Category Archives: lenses

Analogue, Canon, Leica M, Minolta, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired)

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Kodak Farbwelt 200

I found a few rolls of Kodak Farbwelt 200 that must have expired some 20 years ago and most likely they haven’t been properly stored at all. This first roll I exposed as ISO50 and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The lab wasn’t happy and told me the film was massively expired and the scanner had a hard time scanning the negatives. Let’s see if some usable pictures came out of this.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/5.6 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle canon 50mm 1.4 ltm m39
Minolta CLE | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/2.8 | Kodak Farbwelt 200

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired) →

Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton

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Introduction

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton on Leica M10

Before the release of the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton in 2022, this Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton was Cosina’s most expensive M-mount lens and also one of their most complex ones – thanks to 13 elements in 11 groups, 4 aspherical surfaces and a floating elements design. Unfortunately this also made it one of their heaviest and most expensive lenses and I have the feeling it didn’t quite get the momentum Cosina expected for their flagship lens, hence in many parts of the world the price has been reduced several times since release – reason enough to have a closer look at this intriguing lens now.
Lens is being reviewed on Sony A7rII and Leica M10

Sample Images

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4 | see this article
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/11
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Sony A7rII UT | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton →

Comparison, Laowa, Leica, Leica M, lenses, Nikon, Sigma, Sony E-mount, Thypoch, Voigtlander

Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses

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Introduction

28mm fullframe comparison 1.4 1.2 1.5 voigtländer laowa nikon af-s af-d argus nokton thypoch simera sigma art dg contrast resolution bokeh vignetting coma sharpness loca ca
Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art | Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.4E | Nikon AF 28mm 1.4D | Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus | Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton

To me, fast 28mm fullframe lenses are very useful. No matter where I go, I either carry a fast 28mm or a fast 35mm lens. When it comes to the 28mm focal length we are not exactly blessed with great options though. I gathered six of those ranging from f/1.2 to f/1.5 and will compare them, to give you an idea which might work best for your needs.
Last update: February 2025

Continue reading Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses →

Laowa, lenses, Review, Sony Alpha, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF – The Beginning of a New Era

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Introduction

laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF on Sony A7rII

2024 is a special year for Laowa, as it marks the company’s 10th anniversary. What better way to celebrate this than with a 10mm lens? But wait, Laowa already released a 9mm full frame lens, so what is so special about this 10mm lens? For starters, this lens features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, making it the world’s fastest 10mm lens and also the world’s widest f/2.8 lens. But what might be even more important: this is Laowa’s first AF lens. The beginning of a new era.

Sample Images

laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/4.0
laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/2.8
laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/4.0
laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/5.6
laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/4.0
laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/8.0
laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare
Sony A7III | Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF | f/4.0

Continue reading Review: Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF – The Beginning of a New Era →

Review, Sony Alpha, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox 20mm 2.8 AF FE and Z

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Introduction

  • Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 STM ASPH ED IF Z nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f

  • viltrox 20mm 2.8 af fe contrast resolution sharpness review sony 42mp 61mp a7rv a7riv a7rii a7iii coma vignetting

When looking for an affordable AF lens in the ultra wide angle realm my recommendation so far has usually been the Samyang 18mm 2.8 AF – also due to lack of alternatives. But in October 2023 Viltrox released this compact 20mm 2.8 AF lens and now, in February 2024 they released this super low budget lens in Nikon Z and Fuji X mount too. Not as wide as the Samyang, but noticeably cheaper. Is this my new recommendation for a low cost AF lens in the ~20mm range? Let’s find out.

Sample Images

Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 STM ASPH ED IF Z nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z 7II | Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 STM ASPH ED IF Z | f/2.8
viltrox 20mm 2.8 af fe contrast resolution sharpness review sony 42mp 61mp a7rv a7riv a7rii a7iii coma vignetting
Sony A7III | Viltrox 20mm 2.8 AF FE | f/8.0
Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 STM ASPH ED IF Z nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z 7II | Viltrox AF 20mm f/2.8 STM ASPH ED IF Z | f/2.8
viltrox 20mm 2.8 af fe contrast resolution sharpness review sony 42mp 61mp a7rv a7riv a7rii a7iii coma vignetting
Sony A7III | Viltrox 20mm 2.8 AF FE | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: Viltrox 20mm 2.8 AF FE and Z →