A7rII with Voigtlander VM-E close focus adapter and Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4

The Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 is the longest Leica lens for the M-series and at the same time the shortest (and only one still in production) of the Apo-Telyt series. This is a well regarded but also very expensive 135mm lens and while rather compact it is not very fast with a maximum aperture of f/3.4. Can the image quality make up for the moderate speed like we have seen with the Zeiss Loxia 85mm 2.4? Let us find out!

Sample Images

leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz vignetting
Sony A7s |Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 | f/3.4
leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz vignetting
Sony A7rII |Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 | f/3.4
leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz vignetting
Sony A7rII |Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 | f/3.4

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Accesories, Adapters, Review

Review: Laowa Magic Shift Converter 17mm 4.0

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Introduction

laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective
Sony A7rII with Laowa Magic Shift Converter and 12mm 2.8 Zero-D lens

You ask what the heck a Magic Shift Converter is? This is a 1.4x tele converter for wide angle lenses and adds ±10mm shift movement. It for example turns Laowa’s 12mm 2.8 in a 17mm 4.0 ±10mm shift lens. In this review you will find out how this can be useful and what the influence on the image quality of the master lens is.

Sample Images

laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective sample image
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-D on Magic Shift Converter | f/8.0
laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective sample image
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-D on Magic Shift Converter | f/8.0
laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective sample image
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-D on Magic Shift Converter | f/4.0

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Sony E-mount, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E Classic

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Introduction

voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII with Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E Classic

The Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E “classic” was announced alongside the Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 Nokton E and after a slight delay just hit the shelves (02/18). The “classic” designation relates to the heritage of this lens as its symmetrical optical design is very similar to the older M-mount 35mm 1.4. What can we expect from Voigtlander’s first classic E-mount lens?

Update 02/22/18: close focus performance, loCA and focus shift
Update 02/25/18: flare resistance, Sharpness infinity, new samples
Update 03/03/18: sunstars, Coma, Bokeh, Alternatives, Conclusion

Sample Images

voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E classic | f/1.4
voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E classic | f/1.4
voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E classic | f/1.4

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