Category Archives: Accessories

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

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!

Sample Images

Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue star filter 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z7ii ii z6 zf z8 z9
Nikon Z 7II  (DX mofd) | Nikkor Z 28/2.8 | Walkingway Retro Soft filter
Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue star filter 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z7ii ii z6 zf z8 z9
Nikkor Z 24-70 S | Walkingway Black Mist 1/2
Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue star filter 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z7ii ii z6 zf z8 z9
Nikkor 50/1.4 Ai-s | Walkingway Retro Soft filter
Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue star filter 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z7ii ii z6 zf z8 z9
Nikkor 50/1.4 A-is | Star 4 filter
Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue gold star filter prism filter kaleidoscope 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z7ii ii z6 zf z8 z9
Nikkor Z 24-70 S @70mm f/9 | Walkingway Kaleidoscope filter
Walkingway filters, Black mist soft filter streak blue star filter 4 6 8 points stars Retro soft camera photography Nikon Z z7 z7ii ii z6 zf z8 z9
Nikkor 28/2.8 | Walkingway Black Mist 1/2

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

Review: Monster LA-FE1 and LA-FE2 AF Adapter (Nikon-F to Sony-E)

Introduction

monster la-fe2 lafe2 lafe 2 la-fe 2 II Mark MK autofocus autofokus auto focus adapter sony nikon z e mirrorless screwdrive screw driven review performance eye af
Monster LA-FE2 adapter

Canon users that wanted to get into the fullframe mirrorless E-mount world early were in a good spot: the Sigma MC-11 and the metabones Canon EF to Sony E adapters allowed using Canon EF-mount lenses on Sony cameras with only little limitations. For Nikon F-mount users the situation was sadly way worse and it took some time before the first similar adapter (Commlite CMF-EN1) was released – and that one had a lot of issues.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, the situation changed. With the release of the Monster LA-FE1 and later the LA-FE2 adapter we can now finally adapt Nikon F-mount lenses in a similar quality as those Canon EF-mount ones. The LA-FE2 even allows auto focus with the screwdriven Nikon AF(-D) lenses to work on Sony – something not even possible on Nikon’s own Z-mount cameras. Let’s have a closer look.
Update 07/24: more lenses tested, FW 06 for LA-FE1 tested

Continue reading Review: Monster LA-FE1 and LA-FE2 AF Adapter (Nikon-F to Sony-E)

Using Speedboosters on Fullframe Cameras

Introduction

Zhong Yi LensTurboII and Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D via Pixco Speedbooster on Sony A7rII

Speedboosters are still somewhat popular among videographers, but since these days used fullframe cameras are very affordable, this is not really the case for still photographers anymore. They can be used for some creative shallow depth of field photography on fullframe cameras though, and that is what we will have a look at here.

Sample Pictures

Sony A7r | Zhong Yi LensTurbo II | Canon nFD 85mm 1.2L | ©Simeon Kolev

Continue reading Using Speedboosters on Fullframe Cameras

Adapting Lenses – Still worth it in 2023?

Introduction

canon ef 200mm 2.0 l is usm sony 42mp high res review 1.8 comparison sharpness bokeh resolution brenizer
Canon EF 200mm 2.0 L IS on Sony A7III via Metabones Smart Adapter

There have always been people adapting lenses to other camera systems, but it was really the release of the Sony A7 that completely changed the game, being the first affordable fullframe mirrorless camera with a short flange focal distance, Liveview and built-in EVF.
This not only made it possible to use long forgotten legacy lenses from decades ago on a modern camera, it also led to some of the most sophisticated adapters we have seen so far.
This was the end of 2014 and since then a lot has changed, so let us see what are the reasons to adapt lenses and in what cases it is still worth it today.

Continue reading Adapting Lenses – Still worth it in 2023?

Rangefinder wide angle lenses on A7 cameras: problems and solutions

Introduction

rangefinder leica m lenses focus field curvature thick sensor stack optimal focus guide tips tricks hint contax g zeiss biogon
Close up lenses of different strength

In case you have read some of our reviews covering rangefinder wide angle lenses on this very blog you already know there are some limitations to be aware of and you might have also heard of the “Kolari”thin filter mod as a solution. But now, thanks to Fred Miranda forum member HaruhikoT, there is another way to use rangefinder wide angle lenses up to their full potential on A7 series cameras.
Update February 2023: guide to remove the shims on Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.7 Ultron added thanks to reader zhulinke + general update

Continue reading Rangefinder wide angle lenses on A7 cameras: problems and solutions