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.

Analogue, Nikon, Nikon, Projects

Analogue Adventures – Part 33: Harman Phoenix 200

July 24, 2024 BastianK 23 Comments

This Harman Phoenix 200 is said to be a newly designed colour negative analogue film that hit the market in early 2024. Many people did not expect anyone except for Kodak and Fuji even being able to produce a (new) color negative film, so it created quite the buzz. I am all for more competition, but I am not really sure this is the film we were hoping for, let me tell you why.
Processing (C.41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany. The pictures in this article are from two rolls of film.

harman phoenix 200 review nikon f analogue film italy garda venice venezia — Nikon F80 | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | Harman Phoenix 200

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon 200mm 2.0 IF-ED Ai – The first of its Kind

July 21, 2024 BastianK 27 Comments

Introduction

nikon 200mm 2.0 ai ai-s if ed f/2.0 super tele fast 1977 sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Nikon 200mm 2.0 IF-ED on Sony A7rII

The Nikon Nikkor 200mm 2.0 IF-ED Ai from 1977 is not only one of Nikon’s most famous lenses, it is also one of the few super fast tele lenses in the ~200mm range I did not yet get my hands on. I have been watching the eBay auctions for this lens for years and at the end of 2023 I managed to find one in mint condition at a price I could afford. So finally, here we are, to have a closer look at the first of its kind.

Sample Images

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Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton – Better than its reputation?

July 17, 2024 BastianK 6 Comments

Introduction

Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.1 nokton noctilux review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting coma — Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton on Leica M10

Not counting special editions Cosina released ten different 50mm rangefinder lenses by now. This Voigtländer 50mm 1.1 Nokton was the first super fast one, featuring an all spherical design similar to the Leica 50mm 1.0 Noctilux. Despite its appealing f/1.1 maximum aperture, this has never been one of Cosina’s more popular lenses – which is clearly reflected by its used price, as you can often find it for ~$500. For a lens this fast that is not a bad price, reason enough to have a closer look at this lens myself.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

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Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Yasuhara Anthy 35mm 1.8

July 10, 2024 BastianK 4 Comments

Introduction

yasuhara anthy35 35mm 1.8 contrast resolution sharpness review sony 42mp 61mp a7rv a7riv a7rii a7iii coma vignetting bokeh — Yasuhara Anthy 35mm 1.8 on Sony A7rII

Yasuhara has a bit of an illustrous history. Founded in 1998 by a former Kyocera camera engineer, an M39 rangefinder camera has been sold under that brand from 1998 to 2004. The company then disappeared but resurfaced in 2011, now designing lenses. The founder passed away in 2020, so I am not sure if there will be any new products under this brand. Nevertheless, I did get my hands on their Yasuhara Anthy 35mm 1.8 for E-mount, so let’s have a closer look at this somewhat exotic lens.

Sample Images

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G N ED IF

July 7, 2024 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

nikon af-s 24-70mm 2.8 G ed N zoom standardzoom midrange standard tele 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait — Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G via Monster LA-FE1 on Sony A7rII

By now I have used more than 260 lenses. Interestingly there has never been a 24-70mm 2.8 midrange zoom among those, even though they are really popular, there are a lot of them and pretty much any manufacturer made at least one. In my pursuit of assembling a set of affordable autofocus lenses with nice imaging characteristics, it is now finally time to change that. So let’s have a closer look at this Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G IF ED N.