All posts by Martin

Martin M.H. lives outside Stockholm, Sweden. He is a M.Sc. in Computer Technology but he has been a passionate photographer for over 45 years. He started his photographic adventures when he was thirteen with an Agfamatic pocket camera, which he soon replaced with a Canon rangefinder camera that his mom gave him in his teenages. After that he has been using Canon SLR, Nikon SLR manual focus and Autofocus, Sony mirrorless crop sensor, Nikon DSLR and Nikon Mirrorless. He has photographed any genre he could throughout the years and you can see all kind of images in his portfolio. During the later years though it has been mostly landscape, nature, travel and some street/documentary photography.

camera, lenses, Nikon, Nikon, Nikon Z, Review

Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S

November 17, 2024 Martin 3 Comments

Introduction

The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S is a short telephoto lens that delivers excellent background blur thanks to its large aperture. While it’s ideal for portrait photography, it can also be effectively used for landscape and street photography, thanks to its relatively wide field of view for a telephoto lens. This professional-grade lens is designed for both professionals and enthusiasts. From 2019 to 2023, it was Nikon’s only 85mm option for professional use on Z cameras, until the introduction of the 85mm f/1.2 S. Let’s take a closer look!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf and Nikon Zfc)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S →

camera, lenses, Manufacturers, Nikon, Nikon, Nikon Z, Review

REVIEW: Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S

October 27, 2024 Martin 16 Comments

Introduction

The Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S, designed primarily for demanding professionals and discerning enthusiasts, is one of the fastest autofocus lenses in the Nikkor Z lineup. While Nikon has a legacy of producing ultra-fast f/1.2 standard lenses, this is their first f/1.2 autofocus lens. Nikon’s history with f/1.2 lenses began in 1965 with the introduction of the Nikkor-S 55mm f/1.2. This was followed by the legendary Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 in 1977 and the AI-Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 S in 1981. However, after the 1980s, Nikon took a break from producing f/1.2 lenses until the advent of the Z mount system in 2018.

With the larger Z mount, Nikon aimed to overcome the limitations of their previous f/1.2 lenses by incorporating new technology. As a result, the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S was launched in September 2020.

But did Nikon succeed in meeting these high expectations? Let’s find out!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z 7II (Sample images taken with Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S | f/1.2

Continue reading REVIEW: Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S →

camera, lenses, Manufacturers, Nikon Z, Pergear, Review

Review: Pergear 60mm f/2.8 MK2 Macro 2X – The Most Affordable 2X Macro?

October 16, 2024 Martin 6 Comments

Introduction

It seems to have become a trend among Chinese lens manufacturers to produce full-frame macro lenses with 2X magnification. Here, we have one of the most affordable options: the Pergear 60mm f/2.8 MK2 Macro 2X. Let’s dive into its strengths and weaknesses!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf and Nikon Zfc)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Pergear 60mm f/2.8 MK2 Macro 2X | f/8-11

Nikon Zfc | Pergear 60mm f/2.8 MK2 Macro 2X | f/8-11

Continue reading Review: Pergear 60mm f/2.8 MK2 Macro 2X – The Most Affordable 2X Macro? →

Review, Zeiss

Review: Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f/3.5

October 9, 2024 Martin 13 Comments

Introduction

The Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f/3.5 is a vintage lens, originally designed in 1929. Renowned for its simple yet ingenious design and impressive sharpness, it’s also celebrated for its remarkably light weight. Historically, 135mm has been the classic focal length for portrait photography, and the most popular telephoto focal length for most photographers. Therefore almost all of the lens manufacturers had at least 2 of them, a f/2.8 and a f/3.5, many offered other speeds in between or even faster than 2.8. The Sonnar design, with its compact size, made it a popular choice for photographers on the move. While Carl Zeiss produced numerous Sonnar 135mm lenses, other manufacturers have also developed their own Sonnar-inspired lenses incorporating modern technology. Despite its historical significance, I found the Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f/3.5 price more reasonable than other coveted vintage lenses, prompting me to purchase one for testing. (I bought mine for €10 but prices normally start from €20)

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z 7II (Sample images Nikon Z6 and Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f/3.5 | f/3.5

Continue reading Review: Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f/3.5 →

camera, lenses, Manufacturers, Nikon Z, Review, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan AF 75mm f/2

September 29, 2024 Martin 20 Comments

Introduction

TTArtisan has produced several affordable and well-regarded manual lenses in recent years. Now, they’ve introduced their first full-frame autofocus lens: a 75mm f/2, available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts at a budget-friendly price of $178. Lenses in the 50mm to 85mm range are typically known for their strong optical performance, and this focal length is particularly well-suited for portraiture and general-purpose photography, offering a slightly tighter field of view than a standard 50mm. The 75mm f/2 allows for excellent subject isolation while maintaining enough background detail to keep the blur subtly recognisable. Let’s dive into its strengths and weaknesses!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!