Category Archives: lenses

Review: Nikon AF 180mm 2.8D IF-ED

Introduction

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 via adapter on Sony A7rII

With the rise of the 80-200mm f/2.8 zooms it seems the 180-200mm f/2.8 primes fell out of fashion, as for more than 20 years no manufacturer bothered to design a new lens like this (not counting a few third party macro options). While Canon last updated their 200mm 2.8 in 1996, Nikon never updated the optical design of their Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 since 1986. Is this still a worthwhile lens today? Let’s find out in this review. 

Sample Images

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8
nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D | Monster LA-FE2 | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF 180mm 2.8D IF-ED

Review: Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton

Introduction

voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton on Leica M10

Over the years Cosina has become really good at designing compact yet fast lenses and the Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton might be the epitome of that, as it offers a huge entrance pupil (= a lot of bokeh) for its size and weight. Let’s find out more about this intriguing lens together.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.
Update 06/24: complete update of the review

Sample Images

voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/2.8
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/2.8
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5
leica m10 review rangefinder messsucher comparison vergleich sony a7iii a7rii R2 42mp 24mp wide angle portrait
Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 75mm 1.5 | f/1.5
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5
voigtländer 75mm 1.5 nokton leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7rII | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | f/1.5

Continue reading Review: Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton

Review: Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 Collapsible

Introduction

thypoch eureka 50mm 2.0 collapsible compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 (extended) with hood on Leica M10

Thypoch’s third lens – after the Simera 28mm 1.4 and Simera 35mm 1.4 – is this Eureka 50mm 2.0. What is special about it: it is a collapsible lens that needs to be extended first in order to use it. The two wide angle lenses featured complex modern designs whereas this one takes more of a classic approach, so let’s find out what it is capable of.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

thypoch eureka 50mm 2.0 collapsible compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 | f/2.0
thypoch eureka 50mm 2.0 collapsible compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 | f/2.0
thypoch eureka 50mm 2.0 collapsible compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 | f/2.0
thypoch eureka 50mm 2.0 collapsible compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 | f/5.6
thypoch eureka 50mm 2.0 collapsible compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Thypoch Eureka 50mm 2.0 Collapsible

Review: Nikon AF 85mm 1.4 D – The ideal Portrait Lens?

Introduction

nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Nikon AF-D 85mm 1.4 on Sony A7rII

For one and a half decades – from 1995 to 2010 – the Nikon AF-D 85mm 1.4 had been Nikon’s top of the line fullframe portrait tele lens. It saw the peak of analogue photography as well as the peak of the digital SLR. When it had been released this was an expensive premium lens aimed at professionals, but in 2024 it has become much more affordable. Reason enough to have a closer look at it and see if this is a lens still worth considering today.

Sample Images

nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D | f/1.4
nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D | f/1.4
nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D | f/1.4
nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D | f/1.4
nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Sony A7III | Nikon AF 85mm 1.4D | f/4.0

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF 85mm 1.4 D – The ideal Portrait Lens?

Review: Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM

Introduction

review canon ltm m39 leica 50mm 1.4 japanese summilux lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM on Leica M10

While Canon had a spectacular 50mm 0.95 and an only slightly less spectacular 50mm 1.2 in their LTM lens line-up, it seems the most popular of all those 50mm lenses is this compact and affordable f/1.4 version. Over the years this lens became somewhat of a legend, but is this actually justified? Let’s find out in this review.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

review canon ltm m39 leica 50mm 1.4 japanese summilux lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/1.4
review canon ltm m39 leica 50mm 1.4 japanese summilux lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/1.4
review canon ltm m39 leica 50mm 1.4 japanese summilux lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/1.4
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/1.4
review canon ltm m39 leica 50mm 1.4 japanese summilux lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/1.4
review canon ltm m39 leica 50mm 1.4 japanese summilux lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM