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: Voigtländer 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton (Nikon F)

Introduction

voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Voigtländer 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton on Nikon FM2n

The Voigtländer 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton has been in production since 2007 and gathered many fans over the years. This is probably the reason Cosina updated its casing design several times throughout the years while keeping the optics the same. Let’s see if we can find out what people like about it in this review.

Sample Images

voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Sony A7III | Voigtländer SL IIs 58mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Sony A7III | Voigtländer SL IIs 58mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Sony A7III | Voigtländer SL IIs 58mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Sony A7III | Voigtländer SL IIs 58mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Sony A7III | Voigtländer SL IIs 58mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 58mm 1.4 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait
Sony A7III | Voigtländer SL IIs 58mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer 58mm 1.4 SL IIs Nokton (Nikon F) →

Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT

Introduction

filter stack comparison sony e nikon z fe leica m kolari UT

When Sony released the first affordable fullframe camera with the A7 in 2013 almost none of the enthusiast photographers were aware of issues related to filter stack differences. Filter stack describes what is in front of the sensor and different manufacturers decided to go for different thicknesses here that can influence how our lenses perform. If you stay within just one system this is usually not something to care about, but when adapting lenses it is very helpful to be aware of this topic.

In this article I try to tell you about these differences and for what lenses they matter, so you can find out if it is something that might affect you.

Continue reading Different Filter Stacks and what they mean for us: Sony E | Nikon Z | Leica M | Kolari UT →

Review: Nikon AF 180mm 2.8D IF-ED

Introduction

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 via adapter on Sony A7rII

With the rise of the 80-200mm f/2.8 zooms it seems the 180-200mm f/2.8 primes fell out of fashion, as for more than 20 years no manufacturer bothered to design a new lens like this (not counting a few third party macro options). While Canon last updated their 200mm 2.8 in 1996, Nikon never updated the optical design of their Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 since 1986. Is this still a worthwhile lens today? Let’s find out in this review. 

Sample Images

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF 180mm 2.8D IF-ED →

Review: Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton

Introduction

voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton on Leica M10

Over the years Cosina has become really good at designing compact yet fast lenses and the Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton might be the epitome of that, as it offers a huge entrance pupil (= a lot of bokeh) for its size and weight. Let’s find out more about this intriguing lens together.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.
Update 06/24: complete update of the review

Sample Images

voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/2.8
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/2.8
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5
leica m10 review rangefinder messsucher comparison vergleich sony a7iii a7rii R2 42mp 24mp wide angle portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 75mm 1.5 | f/1.5
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7rII | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton →

Analogue Adventures – Part 31: Which Nikon F-mount film camera to get?

Introduction

Some of you may still remember the first part of this series, where I described what analogue cameras I had a look at and why I ultimately ended up with a Leica M6. An F-mount analogue camera was also in strong consideration, but I did not go for it because I did not want to buy a set of F-mount lenses – and the F-mount being a dead mount anyway. But in the meantime some things have changed, so here I am again…

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 31: Which Nikon F-mount film camera to get? →