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.
DJ-Optical, Leica M, Review

Review: DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 M

21 Comments

Introduction

review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 on Leica M10

Most manufacturers producing M-mount lenses have at least one super fast 50mm lens in their portfolio and quite often these are prestigious flagship lenses for them. The latest entry is DJ-Optical with his 50mm 1.0 lens for M-mount – produced only in small quantities and officially being sold only in China at the moment. Thanks to one of my readers I was still able to acquire one of these to review it for you, so let’s have a closer look at this intriguing lens.
This lens will be reviewed on the 24mp Leica M10 and the 42mp Sony A7rII.

Sample Images

review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.2
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Boryoza LM-Z | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/2.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Boryoza LM-Z | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0

Continue reading Review: DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 M →

Analogue, camera

Analogue Adventures – Part 48: Hexar RF

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Hexar RF

Released in 1999, the Konica Hexar RF is the most advanced analogue M-mount rangefinder camera ever made, far surpassing the Minolta CLE and all of Leica’s analogue cameras that came after. Let’s have a closer look!

wolfen nc500 orwo agfa iso400 asa review leica analogue film germany
Hexar RF | Wolfen 500 NC | MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM | f/1.4
kodak royal supra 400 color negative film germany stuttgart deutschland review nikon f analogue film hexar rf
Hexar RF | Kodak Royal Supra 400 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 | f/2.0
kodak royal supra 400 color negative film germany stuttgart deutschland review nikon f analogue film hexar rf
Hexar RF | Kodak Royal Supra 400 | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/8.0
kodak royal supra 400 color negative film germany stuttgart deutschland review nikon f analogue film hexar rf
Hexar RF | Kodak Royal Supra 400 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0
kodak royal supra 400 color negative film germany stuttgart deutschland review nikon f analogue film hexar rf
Hexar RF | Kodak Royal Supra 400 | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2
kodak royal supra 400 color negative film germany stuttgart deutschland review nikon f analogue film hexar rf
Hexar RF | Kodak Royal Supra 400 | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 48: Hexar RF →

Leica M, Review, Thypoch

Review: Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana Epoch

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Introduction

thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana on Leica M10

After Simera and Eureka Thypoch’s next lens lineup is called Ksana. The first lens of this series is the Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana. A modern optical design with aspherical element but coatings reminiscent of Canon’s FD lenses from 1973. An interesting combination on paper, so let’s have a closer look!
Lens is being tested on 24mp Leica M10 and 42mp Sony A7rII

Sample Images

thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/5.6
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/5.6
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5 | Ai Denoise
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/8.0 | Ai Denoise
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/11

Continue reading Review: Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana Epoch →

Laowa, Leica M, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL

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Introduction

laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Laowa 9mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

The king is dead, long live the king! After the Voigtlander 10mm 5.6’s field of view has been matched by the Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP and the Laowa 10-18mm 4.5-5.6 it has now been surpassed by this Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL. Can a lens be wider and at the same time better? Let us try to find out!
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10
Last Update: March 2026

Sample Images

laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Nikon Zf | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Nikon Zf | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
Leica M10 | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
Leica M10 | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL →

Canon, Canon EF-Mount, Review

Review: Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L USM – Still the world’s fastest AF lens

25 Comments

Introduction

review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM via Fringer EF-NZ on Nikon Zf

Over the past years we saw huge improvements in optical performance of 35mm format lenses –  a trend started by the Zeiss Otus and Sigma Art lineups – and the latest Sony GM and Nikon Z designs offer an optical performance unheard of only a few years before. Still, there are some lenses that never saw a successor and this Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM is one such lens. Released in 1989 this is still the fastest fullframe autofocus lens ever made. But what compromises were needed to make a lens like this, leading to no one ever daring to try this again for at least 36 years? Let’s find out in this review.
The lens is mainly being tested on a 24mp Nikon Zf.

Sample Images

review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.4
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0

Continue reading Review: Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L USM – Still the world’s fastest AF lens →