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 35mm 2.0 Wen M

Introduction

7artisans 35mm 2.0 M wen leica m10 m11 m10r m9 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting
7Artisans 35mm 2.0 M Wen on Leica M10

35mm lenses just keep coming. Recently I reviewed the good performing but huge TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 AA, now I get to review this 7Artisans 35mm 2.0 from the Wen series, which is significantly more compact but also features a simpler optical design. Let’s find out in this review which is the more appealing lens at the end of the day.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

7artisans 35mm 2.0 M wen leica m10 m11 m10r m9 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | 7Artisans 35mm 2.0 M Wen | f/2.0
7artisans 35mm 2.0 M wen leica m10 m11 m10r m9 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | 7Artisans 35mm 2.0 M Wen | f/2.0
7artisans 35mm 2.0 M wen leica m10 m11 m10r m9 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 35mm 2.0 M Wen | f/2.0 | Close Focus Adapter
7artisans 35mm 2.0 M wen leica m10 m11 m10r m9 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | 7Artisans 35mm 2.0 M Wen | f/2.0

Continue reading Review: 7Artisans 35mm 2.0 Wen M

Review: Techart LM-EA9 Leica-M to Sony-E Autofocus Adapter

Introduction

AF-adapter techart leica m sony e fe fullframe autofocus mf close focus programmable exif
Techart LM-EA9

When the original Techart LM-EA7 adapter had been released it was a revelation: turning your manual focus lenses into autofocus lenses, how great is that? But there were also quirks to overcome, some reliability issues and incompatibilities with later camera models.
Now 5 years later there is a fully reworked, improved version. Does it solve all the issues we had with its predecessor? Let’s have a closer look at this new Techart LM-EA9.

bokeh summicron 90mm 2.0 sony a7 review 42mp leica m10 24mp sharpness contrast
Sony A7III | Leica 90mm 2.0 pre-Asph | f/2.0 | LM-EA9

Update March 2023: More detailed information added how to reset the adapter if it is not working anymore, further sample images added

Update February 2024: While my adapter is still working fine I have received several reports of it breaking and very unresponsive customer support. Therefore I cannot recommend anymore to buy it, until these issues have been resolved.

Continue reading Review: Techart LM-EA9 Leica-M to Sony-E Autofocus Adapter

Review: MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar Slim

Introduction

MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar Slim on Leica M10

Who doesn’t like a fast, compact 50mm lens? Miyazaki surely does, as this is already his fifth – not even counting his 55mm and 57mm lenses. As I previously reviewed the famous 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar and the 50mm 1.0 ISM (which I still own and use) I kinda had to order this new 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar as well – even if it was only for reviewing it and then putting it on sale afterwards. But before that happens, let’s have a closer look what its qualities are and what quirks can be discovered this time.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

ms-optics ms-optical sonnetar f/1.3 fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar | f/1.3
ms-optics ms-optical sonnetar f/1.3 fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar | f/2.0
ms-optics ms-optical sonnetar f/1.3 fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar | f/2.0
ms-optics ms-optical sonnetar f/1.3 fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: MS-Optics 50mm 1.3 Sonnetar Slim

Review: MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Slim Apoqualia

Introduction

ms-optics ms-optical apoqualia 35mm 1.3 ii slim collapsible retractable fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Slim Apoqualia on Leica M10

Today the MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 Apoqualia is somewhat hard to get and usually only to be found on the used market. But – at least on paper – we got something quite similar: the MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 Apoqualia II Slim, its official successor.
But is it as good as the predecessor while being even a little bit faster? Let us find out in this review.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

ms-optics ms-optical apoqualia 35mm 1.3 ii slim collapsible retractable fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Apoqualia | f/2.8
ms-optics ms-optical apoqualia 35mm 1.3 ii slim collapsible retractable fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Apoqualia | f/2.8
ms-optics ms-optical apoqualia 35mm 1.3 ii slim collapsible retractable fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Apoqualia | f/1.3
ms-optics ms-optical apoqualia 35mm 1.3 ii slim collapsible retractable fast noctilux angenieux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Apoqualia | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: MS-Optics 35mm 1.3 II Slim Apoqualia

Review: MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar

Introduction

17mm 4.5 ms-optics ms-optical perar pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar on Leica M10

The MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar is Miyazaki’s widest M-mount lens so far and thanks to a reader I got the chance to have a closer look at it. I like very small lenses, I like ultra wide lenses, so nothing can go wrong here, right?
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

17mm 4.5 ms-optics ms-optical perar pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar | f/8.0
17mm 4.5 ms-optics ms-optical perar pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar | f/11
17mm 4.5 ms-optics ms-optical perar pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar | f/8.0
17mm 4.5 ms-optics ms-optical perar pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar | f/8.0
17mm 4.5 ms-optics ms-optical perar pancake smallest lens world's leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: MS-Optics 17mm 4.5 Perar