Category Archives: lenses

Review: Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L USM – Still the world’s fastest AF lens

December 30, 2025 BastianK 12 Comments

Introduction

review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting — Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM via Fringer EF-NZ on Nikon Zf

Over the past years we saw huge improvements in optical performance of 35mm format lenses – a trend started by the Zeiss Otus and Sigma Art lineups – and the latest Sony GM and Nikon Z designs offer an optical performance unheard of only a few years before. Still, there are some lenses that never saw a successor and this Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM is one such lens. Released in 1989 this is still the fastest fullframe autofocus lens ever made. But what compromises were needed to make a lens like this, leading to no one ever daring to try this again for at least 36 years? Let’s find out in this review.
The lens is mainly being tested on a 24mp Nikon Zf.

Sample Images

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1.8 Ai-s

December 28, 2025 BastianK 10 Comments

Introduction

nikon 105mm 1.8 ai ai-s f/1.8 tele fast 1981 1980 reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Nikon 105mm 1.8 via Nikon FTZ II on Nikon Zf

For 36 years this Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1.8 Ai-S has been the fastest 105mm photography lens. Despite its fast maximum aperture it is made of only five elements, can that actually be enough for appealing image quality? Let’s try to find out in this review.

Sample Images

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Review, Sony, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II

December 20, 2025 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

sony fe 70mm-200 4.0 g macro oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma — Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II on Sony A7rII

Sony managed to significantly reduce the weight of their 70-200mm 2.8 zoom with its second iteration, leaving less room for an f/4.0 version below that. With the weight difference between the f/2.8 and this f/4.0 lens being a mere 250g, Sony had to find another way to make this Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II more attractive and they tried to do that by adding a 1:2 macro feature. But was that enough? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

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Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB

December 17, 2025 BastianK 58 Comments

Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.2 lab fe pro af bokeh master gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 — Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB on Sony A7rII

Since its release in 2019 I have been using the Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN as my main lens for any kind of reportage work. It took until 2025 for another manufacturer to challenge Sigma by releasing a 35mm 1.2 lens with autofocus of their own. Actually, there were two at almost the same time: Nikon with their Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S and Viltrox with this Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB. As the Nikon lens sells for 3 grand it is out of reach for most people. This Viltrox lens is way more attractively priced, so let’s find out if it is time to retire my Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN after 6 years of usage.
Update 12/25: now also available for Nikon Z-mount

Sample Images

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Canon EF-Mount, Review, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 Distagon

December 13, 2025 BastianK 5 Comments

Introduction

zeiss 25mm 1.4 milvus otus t* germany german high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp zf.2 ze — Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 via Sigma MC-11 on Sony A7rII

About a year after the release of the Zeiss Otus 28mm 1.4 Distagon – to the surprise of many – Zeiss released this Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 Distagon. Almost as complex optical design, almost as big, almost as heavy, but “only” half the price – making it the most expensive lens of the Milvus lineup. What are you giving up in terms of performance compared to the 28mm Otus? Let’s try to find out in this review.