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: Laowa 11mm 4.5 FF-RL

Introduction

laowa 11mm 4.5 zero-d distortion zero ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Laowa 11mm 4.5 on Sony A7rII

Laowa introduced 3 ultra wide angle lenses at roughly the same time in Summer 2020. This 11mm 4.5 FF-RL is in the one in the middle in terms of focal length and maximum aperture, but is it the goldilock’s lens in this set or should you rather stick to the record breaking 9mm lens or the low distortion 14mm lens? Let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

laowa 11mm 4.5 zero-d distortion zero ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 11mm 4.5 | f/8.0
laowa 11mm 4.5 zero-d distortion zero ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7rII | Laowa 11mm 4.5 | f/11
laowa 11mm 4.5 zero-d distortion zero ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7rII | Laowa 11mm 4.5 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Laowa 11mm 4.5 FF-RL

Review: Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro (MF)

Introduction

sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro via Novoflex C/Y-E adapter on Sony A7rII

Many of us have been looking for a small yet capable tele lens in the ~200mm range and so far we have mostly failed. Is this often overlooked Sigma 180mm f/5.6 macro the lens we have actually been searching for?

Sample Images

sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sony A7III | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f/5.6
sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sony A7rII | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f/5.6
sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sony A7III | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro (MF)

Review: TTArtisan 50mm 0.95

Introduction

ttartisan 50mm 0.95 7artisans noctilux bokeh super fast f/0.95 portrait sharpness leica-m m10 42mp 24mp
TTArtisan 50mm 0.95 on Sony A7rII

The TTArtisan 50mm 0.95 is probably the most anticipated lens by TTArtisan so far, as – at least on paper – it rivals the famous yet unobtainably expensive Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux.
And for E-mount users it will be interesting to see if this lens performs better than the Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 E.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

ttartisan 50mm 0.95 7artisans noctilux bokeh super fast f/0.95 portrait sharpness leica-m m10 42mp 24mp
Leica M10 | TTArtisan 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
ttartisan 50mm 0.95 7artisans noctilux bokeh super fast f/0.95 portrait sharpness leica-m m10 42mp 24mp
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
ttartisan 50mm 0.95 7artisans noctilux bokeh super fast f/0.95 portrait sharpness leica-m m10 42mp 24mp
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 50mm 0.95 | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 50mm 0.95

How I edit my Pictures – B&W, Vintage

Introduction

Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 75mm 1.5 | f/1.5

I received quite a lot of feedback on my Leica M10 review especially regarding the B&W pictures – of which there were clearly more than there are usually to be found in my other articles – and I was asked to write a piece on how I process my B&W images. Then in the Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III review people asked how I archive that vintage/film look, so I decided to combine both in one article.

Continue reading How I edit my Pictures – B&W, Vintage