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, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox FE 28mm 1.8 AF

July 9, 2023 BastianK 23 Comments

Introduction

viltrox af 28mm 1.8 fe review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 — Viltrox 28mm 1.8 AF FE on Sony A7rII

It is a bit odd that the manufacturers of E-mount lenses seemingly abandoned the 28mm focal length, especially when it comes to AF lenses. The only ones available for the FE system are the mediocre Sony FE 28mm 2.0 and the huge designed-for-DSLR Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art – both released in the early days of the FE system and nothing came since. Until now, as Viltrox is offering an alternative with this 28mm 1.8 AF lens. The recently reviewed Viltrox 16mm 1.8 AF proved to be an astonishingly good lens, will this 28mm lens be similarly good? Let’s find out.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Viltrox FE 28mm 1.8 AF →

Analogue, Leica, Leica M, MS-Optics, Travel-Report, Zeiss

Analogue Adventures – Part 22: Istanbul

July 6, 2023 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

agfa vista expired 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om — Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 Apoqualia | f/11 | Agfa Vista 200

It was my second time in Istanbul and as I already covered many of the “must see” tourist sights the first time I thought it was a good opportunity to shoot some more film this time around. Being less flexible with film it also helped that I already knew what to expect and where to go.

fuji fujifilm x-tra xtra 400 superior review m6 leica analogue analog — Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/11 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany — Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2

color plus 200 color+ kodak review m6 leica analogue analog — Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/11 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2

kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om — Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Portra 400

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 22: Istanbul →

Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC

July 1, 2023 BastianK 39 Comments

Introduction

Voigtländer Cosina 40mm 1.4 1.4/40 mc multi coated sc single comparison review leica m10 m11 m10r sony a7rv a7riv 61mp 42mp 24mp sharpness resolution handling build quality — Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton Classic on Minolta CLE

After my experience with the Voigtländer 35mm 1.4 Classic I haven’t exactly been interested in spending any more time with lenses from Cosina’s Classic line (which is not to be mistaken for their Vintage line). That being said the acquisition of a Minolta CLE got me interested in a compact 40mm M-mount lens and this Voigtlander VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton Classic is actually the cheapest option available, so here we are.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10 as well as some analogue cameras.

Sample Images

Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4

Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/2.0 | Portra 800 | Push +1

Voigtländer Cosina 40mm 1.4 1.4/40 mc multi coated sc single comparison review leica m10 m11 m10r sony a7rv a7riv 61mp 42mp 24mp — Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4

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 MC | f/1.4 | APX400

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC →

Leica M, MS-Optics, Review

Review: MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia

June 25, 2023 BastianK 10 Comments

Introduction

ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny — MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia on Leica M6

The MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia must be a bit of a fan favorite, as it has been rereleased – and the mechanical design improved – several times over the years, making it the first MS-Optics lens available in a Mark III version. I will be having a look how it all started though by reviewing a first generation Mark I version provided by a long-time reader.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII (UT) and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia →

Analogue, Contax G-Mount, Leica, Leica M, MS-Optics, photography, Projects

Analogue Adventures – Part 21: Kodak Portra 400

June 23, 2023 BastianK 5 Comments

The Kodak Portra 400 is Kodak’s midspeed film from the Portra series sitting inbetween the Portra 160 and Portra 800. It is also the more expensive ISO 400 color negative film in the Kodak lineup, the cheapter alternative being the Ultramax 400.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.