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: Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4 E

Introduction

nikon af af-s 105mm 1.4 1.4E N nano ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E via adapter on Sony A7rII

The Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E was one of Nikon’s last fast primes designed for the F-mount. And when it was released, I felt like it is supposed to be the replacement for an 85mm 1.2 lens Nikon users never got. Is this the best portrait tele lens ever made for the F-mount? Let’s try to find out.

Sample Images

nikon af-s 105mm 1.4 e n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f/1.4
nikon af-s 105mm 1.4 e n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f/1.4
nikon af-s 105mm 1.4 e n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f/1.4
nikon af-s 105mm 1.4 e n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f/1.4
nikon af-s 105mm 1.4 e n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f/1.4
nikon af-s 105mm 1.4 e n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E | Monster LA-FE2 | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4 E

Analogue Adventures – Part 35: Kodak Eastman Double-X 200

Kodak Eastman Double-X 200

The nice thing about this series: sometimes very unexpected things happen. A friend from Hong Kong sent me a roll of Eastman Double-X 200 black and white film. The regular readers already know I am not a huge fan of black and white film, but they also know I could never resist using a film I haven’t used before, so here we are. This did not end how I expected it to though.
Processing and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany, the pictures in this article are from one roll of film.

kodak eastman double x dx 200 expired black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß nikon f80 sigma
Nikon F80 | Eastman Double-X | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/1.4
kodak eastman double x dx 200 expired black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß nikon f80 sigma
Nikon F80 | Eastman Double-X | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/1.4
kodak eastman double x dx 200 expired black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß nikon f80 sigma
Nikon F80 | Eastman Double-X | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/8.0
kodak eastman double x dx 200 expired black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß nikon f80 sigma
Nikon F80 | Eastman Double-X | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/8.0

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 35: Kodak Eastman Double-X 200

Review: Viltrox 28mm 4.5 AF Pancake

Introduction

viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE on Sony A7rII

We didn’t see many pancake lenses for Sony’s fullframe E-mount cameras that actually deserve that title and when it comes to those featuring auto focus it starts to look really dire. Viltrox comes to rescue by offering this Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE Pancake lens with the nickname “Chip”. As is always the case with such small lenses, there are some quirks to be aware of, so let me walk you through them.

Sample Images

viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE
viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE
viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE
viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE
viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE
viltrox af 28mm 4.5 fe pancake review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 FE

Continue reading Review: Viltrox 28mm 4.5 AF Pancake

Review: Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 Eight Element

Introduction

light lens lab summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 eight element 8e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue
Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 8e on Leica M10

A replica of the Leica 35mm 2.0 Summicron from the 1960s was actually Light Lens Lab’s first project. This lens was also known as “eight element” because of its optical design consisting of 8 elements in 6 groups, and this is the name Light Lens Lab picked for it. Let’s have a closer look!
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

light lens lab summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 eight element 8e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue
Leica M10 | Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 8e | f/2.0
light lens lab summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 eight element 8e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit M->Z | Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 8e | f/2.0
light lens lab summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 eight element 8e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit M->Z | Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 8e | f/2.0
light lens lab summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 eight element 8e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit M->Z | Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 8e | f/11
light lens lab summicron 35mm 2.0 f/2.0 35 eight element 8e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit M->Z | Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 8e | f/2.0

Continue reading Review: Light Lens Lab 35mm 2.0 Eight Element

Analogue Adventures – Part 34: Kodak Pro Image 100

Kodak Pro Image 100

I thought I had already used all of Kodak’s color negative films still in production, but I somehow managed to miss out on the Pro Image 100. How does it compare to the readily available Gold 200 and the Portra 160? Let’s try to find out.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany, the pictures in this article are from one roll of film.

kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/1.4
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/1.4
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/2.8
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/8.0
kodak pro image 100 professional review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Kodak Pro Image 100 | Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX | f/8.0

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 34: Kodak Pro Image 100