Category Archives: lenses

Review: Voigtlander VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar

Introduction

voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar on Leica M10

One thing is clear by now, no one can correctly predict what Voigtländer lens Cosina will release next. In mid 2023, when many people were expecting a fast 28mm to fit inbetween the VM 21mm 1.4 and VM 35mm 1.2 III, they did the opposite and released this Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar. One stop slower, smaller and lighter than the highly regarded VM 28mm 2.0 MK II, but not a lot cheaper. Let’s find out in this review who this lens is for and who is better off with the faster f/2.0 version.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | f/8.0 | CPL
voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | f/8.0
voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | f/5.6
voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | f/8.0 | CPL
voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | f/4.0
voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Sony A7III | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | LM-EA9 | f/2.8 | RNI Aerochrome profile
voigtländer 28mm 2.8 color skopar ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar

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

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.

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

Review: Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM

Introduction

sony 14mm 1.8 gm fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7
Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM on Sony A7rII

The Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM is obviously aimed at landscape astrophotographers – what else do you need a fast 14mm lens for anyway? But when this Sony lens came out in early 2021 I already had the Laowa 15mm 2.0, so I never personally bought it. After having reviewed the Viltrox FE 16mm 1.8 AF it was definitely time to have a closer look at it though, so here we are.

Sample Images

sony 14mm 1.8 gm fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7
Sony A7III | Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM | f/1.8
sony 14mm 1.8 gm fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7
Sony A7III | Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM | f/1.8
sony 14mm 1.8 gm fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7
Sony A7III | Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM | f/2.8
sony 14mm 1.8 gm fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7
Sony A7III | Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM | f/1.8
sony 14mm 1.8 gm fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7
Sony A7III | Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM

Review: Brightin Star 9mm 5.6

Introduction

brightin star 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

This Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 and the 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 had been announced almost at the same time, so I already expected these lenses to be more or less identical. Interestingly only this Brightin Star lens features a 34 mm rear filter thread though, so I decided to have a closer look at this Brightin Star lens as well.

The optical and most of the mechanical construction of this Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 lens is identical to the 7Artisans 9mm 5.6, so I will reuse many parts of its review here.

Sample Images

brightin star 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 | f/16 | ND1000 rear filter
brightin star 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0
brightin star 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
brightin star 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
brightin star 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Brightin Star 9mm 5.6

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

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

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