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: Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III

Introduction

cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III via Metabones adapter on Sony A7rII

The Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III Nokton is already the third iteration of the world’s fastest 35mm M-mount lens. What has changed compared to the predecessors? How does it compare to the competition? Is it any good? Let’s find out together in this review.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII, 24mp Leica M10 and film cameras
Last Update: September 2023 (samples, coma section, conclusion)

Sample Images

cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2
analogue photography leica m6 voigtländer silbersalz35 kodak vision 3
Leica M6 | 200T | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 | f/1.2
cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/2.0
cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III

Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Introduction

tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 on Sony A7rII

Just like the 28-75mm 2.8 before, Tamron now also updated its 70-180mm 2.8 lens. We already reviewed the previous lens here and we liked it. A lot actually – except for some handling unpleasantries. With the addition of a lens button and a customizable switch I expect great improvements here, but that is not all: Tamron also decided to upgrade the lens with an internal optical image stabilizer. Let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 100mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 140mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 70mm 5.6
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 150mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 120mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 180mm 2.8

Continue reading Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Review: Minolta 28mm 2.8 M-Rokkor

Introduction

minolta 28mm 2.8 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Minolta 28mm 2.8 M-Rokkor on Minolta CLE

The Minolta 28mm 2.8 M-Rokkor was released alongside the Minolta CLE and is one of the most affordable 28mm M-mount lenses these days. Unfortunately it is also infamous for developing “white dot issues”, probably the main reason for this lens still being affordable on the used market. What is this all about and is it still a good idea to buy this lens or should you rather stay away from it? Let’s find out.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

minolta 28mm 2.8 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Minolta 28mm 2.8 | f/8.0
minolta 28mm 2.8 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Sigma fp | Minolta 28mm 2.8 | f/8.0 | ©Juha Kannisto
minolta 28mm 2.8 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Minolta 28mm 2.8 | f/2.8
minolta 28mm 2.8 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Minolta 28mm 2.8 | f/5.6
minolta 28mm 2.8 m-rokkor leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Sigma fp | Minolta 28mm 2.8 | f/8.0 | ©Juha Kannisto

Continue reading Review: Minolta 28mm 2.8 M-Rokkor

Analogue Adventures Part 24: Agfa APX400

After buying the Leica M6 I bought whatever films I could find and among those also was an Agfa APX400 black and white film. It was lying in the fridge for more than a year before I finally conviced myself to use it.
Processing and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.
The pictures you see in this article are from 1 roll.

agfa apx 400 agfaphoto agpha black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß minolta cle leica m voigtländer vm 35mm 1.2 III nokton
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/5.6 | APX400
agfa apx 400 agfaphoto agpha black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß minolta cle leica m voigtländer vm 35mm 1.2 III nokton
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2 | APX400
agfa apx 400 agfaphoto agpha black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß minolta cle leica m voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4 classic nokton
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton Classic | f/1.4 | APX400
agfa apx 400 agfaphoto agpha black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß minolta cle leica m voigtländer vm 35mm 1.2 III nokton
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/2.8 | APX400

Continue reading Analogue Adventures Part 24: Agfa APX400

Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 Speed Panchro II

Introduction

light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II on Leica M10

With this 50mm 2.0 Speed Panchro II lens, Light Lens Lab tried to bring the look of the original Cooke SP II to the 35mm format and doing so at an affordable pricepoint – at least compared to what the original lenses are going for on the used market these days.
Before this lens, I never paid any attention to these old cine lenses, that makes it even more interesting to have a closer look at one.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Leica M10 | Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II | f/2.0
light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Leica M10 | Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II | f/2.8
light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Sony A7rII UT | LM-EA9 | Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II | f/2.8
light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Leica M10 | Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II | f/2.0
light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Leica M10 | Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II | f/2.0
light lens lab cooke speed panchro ii sp spii review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue
Sony A7rII UT | Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 SP II | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 Speed Panchro II