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.

Review, TTArtisan

TTArtisan 7.5mm f/2 Pro Fisheye – Ultra Wide for Dramatic Views and Ultra Confined Places

January 29, 2025 Martin 14 Comments

Introduction

TTARTISAN Review test TTArtisan 7.5mm f/2 Pro Fisheye f2 APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fufifilm Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f

Fisheye lenses offer the widest field of view among all lenses. A non-circular fisheye provides a 180° diagonal field of view, something no rectilinear lens can remotely achieve (a 14mm lens gives you 114°, a 10mm lens 130°, and a 9mm 135°). Fisheye lenses are especially useful when you want to capture as much as possible in tight, confined spaces or wide, open areas. They also offer a unique and exciting perspective that can be creatively exploited without restrictions.

If used skillfully, fisheye lenses can produce images that look relatively normal in many scenarios, though not all. The TTArtisan 7.5mm is a non-circular fisheye lens designed for APS-C cameras, but it can also be mounted on full-frame cameras, where it produces circular fisheye images (180° both diagonally, horizontally, and vertically). Let’s take a closer look!

camera-icon2 I tested the lenses on a 26 Mpx Fujijilm X-S10.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here.
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Fujifilm X-S10 | TTArtisan 7.5mm f/2 Pro Fisheye | f/8

Fujifilm X-S10 | TTArtisan 7.5mm f/2 Pro Fisheye | f/8

Original Projection
Projection Corrected in Post

Continue reading TTArtisan 7.5mm f/2 Pro Fisheye – Ultra Wide for Dramatic Views and Ultra Confined Places →

Comparison, Nikon, Sony, TTArtisan, Viltrox

Comparison: Which 85mm f1.8? Nikon Z or Sony FE? Or Maybe Viltrox, or TTArtisan?

January 26, 2025 Martin 21 Comments

Introduction

If you’re looking for an affordable short telephoto and portrait lens, an 85mm f/1.8 lens is an excellent choice. But which one should you pick—Nikon, Sony, or perhaps the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8? While all three lenses share the 85mm focal length, we’ll also consider the TTArtisan 75mm f/2, which is close enough to serve as a potential alternative. Let’s compare these lenses side by side to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.

camera-icon2 I tested the lenses on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf , Nikon Z6, and Sony A7 III)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

NIKKOR Z 85/1.8 S — Nikon Zf | Nikkor Z 85/1.8 S | f/2

SONY — Nikon A7 III | Sony FE 85/1.8 | f/1.8

Continue reading Comparison: Which 85mm f1.8? Nikon Z or Sony FE? Or Maybe Viltrox, or TTArtisan? →

camera, Comparison, Laowa, lenses, Nikon Z, Review

REVIEW/COMPARISON: Laowa FF II TS 55mm & 100mm f/2.8 Macro 1X

December 20, 2024 Martin 9 Comments

Introduction

Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro on Nikon Z7II

UPDATE 20.12.2024:
Reworked the close-up sharpness section and added both 1:1 and 1:2 magnification test shots for both lenses.

The Laowa FF II TS 55mm and 100mm f/2.8 Macro 1X lenses are true macro lenses, offering 1:1 magnification along with tilt-shift functionality that enhances control over the focal plane.

While major camera and lens manufacturers like Canon, Sony, Nikon, Leica, Panasonic, Hasselblad, Sigma, and Tamron have largely overlooked this niche in mirrorless cameras, Laowa has stepped up to fill the gap. Their lenses, available in almost all major mounts, feature tilt and shift capabilities that open up new creative possibilities for photographers.

The tilt function allows precise control over the focal plane, enabling photographers to either extend or limit the in-focus area. This makes these lenses perfect for capturing intricate product details or adding selective focus for artistic compositions. With such versatility, Laowa’s lenses offer greater creative control over depth of field, making them a valuable tool for specialised photography needs

Since these two lenses are almost identical in shape, build, and handling, and were released simultaneously, I decided to combine my review of both. This way, I can avoid repeating the same points and provide a direct comparison, so you can see them side by side.

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

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 100mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/11

Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/5.6 (Shift panorama)

Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 | Tilted

Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 55mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 No Tilt

Nikon Zf | Laowa FF II TS 100mm f/2.8 1X Macro | f/2.8 | Tilted

Continue reading REVIEW/COMPARISON: Laowa FF II TS 55mm & 100mm f/2.8 Macro 1X →

lenses, Manufacturers, Review, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.7 XF (APS-C)

December 18, 2024 Martin 6 Comments

Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.7

The APS-C 35mm focal length is equivalent to 52mm on a Fullframe camera, therefore it is in the ‘standard’ focal length category and very close to the classic 50mm lenses on fullframe cameras, with an angle of view offering none of the ‘perspective distortion’ associated with wide angle or telephoto lenses. This lens on an APS-C camera is equivalent to a Nifty Fifty on a fullframe camera. Let’s have a closer look at it!

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 26 Mp Fujifilm X-S10.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Most of the sample images in high resolution here.