All posts by Phillip Reeve

I have two hobbies: Photography and photographic gear. Both are related only to a small degree.

Review: Samyang AF 75/1.8 FE

“Tiny but ABSOLUTE” that’s Samyang’s claim for their AF 75/1.8 FE lens. One could add that it is one of the cheapest lenses for the system. So what can you expect from a 230g lens for $399? Read on if you want to know.

Samyang AF 75/1.8 FE Review

Most images in this review can be found in full resolution in my Samyang AF 75/1.8 FE flickr set. There you can also browse samples in a very high quality browser.

 

Continue reading Review: Samyang AF 75/1.8 FE

Announced: Voigtlander 35mm F2 Apo-Lanthar

Cosina just announced the Voigtlander 35mm F2 APO-Lanthar.

Specifications

Diameter 63 mm
Length 67 mm
Filter Thread 49 mm
Weight (no hood, no caps) 352g
Max. Magnification 1:6.4
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor 0.35 m
Number of aperture blades 12
Elements/ Groups 11/9

Features

Translated by Google Translate

  • Adopted an apochromat design that makes the on-axis chromatic aberration of RGB, which constitutes the three primary colors of light, as close to zero as possible. A semi-wide-angle lens that doubles as the APO-LANTHAR 50mm F2, a standard lens that pursues ultimate performance. It combines the performance of the best quasi-wide-angle lens in Voigtlander history with the compactness and ease of handling. Main features:
  • Compatible with Sony E mount. Equipped with electronic contacts, the Exif information of shooting data reflects the usage status of the lens. In addition, since it has a built-in distance encoder, it supports 5-axis camera shake correction on the camera body side. It is also possible to enlarge the viewfinder by operating the focus ring.
  • Optimized optical design A full-size image circle is secured and an optical design optimized for the Sony E-mount sensor is adopted. High resolution is maintained up to the periphery of the screen, and phenomena such as color cast are suppressed.
  • apochromatic design to correspond to digital sensors with high pixel current, and thoroughly suppress longitudinal chromatic aberration and lateral chromatic aberration.
  • ball blur 12 sheets squeezed to enjoy the representation aperture blades not only F2 open F2.8, F5.6, adopted a special shape to be circular even F16. It is possible to draw using “ball blur” such as a point light source.
  • Manual focus that enables reliable focusing. By adopting an all-metal helicoid unit that has been processed and adjusted with high precision and high-quality grease that produces appropriate torque, focusing with a smooth operation feeling is realized. Allows for delicate focus adjustment.
  • Aperture click switching mechanism Equipped with an aperture click switching mechanism that can open and close the aperture ring steplessly without generating a click sound. There is no need to worry about picking up the aperture ring operation sound when recording a video.

No surprises here. The 2/35 APO inherits the 2/50 APO’s aperture design, CA correction as well as the mechanical construction we have come to appreciate.

Our Expectations

As Voigtlander lenses have been very consistent in the past and Cosina emphasizes the close relationship to their excellent Voigtlander 2/50 APO we have very high expectations for their 35mm lens. We expect class-leading sharpness and correction of axial CA as well as excellent handling. We are especially curious about the bokeh.

It is funny: The field of E-mount 35mm has been crowded by rather mediocre lenses (by current standards at least) for the last 6 years, with the huge Sigma 1.2/35 being the first optically excellent 35mm to arrive in 2019. But then we got the excellent Sigma 2/35 two months ago (David and Phillip have bought one and are very happy with it. Review coming when it is done) and Sony launched the surprisingly compact GM 1.4/35 to a very loud chorus of praise by sometimes more and sometimes less independent reviewers. And we would be very surprised if the Voigtlander wouldn’t join the ranks of these excellent lenses, giving those who put emphasis on optical perfection an even harder time to decide.

 

2020 – Year’s end review

This image was taken a little after sunrise on the day of the winter solstice 2020 and I feel that it is a fitting image for the whole situation at the moment. Most days here in Germany are dark but at times one is lucky enough to catch a few rays of sunlight. At the same time one can look forward to sunnier days ahead.

2020 took it’s toll on the team as well. We and our families are all healthy and we work in secure jobs which is a big privilege these days. The blog, which is our hobby, got a little less attention because of the whole situation though. But still we managed to publish or update about one article per week and I am grateful to Bastian, David, Juriaan and Jannik not only for the articles but for the constant exchange behind the scenes.

And now lets have a look at the teams most important articles of the year and also one important image from 2020 from each team member.

Continue reading 2020 – Year’s end review

Review: Voigtlander Nokton 35mm F1.2 SE

Introduction

The Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.2 SE is a pretty compact yet super-fast 35mm lens. Let’s check out which tradeoffs had to be made to make it so compact.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander Nokton 35mm F1.2 SE

Introduction

The Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.2 SE is a pretty compact yet super-fast 35mm lens. Let’s check out which tradeoffs had to be made to make it so compact.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander Nokton 35mm F1.2 SE