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.

Leica M, lenses, Review, Thypoch

Hands-On: Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4

January 18, 2024 BastianK 23 Comments

Introduction

thypoch simera 28mm 1.4 fast wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 on Leica M10

Thypoch is a new manufacturer of photography lenses and entered the market at the end of 2023 with two M-mount lenses, the Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4. I only received these lenses one week prior to the release date of the 28mm 1.4, so I am sharing with you here my first impressions of these lenses, to give you an idea if they could be something for you. Both lenses will also receive their individual reviews in the future, as you are used to.

Sample Images

thypoch simera 35mm 1.4 fast wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Leica M10 | Thypoch Simera 35mm 1.4 | f/1.4

Continue reading Hands-On: Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4 →

Review, Sony, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 12-24mm 2.8 GM

January 7, 2024 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

sony fe 12-24mm 2.8 gm fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 — Sony FE 12-24mm 2.8 GM on Sony A7rII

I always had the feeling the Sony FE 12-24mm 2.8 GM has been flying under the radar a bit, which is surprising, because it might be the most spectacular ultra wide angle lens any manufacturer has ever built, but let me tell you in this review why I think so.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 12-24mm 2.8 GM →

Leica M, Light Lens Lab, Review

Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0

December 24, 2023 BastianK 21 Comments

Introduction

light lens lab elcan review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh 50mm 2.0 film analogue — Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 on Leica M10

The original Leica 50mm 2.0 Elcan has been produced for the American army together with the KE-7A camera. According to the information I found, only 500 have been made, therefore a set of lens and camera will set you back around $30,000 these days.
Obviously this is purely a collector’s price, that has nothing to do with this lens’ value for actual photography.
Now if you want to use this lens without spending 30k, Light Lens Lab has you covered, as they offer a replica for $800. This is what we will have a look at in this review.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0 →

Analogue, Leica M, The creative process, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 27: Kodak Portra 800 Push +1 ECN-2

December 14, 2023 BastianK 6 Comments

kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om — Kodak Portra 800

Here we will look how the Portra 800 holds up when pushed by one stop in combination with the ECN-2 processing.
Exposed as ISO800. Processing (ECN-2, Push +1) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 27: Kodak Portra 800 Push +1 ECN-2 →

Analogue, camera, Guides, lenses, Meta

Used Lens and Camera Shopping Guide for Japan

December 6, 2023 BastianK 20 Comments

Introduction

Sony A7rII | Zeiss Loxia 21mm 2.8 | f/4.0

If you are looking for used lenses or cameras, Japan can be a real dream destination. Having already been there two times myself I know from first hand experience that it isn’t easy to locate some of the more interesting stores though. My Finnish expat friend Juha Kannisto – who is living in Tokyo – has been helping out photographers from all over the world for years already when it comes to this topic.

I thought it would be useful to collect all this knowledge and turn it into an easy-to-access article, so here we are.

Continue reading Used Lens and Camera Shopping Guide for Japan →

phillipreeve.net

All posts by BastianK

Hands-On: Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4

Introduction

Sample Images

Review: Sony FE 12-24mm 2.8 GM

Introduction

Sample Images

Review: Light Lens Lab 50mm 2.0

Introduction

Sample Images

Analogue Adventures – Part 27: Kodak Portra 800 Push +1 ECN-2

Used Lens and Camera Shopping Guide for Japan

Introduction

Sony α | Leica M | Nikon Z/F New articles every week