Category Archives: Manufacturers

Analogue Adventures – Part 36: Silbersalz35 125T Edition Vivid

Silbersalz35 125T Edition Vivid 500Silbersalz35 is mainly famous for their repacked Kodak Vision3 Cine films, but every now and then they also sell this “Edition Vivid 500 125T Vintage Cinefilm”. Rumors are this is expired Fuji Eterna 500, downrated to ISO125, but there is no way for me to verify that. What I did however, I bought two rolls of this film and here you can find some pictures from the first one.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2 | 125T
Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2 | 125T
Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | 125T
Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/11 | 125T
Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | 125T

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 36: Silbersalz35 125T Edition Vivid

Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S

Introduction

Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | Nikon Z7ii
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | Nikon Z7ii

The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S is a short telephoto lens that delivers excellent background blur thanks to its large aperture. While it’s ideal for portrait photography, it can also be effectively used for landscape and street photography, thanks to its relatively wide field of view for a telephoto lens. This professional-grade lens is designed for both professionals and enthusiasts. From 2019 to 2023, it was Nikon’s only 85mm option for professional use on Z cameras, until the introduction of the 85mm f/1.2 S. Let’s take a closer look!

camera-icon2I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z7ii (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf and Nikon Zfc)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/2
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/2
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/6.3
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/6.3
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/11
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/11
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/8
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S | f/8

Continue reading Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8 S

Review: Laowa 15mm 5.0 Cookie – Tiny and Useful

Introduction

laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Laowa 15mm 5.0 Cookie on Sony A7rII

In the SLR era some people came up with the term “pancake lens” for very thin 40 to 50mm lenses. Because of the short back focus distance of mirrorless cameras it is very hard to make actually useful lenses for them that are as thin as a pancake though, hence Laowa came up with the term “cookie lens”. This does not only sound more realistic but also pretty cute and the latest addition to this cookie line-up is this Laowa 15mm 5.0. Usually new features are reserved for expensive top-of-the-line products, but this lens already marks a very important point in Laowa’s history. Let’s have a closer look!

camera-icon2The lens was tested on a 42 Mp Sony A7 RII (Sample images with Sony A7 III, Leical M10, and Nikon Zf)

You can see this review as a YouTube video here

Sample Images

nikon nikkor af-d 28mm 1.4 noct wide angle historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf
Leica M10 | Laowa 15mm 5.0 M | f/11
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF 15mm f/5 | f/9
Nikon Zf | Laowa FF 15mm f/5 | f/9
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/5.0
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/5.0
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/5.0
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/11
laowa 15mm 5.0 II fe venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact
Sony A7III | Laowa 15mm 5.0 | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Laowa 15mm 5.0 Cookie – Tiny and Useful

Review: Nikon 58mm 0.95 Noct-Nikkor – The Ultimate Lens?

Introduction

nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor on Nikon Zf

When camera manufacturers introduce a new mount, they usually also announce some fancy new lenses, which were simply not possible to design for the previous one. Canon for example did that by introducing the Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM when they made the switch from FD to EF mount in 1989. And when Nikon made the switch from F to Z mount in 2019, it led to the release of this Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor, to showcase the possibilities of the much wider Z-mount. This is not only a rare, expensive and quite unpractical lens, it is also the best f/0.95 lens ever made. In the manual Nikon even goes as far as calling it the “Ultimate Lens”. Is there any truth to that? Let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor | f/0.95
nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor | f/1.1
nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor | f/0.95 | Ai Denoise
nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor | f/0.95 | Ai Denoise
nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor | f/0.95
nikon 58mm 0.95 noct nikkor arneo nano high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor | f/0.95

Continue reading Review: Nikon 58mm 0.95 Noct-Nikkor – The Ultimate Lens?

Review: Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC

Introduction

tokina 17mm 3.5 rmc sl wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon d700 d800 d810 d850 d780 fm fe f3 f f5 z6 z7 z8 zf
Tokina 17mm 3.5 RMC SL on Nikon FM2n

In the SLR era it wasn’t easy to find ultra wide angle lenses and it was even more difficult to find decent, affordable ones. The Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC was one of these few options. Back in the day I used it on my D700, looking for a wide angle lens for my analogue FM2 now, I thought it was a good idea to revisit this compact vintage lens.

Sample Images

tokina 17mm 3.5 rmc sl wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon d700 d800 d810 d850 d780 fm fe f3 f f5 z6 z7 z8 zf
Nikon D700 | Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC | f/16
tokina 17mm 3.5 rmc sl wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon d700 d800 d810 d850 d780 fm fe f3 f f5 z6 z7 z8 zf
Nikon D700 | Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC | f/16
tokina 17mm 3.5 rmc sl wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon d700 d800 d810 d850 d780 fm fe f3 f f5 z6 z7 z8 zf
Nikon D700 | Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC | f/16
tokina 17mm 3.5 rmc sl wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon d700 d800 d810 d850 d780 fm fe f3 f f5 z6 z7 z8 zf
Nikon D700 | Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC | f/16
tokina 17mm 3.5 rmc sl wide angle ultra review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting compact nikon d700 d800 d810 d850 d780 fm fe f3 f f5 z6 z7 z8 zf
Nikon D700 | Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC | f/16

Continue reading Review: Tokina 17mm 3.5 SL RMC