Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review: DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 M

Introduction

review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 on Leica M10

Most manufacturers producing M-mount lenses have at least one super fast 50mm lens in their portfolio and quite often these are prestigious flagship lenses for them. The latest entry is DJ-Optical with his 50mm 1.0 lens for M-mount – produced only in small quantities and officially being sold only in China at the moment. Thanks to one of my readers I was still able to acquire one of these to review it for you, so let’s have a closer look at this intriguing lens.
This lens will be reviewed on the 24mp Leica M10 and the 42mp Sony A7rII.

Sample Images

review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.2
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Boryoza LM-Z | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/2.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Boryoza LM-Z | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0

Continue reading Review: DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 M

Review: Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana Epoch

Introduction

thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana on Leica M10

After Simera and Eureka Thypoch’s next lens lineup is called Ksana. The first lens of this series is the Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana. A modern optical design with aspherical element but coatings reminiscent of Canon’s FD lenses from 1973. An interesting combination on paper, so let’s have a closer look!
Lens is being tested on 24mp Leica M10 and 42mp Sony A7rII

Sample Images

thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/5.6
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/5.6
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5 | Ai Denoise
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/8.0 | Ai Denoise
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5
thypoch ksana epoch 73 coating 21mm 3.5 compact leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting limited
Leica M10 | Thypoch 21mm 3.5 | f/11

Continue reading Review: Thypoch 21mm 3.5 Ksana Epoch

REVIEW: Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 MC

Introduction

Zeiss Jena designed the first Pancolar 50mm with a maximum aperture of f/2 in 1960, partly to offer a faster and better-performing alternative to the Tessar 50mm f/2.8. As competitors began designing and releasing standard 50mm lenses with f/1.8 apertures, Zeiss found it necessary to respond with a lens of similar specification. The result was the Pancolar 50mm f/1.8, which was designed and produced starting in 1964. It was considered one of the best lenses of its era and remains quite popular today. When this lens was around, I was using Japanese cameras and lenses, so I’ve often wondered whether it was better than what I had. Let’s see how it actually performs by modern standards.

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

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | CZJ Pancolar 50mm F/1.8 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | CZJ Pancolar 50mm F/1.8 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | CZJ Pancolar 50mm F/1.8 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | CZJ Pancolar 50mm F/1.8 | f/4.5
Nikon Zf | CZJ Pancolar 50mm F/1.8 | f/1.8

Continue reading REVIEW: Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f/1.8 MC

REVIEW: 7Artisans AF 24mm f/1.8

Introduction

In this review, I’m looking at the 7Artisans AF 24mm f/1.8. This focal length works well for landscapes, travel, and street photography. It’s wide enough to capture broad scenes without making compositions overly difficult, and with an f/1.8 maximum aperture, it still allows for pleasing background blur and subject separation at practical shooting distances. Let’s see how it performs.

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

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | 7Artisans AF 24mm F/1.8 | f/8
Nikon Zf | 7Artisans AF 24mm F/1.8 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | 7Artisans AF 24mm F/1.8 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | 7Artisans AF 24mm F/1.8 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | 7Artisans AF 24mm F/1.8 | f/8
Nikon Zf | 7Artisans AF 24mm F/1.8 | f/1.8

Continue reading REVIEW: 7Artisans AF 24mm f/1.8

Review: Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L USM – Still the world’s fastest AF lens

Introduction

review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM via Fringer EF-NZ on Nikon Zf

Over the past years we saw huge improvements in optical performance of 35mm format lenses –  a trend started by the Zeiss Otus and Sigma Art lineups – and the latest Sony GM and Nikon Z designs offer an optical performance unheard of only a few years before. Still, there are some lenses that never saw a successor and this Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM is one such lens. Released in 1989 this is still the fastest fullframe autofocus lens ever made. But what compromises were needed to make a lens like this, leading to no one ever daring to try this again for at least 36 years? Let’s find out in this review.
The lens is mainly being tested on a 24mp Nikon Zf.

Sample Images

review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.4
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0
review canon ef 50mm 1.0 l usm 1.0l world's fastest AF autofocus lens contrast resolution 42mp 24mp 61mp analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF-NZ | Canon EF 50mm 1.0L USM | f/1.0

Continue reading Review: Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L USM – Still the world’s fastest AF lens