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: TTArtisan 35mm 1.4

Introduction

ttartisan 7artisans 35mm 1.4 asph sharpness mirrorless spiegellos review
TTArtisan 35mm 1.4 on Sony A7rII

We already reviewed the 7Artisans 35mm 1.4 and now we have a more complex 35mm 1.4 by TTArtisan. Unfortunately the lens does not seem to optimized for the Sony filter stack, so how good a performer is this lens when used on a Sony camera? Let us find out in this review!

Update 03/01/20: added sharpness infinity chart for Leica M10 and a few additional information regarding its use on a rangefinder camera

Sample Images

ttartisan 7artisans 35mm 1.4 asph sharpness mirrorless spiegellos review coma astro milky way milchstraße coma koma
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 35mm 1.4 | f/1.4
ttartisan 7artisans 35mm 1.4 asph sharpness mirrorless spiegellos review coma astro milky way milchstraße coma koma
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 35mm 1.4 | f/1.4
ttartisan 7artisans 35mm 1.4 asph sharpness mirrorless spiegellos review coma astro milky way milchstraße coma koma
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 35mm 1.4 | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 35mm 1.4

Review: TTArtisan 21mm 1.5

Introduction

ttartisan 7artisans 21mm 1.5 m-mount leica m10 sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution review performance bokeh
TTArtisan 21mm 1.5 with TTArtisan M->E adapter on Sony A7rII

The TTArtisan 21mm 1.5 is not only a fast but also a very compact wide angle lens. Does the small size take its toll, or will this be a similarly positive surprise as the similarly sized 7Artisans 28mm 1.4? Let us find out how it performs on the Sony A7rII and the Leica M10!

Sample Images

ttartisan 7artisans 21mm 1.5 m-mount leica m10 sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution review performance bokeh
Leica M10 | TTArtisan 21mm 1.5 | f/5.6
TTArtisan_21mm_1.5_sample_4
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 21mm 1.5 | f/1.5
ttartisan 7artisans 21mm 1.5 m-mount leica m10 sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution review performance bokeh
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 21mm 1.5 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 21mm 1.5

Review: 7artisans 28mm 1.4 FE-Plus

Introduction

7artisans leica summulix 28mm 1.4 f/1.4 wide angle fast 42mp sony feplus resolution contrast coma review
7artisans 28mm 1.4 FEplus via Hawk’s Factory adapter on Sony A7rII

So far the only native 28mm prime lens is the Sony FE 28mm 2.0. Now 7artisans is offering a version of  its 28mm 1.4 M-mount lens with an optical design adjusted to the thick filter stack of the Sony cameras. This is the first 7artisans lens reviewed here, so let us find out what this new manufacturer has to offer.

Update June 2023: Alternatives section updated

Sample Images

7artisans leica summulix 28mm 1.4 f/1.4 wide angle fast 42mp sony feplus resolution contrast coma review close focus range macro extension tube helicoid adapter hawks factory
Sony A7rII | 7artisans 28mm 1.4 | f/1.4
7artisans leica summulix 28mm 1.4 f/1.4 wide angle fast 42mp sony feplus resolution contrast coma review close focus range macro extension tube helicoid adapter hawks factory
Sony A7rII | 7artisans 28mm 1.4 | f/1.4
7artisans leica summulix 28mm 1.4 f/1.4 wide angle fast 42mp sony feplus resolution contrast coma review close focus range macro extension tube helicoid adapter hawks factory
Sony A7rII | 7artisans 28mm 1.4 | f/1.4
7artisans 28mm 1.4 fe-plus fe+ sharpness coma astro astrophotography milky way astigmatism
Sony A7III | 7artisans 28mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | panorama from 3 shots

Continue reading Review: 7artisans 28mm 1.4 FE-Plus

Review: Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN

Introduction

sigma 35mm 1.2 art dg dn sharpness resolution contrast high 42mp a7rii a7riii bokeh za sony vignetting light fall off falloff
Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN on Sony A7rII

The Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN is the first true full frame mirrorless lens designed by Sigma and also the first full frame 35mm f/1.2 AF lens. Is this finally the high quality 35mm lens we have been waiting for?
Update 12/19: experiences after 4 months of usage added

Sample Images

sigma 35mm 1.2 art dg dn sharpness resolution contrast high 42mp a7rii a7riii bokeh za sony
Sony A7III | Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art | f/1.2
sigma 35mm 1.2 art dg dn sharpness resolution contrast high 42mp a7rii a7riii bokeh za sony
Sony A7rII | Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art | f/1.2
sigma 35mm 1.2 art dg dn sharpness resolution contrast high 42mp a7rii a7riii bokeh za sony
Sony A7rII | Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN

Review: Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4G – better than its reputation?

Introduction

nikon af-s 58mm 1.4g n nano high resolution bokeh portrait sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii
Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4G via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

The Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4G is a lens disregarded by many for its high price and subpar test results, yet some love it for its rendering qualities and claim it is the best lens in this focal length range for portraiture. Therefore I have always been intrigued by this lens and thanks to a reader I now got the chance to have a closer look at it and present you this review to find out if it is actually better than its reputation.
Update 2024: general update of the whole review
Update 2025: CA section reworked, additional sample pictures added

Sample Images

nikon af-s 58mm 1.4g n nano high resolution bokeh portrait sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii
Nikon Zf | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4G | f/1.4
nikon af-s 58mm 1.4g n nano high resolution bokeh portrait sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4 | f/1.4
nikon af-s 58mm 1.4g n nano high resolution bokeh portrait sony a7rII a7rIII a7rIV sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations
Sony A7III | Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4 | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 58mm 1.4G – better than its reputation?