Category Archives: Accessories

Accessories, Accessory, lenses, Manual Photographers, Manual Photographers series, Zeiss

Projector Lenses – Reviving the Joy of Old Petzval Lenses (Guest Article)

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Introduction

Martin recently reviewed Lomo’s replica of a Petzval lens. I commented, perhaps slightly snidely, that vintage Petzval lenses are still around, often for less money, and often with better centre sharpness – and certainly with a vast choice of models and thus rendition nuances.

Martin suggested I share my knowledge in an article. And like an inverse Spice Girl, one became two. This one seeks to introduce you to the weird magic of Petzval lenses and their widespread availability from old cinema film projectors. The next will look at adapting them, and indeed any old projection lens, to a modern-day camera.

So here we go, I guess.

All pictures were taken on full-frame evils: a Sony a7r2 and an a7cr. Some were cropped; all were adjusted for proper blacks and whites according to ancient darkroom principles. None had additional sharpening or aberration correction applied.

Sample Images

Meyer  Görlitz Kinon Superior 50/2.2.
Meopta Meostigmat 50/1.3, 617-inspired 1:3 crop out of 3:2 full frame image.
Meyer  Görlitz Kinon Superior  50/1.6 – A characteristic of Petzval lenses is the swirly bokeh, which also results in lentilesque distortion of highlights (some call it cat’s eyes; you’d need a pretty deformed cat to see that analogy).
Meopta 50/1.3
The Meyers date from the 1930s! This 50/1.6 cost someone 6 pound sterling in 1938, according to an old advert.

Continue reading Projector Lenses – Reviving the Joy of Old Petzval Lenses (Guest Article) →

Accessories, Accessory, Review

Review: Pergear CFexpress Typ B 512GB

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Introduction

Pergear entered the memory card market later than many of the bigger players, but in 2022 and 2023 they launched high-spec CFexpress Type B and Type A cards at far more budget-friendly prices. They’re quickly carving out a place for themselves alongside more established brands.

When they asked if I wanted to test their newest card, I agreed—mainly because I wanted to see how it stacks up against the cards I already use in my cameras. Let’s take a closer look.

camera-icon2I tested this card on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Continue reading Review: Pergear CFexpress Typ B 512GB →

Accessories, Review

Review: TTArtisan Flash M01 + Wireless Trigger J01

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Introduction

TTArtisan had earlier released LED lamps in  the shape of a 35mm film roll. Later, they also released the RGB version of those lamps. Tiny LED lamps that can be easily carried in a pocket and hidden behind any object to be photographed, adding an extra element to the images. Now, they have released camera flashes in that format, the M01 flash together with the wirelless trigger J01. Let’s have a brief look at them.

camera-icon2I tested these falshes on a Nikon Zf  and a Nikon Zfc.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Three off-camera M01 flashes
One on-camera M01 flash
Four off-camera M01 flashes
One on-camera M01 flash
One on-camera M01 flash

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Accessories, Accessory

REVIEW: FotoPro Origin Plus Travel Tripod

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Introduction

Do you even need a tripod these days? To be honest, the necessity of tripods has been significantly reduced thanks to highly effective in-body image stabilisation, improved image quality at high ISOs and AI noise reduction, super-wide dynamic range of today’s digital sensors, and in-camera HDR modes.

Despite modern tech making tripods less necessary in some situations, they’re still invaluable in plenty of others. Tripods remain essential for long-exposure and astro photography, staging group photos, and focus stacking, to achieve sharp and crisp landscapes from close foreground to infinity, and especially for macro photography. Other applications where tripods are crucial include architectural photography, when you need to set up your camera with supreme precision, or when taking a series of shots with incremental panning to create panoramas. They also free up your hands for attaching or removing accessories like lens filters and microphones. Furthermore, tripods are indispensable for video work and studio photography.

So, which tripod should you choose?
Many of us know about high-end tripods like Gitzo and RRS, but are we always willing to pay a premium for that level of quality and reputation? And what about newer, lesser-known brands? one of them: the Fotopro Origin Plus Travel Tripod, a model that promises innovation and stability at a competitive price. Let’s have a look!

You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Long exposure on Fotopro Origin Plus tripod
Precise architectural photography in Low light (1/6 s) on Fotopro Origin Plus tripod
Panorama made of multiple exposures on a Fotopro Origin Plus
The original panorama of the previous image
Multiple exposures on a Fotopro Origin Plus tripod
Long exposure on Fotopro Origin Plus tripod

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7Artisans, Accessories, Adapters, Leica M, Sony E-mount, Techart, Voigtlander

Leica M to Sony E Close Focus Adapters

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Introduction

Sony A7s with Leica 90mm 2.0 Summicron M (pre Asph) and VM-E Close Focus Adapter

Classic rangefinder lenses usually spot less staggering minimum focus distances compared to (D)SLR and the latest lenses for mirrorless cameras because of how focusing with rangefinder cameras works. In 2022 several manufacturers are offering close focus adapters. These adapters have their own additional helicoid which allows you to focus your lenses much closer than you could with a conventional adapter. I have used several of these myself, so let’s see which ones are worth the asking price.
Last Update: December 2024

Sample Images

7artisans leica summulix 28mm 1.4 f/1.4 wide angle fast 42mp sony feplus resolution contrast coma review close focus range macro extension tube helicoid adapter hawks factory
Sony A7rII | 7artisans 28mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Hawk’s Factory Close Focus Adapter
raven Bokeh Voigtlander 28mm 2.0
Sony A7 | Voigtländer Ultron 2.0/28 | f/2.0 | Voigtländer VM-E Close Focus Adapter
7artisans leica summulix 28mm 1.4 f/1.4 wide angle fast 42mp sony feplus resolution contrast coma review close focus range macro extension tube helicoid adapter hawks factory
Sony A7rII | 7artisans 28mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Hawk’s Factory Close Focus Adapter
bokeh summicron 90mm 2.0 sony a7 review 42mp leica m10 24mp sharpness contrast
Sony A7rII | Leica Summicron 90mm 2.0 pre-Asph | f/2.0 | Voigtländer VM-E Close Focus Adapter

Continue reading Leica M to Sony E Close Focus Adapters →