Category Archives: camera

Analogue, camera, Guides, lenses, Meta

Used Lens and Camera Shopping Guide for Japan

20 Comments

Introduction

Sony A7rII | Zeiss Loxia 21mm 2.8 | f/4.0

If you are looking for used lenses or cameras, Japan can be a real dream destination. Having already been there two times myself I know from first hand experience that it isn’t easy to locate some of the more interesting stores though. My Finnish expat friend Juha Kannisto – who is living in Tokyo – has been helping out photographers from all over the world for years already when it comes to this topic.

I thought it would be useful to collect all this knowledge and turn it into an easy-to-access article, so here we are.

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Comparison, Megadap, Nikon Z, Pergear, Review, Samyang, Sigma, Sony, Sony E-mount, Techart, TTArtisan, Voigtlander

Review: Megadap ETZ-21 PRO vs Techart TZE-01 Adapter – Using Sony E Lenses on Nikon Z Cameras

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Introduction

Sony E to Nikon Z AF adapter autofocus adapter ETZ E-T-X E-to-Z E-2-Z E2Z Megadap Techart Meike Fotodiox Haoge Nikon nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE
Megadap ETZ21 PRO, Techart TZE-01, Lens mount

Do you want to use Sony E mount lenses on your Nikon Z cameras? Maybe you want to switch systems and go from Sony E to Nikon Z, but you have some or many Sony E lenses you want to keep and use. Or maybe you just like one of the Sony GM lenses or a lens from a 3rd party that is available in Sony E but not in Nikon Z? No worries, for any reason it is, you can use Sony E lenses on your Nikon Z camera through a mount adapter. 

I have been using two adapters; Megadap ETZ21 PRO and Techart TZE-01. I compare them against each other and give you my thoughts here. Let’s have a look!

UPDATE (August 21, 2024):
Neewer has come up with a new option, their ETZ adapter shows the focus confirmation (green box) even with completely manual lenses without any electric contact when used on Nikon Zf and Z6iii, while the two tested adapters here can not do that.

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Nikon Z, Review, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 (APS-C)

5 Comments

Introduction

The APS-C 35mm focal length is equivalent to 52mm on a Fullframe camera, therefore it is in the ‘standard’ 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. It is TTArtisan’s third autofocus lens after the 27mm f/2.8 and the 32mm f/2.8, but their first AF lens with a max aperture of f/1.8. Its focal length sits between Nikon’s own 28mm and 40mm lenses, which on an APS-C camera would be the FF equivalents of 42mm and 60mm, hence filling the gap for the missing 50mm (eqv). Let’s have a deeper look at it!

This lens will be released on Monday, November 20, 2023 and will be available on TTArtisan’s onlie store for 119 USD (right now), from 11am GMT+1 (Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid time). The first batch will be in Fuji X mount only, Nikon Z and Sony mounts will be available later.

Sample Images

TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 APS-C review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 Sony E Fuji X test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z fc | TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 | f/1.8
TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 APS-C review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 Sony E Fuji X test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z fc | TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 | f/1.8
TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 APS-C review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 Sony E Fuji X test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z fc | TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 | f/1.8
TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 APS-C review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 Sony E Fuji X test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z fc | TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 | f/1.8

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lenses, Nikon Z, Review, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 – A modern and affordable Trioplan?

45 Comments

Introduction

TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 Trioplan mock bubble bokeh review sharpness bokeh come vignetting 24mp 46mp nikon z6 z7 z6ii

Meyer-Optik Görlitz produced a series of triplet lenses “Trioplan“, based on the Cook Triplet design from 1893, in different focal lengths after WWII. One of those lenses was the 100mm f/2.8 Trioplan, produced from 1956 to sometime at the end of 70s or beginning of 80s, when Meyer-Optik Görlitz was merged with Pentacon in the then East Germany. They stopped producing this lens because Pentacon had better 100mm lenses. It had OK center sharpness though and could produce a so-called soap bubble bokeh in certain situations. This was considered an optical defect then, which is what it is. With the advent of digital cameras, it became very popular though, and the prices went up in the used market, so popular that the company decided, for the first time in history, to revive the lens by a Kickstarter campaign in 2015. It was a successful campaign; the produced lenses were sold out quickly for about €1000 each. In 2023, TTArtisan has come up with a lens very similar to it, both in look and optical design. Let’s have a closer look at it!

Update 11/23: the lens is now also available for M-mount for $210 in the official shop

Sample Images

TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 Trioplan mock bubble bokeh review sharpness bokeh come vignetting 24mp 46mp nikon z6 z7 z6ii
Nikon Z6 | TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 | f/3.3
TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 Trioplan mock bubble bokeh review sharpness bokeh come vignetting 24mp 46mp nikon z6 z7 z6ii
Nikon Z6 | TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 | f/2.8
TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 Trioplan mock bubble bokeh review sharpness bokeh come vignetting 24mp 46mp nikon z6 z7 z6ii
Nikon D7200 | TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 | f/2.8
TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 Trioplan mock bubble bokeh review sharpness bokeh come vignetting 24mp 46mp nikon z6 z7 z6ii
Nikon Z6 | TTArtisan 100mm 2.8 | f/2.8

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Laowa, Macro, Nikon Z, Review

Review: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro

12 Comments

Introduction

We have seen macro lenses with 1:2 magnification, 1:1 magnification, and even with 2:1 magnification. What if you want to have a lens that goes further and has greater magnification? The cool thing about macro at 3x-5x is that you can take any random ordinary everyday object and make it highly interesting.

For a long time the only available lens that had a magnification greater than 1x was the Canon MP-E 65mm, and not only that, it also could go up to 5x magnification. A long time a matter of envy for all non-Canon users, until mirrorless cameras and adapters made it possible to adapt that lens to other brands, but it was the only option and expensive. This is where the Laowa 25mm f2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro comes in handy. A small lens that has a whopping 5X magnification, costs half and does not need any adapters as it comes in almost all popular mounts. Let’s see how good this little wonder is!

Sample Images

Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 29 images)
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/8 (Stacked, 5 images)
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 55 images)
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 74 images)

Continue reading Review: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro →