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 50 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.

Nikon, Nikon Z, Travel-Report

Travel Diary: An Arctic Trip (Day 1)

August 27, 2024 Martin 2 Comments

Nikon D7200 | Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8 | f/2.8

Living in Sweden and being interested in photography will take you to some more picturesque and exotic places in the country. One of these places is Lappland in the Arctic region of the furthest north part of the country. I have traveled there several times in different seasons and enjoyed each time.

A few years ago, some people I knew suggested that I would take them on a journey and show them some of nice places I knew and be like a guide for them. To check the general interest I posted an open invitation on my Instagram account encouraging anyone interested to join me. Despite my low expectations, the response was overwhelming, with inquiries pouring in from various countries.

Continue reading Travel Diary: An Arctic Trip (Day 1) →

Nikon Z, Review

REVIEW: Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 V – Soap Bubble Bokeh Treasure or Garbage?

August 11, 2024 Martin 11 Comments

Introduction Meyer-Optik Görlitz trioplan 50mm f/2.9 on a Nikon Z

The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 is a legendary vintage lens from the 1930s, known for creating dreamy background blur with soap bubble bokeh. I’ve been very curious about this lens and now I have one to test and share my experience with you.

This MOG Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 is a lens with a, once upon a time, much-used formula, the Cooke triplet. It consists of two biconvex lenses on the outer edges and a biconcave lens in the middle.

This seemingly simple design offers some surprising characteristics that have attracted both manufacturers and photographers for decades. Let’s delve deeper and explore what makes this lens so special!

I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z 7II (Sample images with full-frame Nikon Zf and APS-C Nikon Zfc)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Nikon Z f | Meyer-Optik Görlitz trioplan 50mm f/2.9 | f/2.9 — Nikon Z f | Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 | f/2.9

Nikon Z fc | Meyer-Optik Görlitz trioplan 50mm f/2.9 | f/2.9 — Nikon Z fc | Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 | f/2.9

Continue reading REVIEW: Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 V – Soap Bubble Bokeh Treasure or Garbage? →

lenses, Nikon, Nikon, Nikon Z, Review

Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S

July 27, 2024 Martin 22 Comments

Introduction

Today we look at one of the first lenses released for Nikon’s Z mount full-frame mirrorless cameras: the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S. This standard lens is versatile enough to be used in street, travel, and everyday photography. it is also a good choice for portraiture, especially on an APS-C camera or on a fullframe camera in DX mode. Combined with a fast f/1.8 aperture, it’s the right choice whenever you don’t know what to expect and want to be prepared for anything, as it gives you both fast shutter speeds and pretty out-of-focus background blur. Lenses with this focal length and maximum aperture combination have been known as Nifty Fifties, but for $630 it sits between the traditionally affordable ‘Nifty Fifty’ lenses and the more expensive f/1.4 professional options. So, the question remains: is it a traditional Nifty Fifty or a sophisticated high-end lens? Let’s find out!

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

Sample Images

Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S →

lenses, Nikon, Nikon, Nikon Z, Review

REVIEW: Nikon Z Nikkor 26mm f/2.8

July 14, 2024 Martin 9 Comments

Introduction

Nikon Z 26/2.8 on Nikon Z 7II

Nikon Z 26mm 2.8 has an unconventional focal length that falls between two classic wide-angle focal lengths for candid street photography, 24mm and 28mm. It is remarkably compact, making it the smallest and lightest Z prime lens for full-frame cameras from Nikon. Not only is it one of the most compact Nikon Z lens ever, but also it currently holds the title of the world’s slimmest mirrorless autofocus fullframe lens produced by any manufacturer. It can also be used on an APS-C camera as a prime standard lens, providing an equivalent focal length of approximately 40mm, my favorite standard focal length. While not part of Nikon’s premium S-line lenses, it is well-regarded for its performance. Let’s see how it performs!

I tested this lens on a fullframe Nikon Z 7II (with its 46 Mp sensor) and on an APS-C Nikon Z fc (with its 21 Mp sensor).
Hereafter, for ease of writing, I will use Nikon’s designations “FX” for fullframe and “DX” for APS-C.
You watch see this review in video format on YouTube.

Sample Images

Continue reading REVIEW: Nikon Z Nikkor 26mm f/2.8 →

Accessories, Accessory, Comparison, Review

Review: Walkingway Effect Filters: Black Mist, Streak, Star, Prism, and Soft Filters

June 20, 2024 Martin 14 Comments

Introduction

Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue star filter 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z8 Z9 Zf Z6 II

Today, you can create almost any effect in post-processing. However, there are hurdles: 1) you need a good editing program, 2) you have to master the program to get good results, 3) you have to spend some time in front of your computer to get the desired effect. Alternatively, you can invest in expensive specialty lenses to achieve a specific result. This is especially challenging, if not impossible, for achieving the effect in videos. Given these challenges, especially in video, a simpler solution emerges – using filters. Let’s have a look!