Category Archives: Sony E-mount

Review: AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt

Introduction

astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt on Sony A7rII

I am always interested in lenses from new manufacturers and this 50mm 1.4 Tilt from AstrHori is definitely a rather unique offering. But can this low priced fast 50mm tilt lens be taken seriously or is it more of a “fun” lens like the Lensbabies? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
Sony A7III | AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt | f/1.4 | untilted
astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
Sony A7III | AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt | f/1.4 | untilted
astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
Sony A7III | AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt | f/2.8 | tilted
astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
Sony A7III | AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt | f/1.4 | tilted
astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
Sony A7III | AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt | f/1.4 | untilted
astrhori rockstar rockster 50mm 1.4 review sharpness tilt conclusion bokeh sony a7riv a7riii a7riv 42mp 61mp bokeh ca vignetting
Sony A7III | AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt | f/5.6 | untilted

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Review: Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 Pancake

Introduction

Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 23 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

I always think we need more Pancake lenses, but except for the Samyang 24mm 2.8 and the recently reviewed TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 we didn’t get that many options in the Sony FE world yet. The latest addition is this Brightin Star 23mm 5.6. The first odd thing to notice: it is a fixed aperture lens, so it is always f/5.6 and cannot be stopped down further.
Can it still be a viable addition to your kit? Let’s find out…

Sample Images

Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 23 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 23mm 5.6
Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 23 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 23mm 5.6
Brightin Star 23mm 5.6 23 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 23mm 5.6

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Review: Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 FE

Introduction

BRIGHTIN STAR 50mm 0.95 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting fast
Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 on Sony A7rII

It is an interesting time we live in. Just 5 years ago only few people knew a maximum aperture as fast as f/0.95 even exists let alone were able to afford a lens being that fast. Now we have such lenses with different focal lengths and at affordable price points. One of the most affordable ones is the Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 FE, so let us find out what this lens has in store for us and how it compares to some of the other super fast 50s.

Sample Images

BRIGHTIN STAR 50mm 0.95 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting fast
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
BRIGHTIN STAR 50mm 0.95 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting fast
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
BRIGHTIN STAR 50mm 0.95 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting fast
Sony A7III | Brightin Star 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95

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Review: TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 – Return of the Nifty Fifty

Introduction

TTartisan 50mm 2.0 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 on Sony A7rII

In the SLR era the “Nifty Fifty” was the lens of choice for many: a compact, fast and at the same time affordable 50mm lens. For the Sony FE system the next best thing we got so far is the Sony FE 50mm 2.5 G, but it isn’t as fast and also not that affordable.
To my surprise TTArtisan is now the one trying to revive the Nifty Fifty and despite being a mirrorless design it is as small as the smallest SLR 50s. But did they succeed? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

TTartisan 50mm 2.0 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 | f/2.0
TTartisan 50mm 2.0 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 | f/8.0
TTartisan 50mm 2.0 e-mount fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 50mm 2.0 | f/2.0

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Review: Laowa 12-24mm 5.6

Introduction

laowa 12-24mm 5.6 zoom uwa ultra wide 42mp 61mp 24mp sony a7rIv a7riii a7rii a7iii a7iv a74 review sharpness contrast distortion venus optics sunstar sunstars
Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

The Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 is Laowa’s second ultra wide angle zoom, the first being the Laowa 10-18mm 4.5-5.6. The 10-18mm offers a very appealing focal length range in a compact package, but there were some optical compromises hard to overlook. This 12-24mm lens is supposed to yield better optical performance at the cost of a less extreme angle of view at the wide end. Is it the better lens at the end of the day? Let us find out in this review.

Sample Images

laowa 12-24mm 5.6 zoom uwa ultra wide 42mp 61mp 24mp sony a7rIv a7riii a7rii a7iii a7iv a74 review sharpness contrast distortion venus optics
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 | 12mm f/8.0
laowa 12-24mm 5.6 zoom uwa ultra wide 42mp 61mp 24mp sony a7rIv a7riii a7rii a7iii a7iv a74 review sharpness contrast distortion venus optics
Sony A7III | Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 | 12mm f/5.6
laowa 12-24mm 5.6 zoom uwa ultra wide 42mp 61mp 24mp sony a7rIv a7riii a7rii a7iii a7iv a74 review sharpness contrast distortion venus optics
Sony A7III | Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 | 12mm f/5.6
laowa 12-24mm 5.6 zoom uwa ultra wide 42mp 61mp 24mp sony a7rIv a7riii a7rii a7iii a7iv a74 review sharpness contrast distortion venus optics
Sony A7rII | Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 | 18mm f/8.0
laowa 12-24mm 5.6 zoom uwa ultra wide 42mp 61mp 24mp sony a7rIv a7riii a7rii a7iii a7iv a74 review sharpness contrast distortion venus optics
Sony A7III | Laowa 12-24mm 5.6 | 24mm f/5.6

Continue reading Review: Laowa 12-24mm 5.6