Category Archives: lenses

Guide to Macro Lenses for the Sony a7 series

In this Guide to Macro lenses David and Phillip give you all the relevant information you need to find the right macro lens for your Sony Alpha 7/9 series camera. No matter if you are just an occasional macro shooter or pretty serious about macro.
Last update: July 2020

Macro lenses allow you to capture much smaller objects so you can reach outside of our normal human perception. They can be found in many camera bags because they do not only excel in capturing tiny insects but they also perform quite well in other roles like portrait and landscape photography. You couldn’t buy a more universal prime.

Sony FE 2.8/90 used as a landscape lens

So which one is right for you? At first you should decide for yourself where you want to put your focus. Do you want to capture nothing but tiny insects? Or do you want to use the lens for other purposes most of the time and only capture occasional macro images?

A macro lens used to capture something really small

Things to consider when buying a macro lens

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Review: Sony RX1RII Sonnar 35mm 2.0

Introduction

sony rx1r rx1r2 rx1rm2 mark2 mk2 rx1 sonnar 35mm 2.0 review a7rii
Sony RX1RII with Sonnar 35mm 2.0 lens

We still have no 35mm f/2.0 or f/1.8 with AF for the A7 series cameras, but the Sony RX1RII with the highly regarded Sonnar 35mm f/2.0 is finally coming down in price. So let us find out what this package has to offer.

Sample Images

sony rx1r rx1r2 rx1rm2 mark2 mk2 rx1 sonnar 35mm 2.0 review a7rii
Sony RX1RII | Sonnar 35mm 2.0 | f/2.0
sony rx1r rx1r2 rx1rm2 mark2 mk2 rx1 sonnar 35mm 2.0 review a7rii
Sony RX1RII | Sonnar 35mm 2.0 | f/2.0
sony rx1r rx1r2 rx1rm2 mark2 mk2 rx1 sonnar 35mm 2.0 review a7rii
Sony RX1RII | Sonnar 35mm 2.0 | f/5.6

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Review: Sony FE 100 f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens

Introduction:

The Sony FE 100 f/2.8 STF GM OSS lens is a lens that I purchased some time ago not really knowing what to expect. I had read about the lens, of course, but frankly I found that it took me some time to get an understanding of how best to use this lens. I think it is a very fine optic with excellent sharpness and anextraordinarily smooth quality of bokeh, however, it is also a lens that imposes a steeper than normal learning curve.  It has a distinctive look in some situations that seems to be polarizing in the photo community.  With use, I have come to like this lens very much and don’t plan on parting with mine anytime soon.  In this review, I will attempt to explain why I like it and also some of its quirks so that prospective buyers might have a better idea about what to expect.

A few samples:

F2.8
F2.8
F2.8

 

F2.8

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Review: Carl Zeiss Jena 109mm 1.6 Visionar

Introduction

projection lens projector cinema carl zeiss jena czj row rathenower optische werke kino 109mm 1.6
Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 109mm 1.6 modified to Canon EF on Sony A7rII

The Visionar 109mm 1.6 is a cinema projector lens from Carl Zeiss Jena which was made in the GDR. These projector lenses are often very fast and cheap, but they also come with a few downsides. This is the first projector lens we will review at this blog, so find out if there is still a place for these today.

Sample Images

projection lens projector cinema carl zeiss jena czj row rathenower optische werke kino 109mm 1.6
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 109mm 1.6 | f/1.6
projection lens projector cinema carl zeiss jena czj row rathenower optische werke kino 109mm 1.6
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 109mm 1.6 | f/1.6
projection lens projector cinema carl zeiss jena czj row rathenower optische werke kino 109mm 1.6
Sony A7rII | Carl Zeiss Jena Visionar 109mm 1.6 | f/1.6

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