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.

Laowa, lenses, Review, Sony Alpha, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF – The Beginning of a New Era

February 20, 2024 BastianK 65 Comments

Introduction

laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare — Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF on Sony A7rII

2024 is a special year for Laowa, as it marks the company’s 10th anniversary. What better way to celebrate this than with a 10mm lens? But wait, Laowa already released a 9mm full frame lens, so what is so special about this 10mm lens? For starters, this lens features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, making it the world’s fastest 10mm lens and also the world’s widest f/2.8 lens. But what might be even more important: this is Laowa’s first AF lens. The beginning of a new era.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF – The Beginning of a New Era →

Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton

February 11, 2024 BastianK 40 Comments

Introduction

voigtländer vm 28mm 1.5 nokton leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma summilux 42mp 61mp 24mp — Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton on Leica M10

It has always been very hard to guess what Voigtländer lens Cosina will come up with next. By the time many people started giving up the hope for a fast 28mm M-mount lens we got exactly that: the Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton. Is this the fast 28mm lens I know many of you have been desperately waiting for? Let’s find out!

Sample Images

28mm fullframe comparison 1.4 1.2 1.5 voigtländer laowa nikon af-s af-d argus nokton thypoch simera sigma art dg contrast resolution bokeh vignetting coma sharpness loca ca — Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton →

AstrHori, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: AstrHori 50mm 2.0

February 8, 2024 BastianK 14 Comments

Introduction

astr hori sony fe 50mm 2.0 fullframe lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait compact — AstrHori 50mm 2.0 on Sony A7rII

For obvious reasons I prefer reviewing lenses I am also personally interested in. But every now and then I also review lenses where this is not the case. Sometimes, because I think that lens might still be interesting for you, sometimes, because I just want to see if the manufacturer made any progress since their last lens I reviewed. This AstrHori 50mm 2.0 is one such case, so let’s have a closer look.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: AstrHori 50mm 2.0 →

Leica M, Minolta, Review, Vintage

Review: Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor

January 28, 2024 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

minolta 40mm 2.0 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution — Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor on Minolta CLE

Originally designed as Leica Summicron-C 40mm 2.0 to ship with the Leica/Minolta CL, this Minolta 40mm 2.0 M-Rokkor version with same optical design (but allegedly improved coatings) was one of the three M-mount lenses destined to be used with the improved Minolta CLE. This is still one of the most compact M-mount lenses and one of few options if you are looking for a 40mm, so let’s have a closer look.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.