Category Archives: lenses

Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE EVO Apo

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Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo on Sony A7rII

Not that long ago we reviewed the Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo – the first lens of the Evo series – and it turned out to be a very compelling lens; correcting most optical aberrations very well in a compact, affordable package. It didn’t take long for Viltrox to extend the lineup, so here is the Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 Evo and this time Viltrox even added an “Apo” tag, hinting at even better optical performance. Did they design the ideal compact autofocussing 35mm lens?  Let’s find out in this review.
Update May 4th: new sample pictures added

Sample Images

viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8

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lenses, Review, Viltrox

REVIEW: Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO

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Introduction

Viltrox has just released two new full-frame lenses in its EVO series—a 35mm f/1.8 and a 55mm f/1.8—both featuring APO designs for improved correction of chromatic and spherical aberrations. Here, I’m testing the 55mm lens.

Based on Viltrox’s earlier Air and EVO lenses, which delivered exceptional sharpness, I was curious to see if this new 55mm can reach the same level as Nikon’s 50mm f/1.8 S—a lens I regard as the best “nifty fifty” Nikon has ever produced, with outstanding sharpness and overall optical quality. Let’s find out.

Available for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica L mounts.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/16
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/13
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/2.2

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Review, Sony, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM

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Introduction

sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM on Sony A7rII

The Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM is a lens I surely hadn’t expected when it was released – especially only two years after the Sony FE 50mm 1.2 GM hit the market. Some people say this one is better than the half-a-stop faster f/1.2 lens, but is that really the case? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Images

sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/2.0
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4

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lenses, Review, Zeiss C/Y mount

REVIEW: Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8

9 Comments

Introduction

Let’s take a look at a lens from one of the industry’s heavyweights, Carl Zeiss—the 21mm f/2.8 from the Milvus series. It offers the immersive field of view that many people love for landscape, architecture, and environmental portrait photography, without being so wide that composition becomes tricky. As Zeiss’s final DSLR-era lineup, the Milvus lenses benefited from decades of optical experience, aiming to deliver high image quality in a more practical, less bulky package than the no-compromise Otus line. Let’s see how it performs.

camera-icon2I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8 ZF.2 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8 ZF.2 | f/7.1
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8 ZF.2 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8 ZF.2 | f/8
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8 ZF.2 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 21mm f/2.8 ZF.2 | f/14

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Canon EF-Mount, Review, Samyang

Review: Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP

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Introduction

samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP via Sigma MC-11 on Sony A7rII

In 2019 Samyang relesased this Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP. At that time, I honestly didn’t care much about it, because Sigma also released their Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN mirrorless design, which actually offered AF, making it a more sensible choice. This Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP is one of only two fullframe 35mm 1.2 lenses for EF-mount (or any (D)SLR mount actually) though, reason enough to have a closer look at it.

Sample Images

samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2
samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2
samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2
samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2
samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2
samyang 35mm 1.2 xp premium mf canon ef sony a7r 42mp review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting contrast a7riii a7riv a7rv z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z7ii z6iii
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Samyang 35mm 1.2 XP | f/1.2

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