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, Leica, MS-Optics

Analogue Adventures – Part 8: Going small with MS-Optics lenses

June 22, 2022 BastianK 18 Comments

Introduction

When using Leica M cameras I generally try to stick to using small lenses, but there is a problem: small lenses are usually slow and I find slow lenses (at least non-ultrawides) incredibly boring.
My workaround is using some of the MS-Optics lenses as they try to be small, lightweight and fast at the same time – at the cost of some optical compromises obviously.
I was a bit hesitant to use these lenses on film at first (doubts about rangefinder accuracy, focus shift and field curvature) but I decided to try nevertheless and exposed 4 films mainly using the 24mm 2.0 Aporia and the 50mm 1.0 ISM. How did it work out in the end? Let’s have a look.

24mm 2.0 Aporia

ms-optics ms-optical aporia apora pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting silbersalz35 silbersalz kodak cine vision3 santorini greece — Leica M6 | 500T | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 Aporia | f/11

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 8: Going small with MS-Optics lenses →

Analogue, Leica, Leica M, Opinion, Projects, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 7: Cinestill 800T

May 30, 2022 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

cinestill 800t tungsten kodak vision 3 cinefilm c41 — Cinestill 800T

When looking for a higher ISO color film in 2022 – especially one for shooting under artifical light without the need for additional color correction filters – the Cinestill 800T is pretty much without competition. But there are a few things to be aware of, so let’s have a closer look.
Processing and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.
The pictures you see in this article are from 2 rolls.

cinestill 800t 800 tungsten cinefilm kodak vision 3 review m6 leica analogue analog — Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM | f/2.0 | Cinestill 800T

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 7: Cinestill 800T →

7Artisans, Leica M, Review

Review: 7Artisans 28mm 5.6 M

May 15, 2022 BastianK 12 Comments

Introduction

7artisans ttartisan 28mm 5.6 m wen review leica m10 m11 42mp 24mp contrast resolution flare resistance compact — 7Artisans 28mm 5.6 Wen on Leica M10

Some lenses really come as a surprise and this 7Artisans 28mm 5.6 is definitely one of those. Not that long after the TTArtisan 28mm 5.6 hit the market we see another lens with the same specs – but a completely different optical and mechanical design. I don’t know about you, but I did not see this coming.
So let’s find out in this review who offers the better 28mm 5.6 lens.
The lens is being tested on 24mp Leica M10 and 42mp Sony A7rII.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: 7Artisans 28mm 5.6 M →

Accessory, H&Y, Landscape Photography

Hands-on: H&Y Revoring Swift Magnetic System

May 6, 2022 BastianK 2 Comments

Introduction

h&y filters revoring swift magnetic system review hands on — Laowa 15mm 2.0 with wide angle adapter ring, bridge ring and square filter holder attached

I have previously reviewed the H&Y Revoring (which I bought from Kickstarter back in the day) and already at that time I was thinking: “Combining this ring with a whole filter system would be a good idea, right?”
The engineers at H&Y did exactly that and combined the variable Revoring with their magnetic square filter holder system.
A dream come true for filter users? Let’s have a closer look.

Continue reading Hands-on: H&Y Revoring Swift Magnetic System →

Leica M, lenses, MS-Optics, Review

Review: MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM

April 30, 2022 BastianK 36 Comments

Introduction

ms-optics ms-optical ism sonnetar f/1.0 f/0.95 fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting — MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM on Leica M10

Miyazaki Sadayasu is known for making small and fast 50mm lenses. He started with a 50mm 1.3, followed by the famous 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar, the 50mm 1.5 Prasma and his latest (and fastest) creation is this MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM reviewed here.
Despite the staggering maximum aperture it is smaller and lighter than most of the other 50mm lenses, regardless of speed. But did Miyazaki go too far this time? Let’s have a closer look…
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10
Last update: June 2022

This lens is also part of my Comparison of 6 Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses together with the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M, the Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 M, the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton, Mr. Ding 50mm 1.1 and Voigtänder VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton.