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 15mm 4.5 E Super Wide Heliar

Introduction

Sony A7s with Voigtländer 15mm 4.5 Super Wide Heliar E Aspherical
Sony A7s with Voigtländer 15mm 4.5 Super Wide Heliar E Aspherical

The Voigtländer 15mm 4.5 Super Wide Heliar E aspherical III is the first native E-Mount lens by Voigtlander. As there are three adapted Voigtlander lenses in my basic A7s-kit  – see my reviews – I simply had to try this one out!
Last Update:
Review finised (new Sample images, Use for astrophotography and Conclusion added)  (05/10/16)

Sample Images

schloss solitude stuttgart castle chateau mercedes voigtlander 15mm 4.5 sony e mount super wide heliar
Sony A7s | Voigtländer 15mm 4.5 SWH E | f/11 | full resolution
voigtlander 15mm 4.5 super wide heliar voigtländer sony a7s astro astrophotography astroscape coma milkyway milky way star stars
Sony A7s | Voigtländer 15mm 4.5 SWH E | f/4.5 | ISO6400 | 30s | higher resolution

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander 15mm 4.5 E Super Wide Heliar

Review: Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5

Introduction

Sony A7s with Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 and VM-E close focus adapter (Helicoid)
Sony A7s with Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 and VM-E close focus adapter (Helicoid)

The Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 is actually a copy of the Zeiss Sonnar 50mm 1.5 and was produced in the UDSSR after WWII. The Jupiter lenses belong to the very few “lowcost” rangefinder lenses, but what do they have in store in terms of optical quality? Read on to find out.

Sample Images

jupiter-3 zenith sonnar sony a7s bokeh
Sony A7s | Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 | f/1.5 | full resolution
jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 sony alpha 7s bokeh portrait women head black and white
Sony A7s | Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 | f/1.5 | full resolution
jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 sony alpha 7s bokeh blue hour citylights vespa
Sony A7s | Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5 | f/2.0 | full resolution

Continue reading Review: Jupiter-3 50mm 1.5

Review: Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5

Introduction

Sony A7s with Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5 and VM-E close focus adapter (Helicoid)
Sony A7s with Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5 and VM-E close focus adapter (Helicoid)

The Nokton 50mm 1.5 Asph by Voigtlander is a small and fast 50mm rangefinder lens and has become my favourite “allround” standard lens on the Sony A7s. Read on to find out, what there is to like about this lens!

Sample Images

voigtlander nokton 50mm 1.5 sony a7 blue hour paris sunstars
Sony A7s | Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5 | f/11 | Copyright Tour Eiffel – illuminations Pierre Bideau | higher resolution
voigtlander nokton 50mm 1.5 sony a7 portrait bokeh
Sony A7s | Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5 | f/1.5 | full resolution
voigtlander nokton 50mm 1.5 sony a7 architecture sky
Sony A7 | Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5 | f/8.0 | full resolution

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer Nokton 50mm 1.5

Review: Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0 T* Biogon

Introduction

Sony A7s with Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0
Sony A7s with Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0

The Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0 Biogon is one of Zeiss’ manual focus lenses specifially designed for E-mount cameras. The modern design, the aperture “de-click” feature and the transfer of Exif-data sets it apart from adapted lenses. Read on to learn how it fares optically.
Update: conlusion updated (06/05/2016)

Sample Images

sunstars zeiss loxia 35mm 2.0 fe e blue hour vernazza italy cinque terre sony a7s
Sony A7s | Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0 | f/11 | panorama from 5 shots | higher resolution
close up zeiss loxia 35mm 2.0 bokeh blossom kirschblüte cherry sony a7s
Sony A7s | Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0 | f/2 | full resolution
architecture loxia zeiss 35mm 2,0 biogon sony a7s
Sony A7s | Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0 | f/2 | full resolution

Continue reading Review: Zeiss Loxia 35mm 2.0 T* Biogon

Review: Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G

Introduction

Sony A7s with Metabones Nikon G -> Sony E Adapter and Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G
Sony A7s with Metabones Nikon G -> Sony E Adapter and Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G

This is a review of Nikon’s latest fast wideangle lens and how it performs on Sony’s A7 series. It may come as quite a surprise, as I usually prefer using (and reviewing) rangefinder lenses on my A7s.

Sample Images

Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/1.8 | 3 shot panorama |
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/1.8 | 3 shot panorama | higher resolution
sony a7s nikon 20mm 1.8g blue hour sunstar
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/11 | full resolution
sony a7s nikon 20mm 1.8g black and white mustek prague
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8 | full resolution

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G