Category Archives: Manufacturers

Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S Nikkor

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Introduction

z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S Nikkor on Nikon Zf

While Sigma already released a 35mm 1.2 fullframe AF lens in 2019, until early 2025 none of the three major camera manufacturers had a lens matching these specifications in their portfolio. The first (and still the only one by mid 2026) to change that is Nikon with this Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S Nikkor. I cannot say I was impressed by any of Nikon’s 35mm lenses during the AF-S (D)SLR era and the Nikon Z 35mm 1.8 S Nikkor also seems to be the weakest lens in their otherwise compelling f/1.8 Z-mount lineup. Can this huge 35mm 1.2 lens set the record straight? Let’s find out in this review! 

Sample Images

z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2 | Pano from 5 shots
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2
z 35mm 1.2 s nikon nikkor prime f/1.2 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S Nikkor →

lenses, Review, Sirui

REVIEW: SIRUI AURORA 35mm F1.4

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Introduction

Sirui entered the AF stills lens market in 2023, after having already established itself with a range of anamorphic lenses. We reviewed the AF Aurora 85mm last year, thanks to a reader who loaned his lens to Bastian. We were impressed by its overall performance, and especially by its bokeh.

The 35mm f/1.4 is the second lens in the Aurora series, and at $549, it appears to be fairly priced. However, 35mm f/1.4 is also one of the most competitive categories in the lens market, with numerous alternatives from both established manufacturers and smaller brands.

In this review, we take a closer look at how the Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 performs, and how it compares with its competition.

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.

Disclosure

Sirui kindly loaned us this lens for a couple of weeks so we could test and review it.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 | f/1.4
Nikon Zf | Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4 | f/1.4

Continue reading REVIEW: SIRUI AURORA 35mm F1.4 →

Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G

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Introduction

nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

After serving the professionals first with the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G in 2007 and the prosumers afterwards with the Nikon AF-S 16-35mm 4.0G VR in 2010, Nikon came out with this Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G aimed at the entry level market in 2013. Overlooked by all those that already owned one of the aforementioned lenses, this one offers surprisingly good image quality in a very lightweight package, so let me tell you more about this now very affordable ultra wide angle zoom for the F-mount in this review.

Sample Images

nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon Zf | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 18mm | f/11
nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon Zf | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 18mm | f/11
nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 24mm | f/5.6 | Ai Denoise
nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 35mm | f/8.0 | GND
nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon Zf | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 18mm | f/3.5
nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 35mm | f/11 | GND
nikon af-s 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G G ed zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G | 18mm | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 18-35mm 3.5-4.5G →

Astrophotography, Review, Sigma, Sony E-mount

Review: Sigma 14mm 1.4 DG Art – World’s widest f/1.4 lens

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Introduction

sigma 14mm 1.4 art dg fe review sharpness contrast bokeh astro milky way coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7ii a7rii a7rv a7v z6 z7 z8 z9 zf
Sigma 14mm 1.4 DG Art on Sony A7rII

When it comes to 14mm fullframe lenses, Sigma likes to break records. The Sigma 14mm 1.8 DG HSM Art was the fastest 14mm lens for DSLRs when it was released in 2017 and this Sigma 14mm 1.4 DG Art is the fastest 14mm lenses for mirrorless cameras since 2023. This lens’ purpose is obviously astrophotography and on paper it is the ideal lens for milky way and especially aurora shooting. By my experience these fast ultra wide angle lenses have very high sample variation though, did Sigma manage to solve that issue? Let’s find out in this review. 

Continue reading Review: Sigma 14mm 1.4 DG Art – World’s widest f/1.4 lens →

Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena

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Introduction

z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena on Nikon Zf

While many of the higher end lenses released these days often feel like “more of the same” and maybe even a bit interchangeable, Nikon’s engineers had a clear concept in mind when designing this Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena. It doesn’t happen often that Nikon awards one of their lenses with a name, so this Plena must be something special, right? 

Sample Images

z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena | f/1.8 | 3-stop ND
z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena | f/1.8
z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena | f/3.2
z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena | f/1.8
z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena | f/1.8
z 135mm 1.8 s plena nikon nikkor prime f/1.8 super fast 42mp 61mp 24mp nikon zf z6iii z8 z7ii z9 review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma AF
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena | f/1.8 | Pano from 6 shots

Continue reading Review: Nikon Z 135mm 1.8 S Plena →