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.

Canon EF-Mount, Review, Samyang

Review: Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP

August 16, 2022 BastianK 10 Comments

Introduction

samyang 10mm 3.5 xp review 42mp 61mp sony a7rIV a7rIII a7rII contrast resolution color wide angle ultra wide — Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP via Sigma MC-11 on Sony A7rII

The Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP is a bit of an odd lens. It is still the widest lens for DSLRs, but it was announced at a time when no one really cared about DSLRs anymore. And it came out after the Voigtländer 10mm 5.6, which surely didn’t help the marketing department. And in the meantime we also got the Laowa 9mm 5.6, which is even wider, has great optics and is small at the same time. So is there still a reason to get the Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP in 2022? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP →

Brightin Star, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 Pancake

August 1, 2022 BastianK 21 Comments

Introduction

Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 23 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small — Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

I always think we need more Pancake lenses, but except for the Samyang 24mm 2.8 and the recently reviewed TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 we didn’t get that many options in the Sony FE world yet. The latest addition is this Brightin Star 23mm 5.6. The first odd thing to notice: it is a fixed aperture lens, so it is always f/5.6 and cannot be stopped down further.
Can it still be a viable addition to your kit? Let’s find out…

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 Pancake →

Brightin Star, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 FE

July 26, 2022 BastianK 10 Comments

Introduction

BRIGHTIN STAR 50mm 0.95 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting fast — Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 on Sony A7rII

It is an interesting time we live in. Just 5 years ago only few people knew a maximum aperture as fast as f/0.95 even exists let alone were able to afford a lens being that fast. Now we have such lenses with different focal lengths and at affordable price points. One of the most affordable ones is the Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 FE, so let us find out what this lens has in store for us and how it compares to some of the other super fast 50s.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 FE →

Leica M, Review, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 Apo-Asph M

July 20, 2022 BastianK 29 Comments

Introduction

TTartisan 35mm 2.0 apo aspherical aa e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small — TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 Apo-Aspherical on Leica M10

So far TTArtisan mostly released fast yet compact M-mount lenses, the most famous probably being their 50mm 0.95. These lenses often emphasized speed and size over sharpness, but now we are getting something different: the TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 Apo-Aspherical. Going by the specs this is a direct competitor to the Voigtländer VM 35mm 2.0 Apo-Lanthar, but does it also play in the same league? Let’s find out.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

TTA_35mm_2.0_AA_Sample_M10_20 — Sony A7III | LMEA9 | TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 | f/2.0

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 Apo-Asph M →

Review, Sony E-mount, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 – Return of the Nifty Fifty

July 14, 2022 BastianK 49 Comments

Introduction

TTartisan 50mm 2.0 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small — TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 on Sony A7rII

In the SLR era the “Nifty Fifty” was the lens of choice for many: a compact, fast and at the same time affordable 50mm lens. For the Sony FE system the next best thing we got so far is the Sony FE 50mm 2.5 G, but it isn’t as fast and also not that affordable.
To my surprise TTArtisan is now the one trying to revive the Nifty Fifty and despite being a mirrorless design it is as small as the smallest SLR 50s. But did they succeed? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 – Return of the Nifty Fifty →

phillipreeve.net

All posts by BastianK

Review: Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP

Introduction

Sample Images

Review: Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 Pancake

Introduction

Sample Images

Review: Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 FE

Introduction

Sample Images

Review: TTArtisan 35mm 2.0 Apo-Asph M

Introduction

Sample Images

Review: TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 – Return of the Nifty Fifty

Introduction

Sample Images

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