Category Archives: Sony E-mount

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: 7Artisans 9mm 5.6

Introduction

7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
7Artisans 9mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

While the Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL is one of my favorite lenses, I am very well aware that a 9mm fullframe lens is not for everyone and most certainly a niché lens, which is why I was very much surprised to see 7Artisans offering their own 9mm 5.6 lens. Who makes the better 9mm 5.6? Let us try to find out in this review!

The optical and most of the mechanical construction of this 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 lens is identical to the Brightin Star 9mm 5.6, which features an additional rear filter thread, so be sure to check out its review as well.

Sample Images

7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0
7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 | f/11
7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0
7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0
7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: 7Artisans 9mm 5.6

Review: TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 ED IF

Introduction

ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 IF ED

The Chinese manufacturers have been busy releasing lenses in the 15-100mm range but only rarely set foot in the tele lens realm. And if they did, those were usually mirror lenses that may be compact but have plenty of other issues.
When TTArtisan asked me if I want to have a look at their new 500mm f/6.3 lens I was hesitant at first, as this is also not a focal length I need or use regularly.
But when I heard it uses ED elements, it is an internal focus design and will cost only $329 I thought it might be worth a closer look, so here we are.

Sample Images

ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/11 | cropped
ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/6.3
ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/8.0
ttartisan 500mm 6.3 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/6.3
ttartisan 500mm 6.3 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/6.3

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 ED IF

Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2

Introduction

tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 on Sony A7rII

Just like the 28-75mm 2.8 before, Tamron now also updated its 70-180mm 2.8 lens. We already reviewed the previous lens here and we liked it. A lot actually – except for some handling unpleasantries. With the addition of a lens button and a customizable switch I expect great improvements here, but that is not all: Tamron also decided to upgrade the lens with an internal optical image stabilizer. Let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 100mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 140mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 70mm 5.6
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 150mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 120mm 2.8
tamron 70-180mm 2.8 di iii vc vxd g2 review sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting resolution 42mp 61mp 33mp a7iv a9 a1 a7c af auto focus
Sony A7III | Tamron 70-180mm 2.8 G2 | 180mm 2.8

Continue reading Review: Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2