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: Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4

Introduction

leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz
Sony A7rII with Voigtlander VM-E close focus adapter and Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4

The Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 is the longest Leica lens for the M-series and at the same time the shortest (and only one still in production) of the Apo-Telyt series. This is a well regarded but also very expensive 135mm lens and while rather compact it is not very fast with a maximum aperture of f/3.4. Can the image quality make up for the moderate speed like we have seen with the Zeiss Loxia 85mm 2.4? Let us find out!

Sample Images

leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz vignetting
Sony A7s |Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 | f/3.4
leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz vignetting
Sony A7rII |Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 | f/3.4
leica apo telyt 135mm 3.4 m m-mount review sony a7rii 42mp wetzlar leitz vignetting
Sony A7rII |Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4 | f/3.4

Continue reading Review: Leica Apo-Telyt-M 135mm 3.4

Review: Laowa Magic Shift Converter 17mm 4.0

Introduction

laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective
Sony A7rII with Laowa Magic Shift Converter and 12mm 2.8 Zero-D lens

You ask what the heck a Magic Shift Converter is? This is a 1.4x tele converter for wide angle lenses and adds ±10mm shift movement. It for example turns Laowa’s 12mm 2.8 in a 17mm 4.0 ±10mm shift lens. In this review you will find out how this can be useful and what the influence on the image quality of the master lens is.

Sample Images

laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective sample image
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-D on Magic Shift Converter | f/8.0
laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective sample image
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-D on Magic Shift Converter | f/8.0
laowa magic shift converter msc m.s.c. review 17mm 4.0 12mm 2.8 architecture correction perspective sample image
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12mm 2.8 Zero-D on Magic Shift Converter | f/4.0

Continue reading Review: Laowa Magic Shift Converter 17mm 4.0

Review: Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E Classic

Introduction

voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII with Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E Classic

The Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E “classic” was announced alongside the Voigtlander 40mm 1.2 Nokton E and after a slight delay just hit the shelves (02/18). The “classic” designation relates to the heritage of this lens as its symmetrical optical design is very similar to the older M-mount 35mm 1.4. What can we expect from Voigtlander’s first classic E-mount lens?

Sample Images

voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E classic | f/1.4
voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E classic | f/1.4
voigtlander 35mm 1.4 nokton e classic review sony e-mount emount sharpness bokeh rendering vignetting
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E classic | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander 35mm 1.4 Nokton E Classic

Review: MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 Fluorit MC

Introduction

ms-optics aporis 135mm 2.4 fluorit jch japancamerahunter miyazaki sadayasu review sony a7rII a7riii 42mp
Sony A7rII with metabones Leica-M adapter and MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4

The Aporis 135mm 2.4 is the latest and also longest lens made by MS-Optics, a one-man-lens manufacturer. It even features one of Canon’s famous CaF2 Fluorit glass elements, which is mostly used in their great super tele lenses for minimizing color aberrations. Does it help to actually combine fast maximum aperture, small size and good image quality?

Sample Images

Sony A7rII with metabones Leica-M adapter and MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 bokeh loca portrait
Sony A7rII | MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 | f/2.4 | higher resolution
Sony A7rII with metabones Leica-M adapter and MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 bokeh loca
Sony A7rII | MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 | f/4.0
Sony A7rII with metabones Leica-M adapter and MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 bokeh loca
Sony A7rII | MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 | f/2.4

Continue reading Review: MS-Optics Aporis 135mm 2.4 Fluorit MC