Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review: Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G IF-ED VRI

March 28, 2025 BastianK 17 Comments

Introduction

nikon af-s 200mm 2.0 g vri vr if ed f/2.0 super tele fast sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G IF-ED VR via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

When making the transition from Nikon DSLRs to Sony fullframe mirrorless, letting my Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G VRI go was not an easy decision. At that time there were no decent Nikon-F to Sony-E adapters available though – let alone mirrorless cameras made by Nikon – and I couldn’t afford to keep a Nikon DSLR only for using this lens. I took the opportunity to try out some (most) of the competitors in the meantime, but none of those lenses convinced me as much as this Nikon. Let me tell you why in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 200mm 2.0G IF-ED VRI →

Leica M, Light Lens Lab, Review

Review: Light Lens Lab 28mm 2.8 9-element

March 22, 2025 BastianK 10 Comments

Introduction

light lens lab 28mm 2.8 nine element 9e review leica m10 m11 m9 42mp 24mp cinematic contrast sharpness rendering bokeh film analogue — Light Lens Lab 28mm 2.8 9-element on Leica M10

Those of you that already had a look at my other reviews of Light Lens Lab lenses already know, their mission is to bring back rare and expensive lenses from the past at more affordable prices to give more people the opportunity to use them. After the 35mm 2.0 8-element they tackled the 28mm 2.8 9-element – a lens going for almost 10 grand on the used market for reasons I have yet to understand. Let’s see how this lens compares to the tiny Voigtländer VM 28mm 2.8 Color-Skopar.
This lens will be reviewed on the 24mp Leica M10 and the 42mp Sony A7rII.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Light Lens Lab 28mm 2.8 9-element →

Review, Sony, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II

March 8, 2025 BastianK 19 Comments

Introduction

sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9 — Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II on Sony A7rII

Having a state of the art 70-200mm 2.8 zoom is something very important for the camera manufacturers, as these are extremely popular lenses – especially among the professional customers. Sadly, Sony’s first generation for the FE system wasn’t exactly a stellar performer and fell noticeably behind Nikon’s and Canon’s offerings. I said it before: Sony is very much aware of what the duds in the lineup are, so also here they released an improved version, the Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II. Is this finally the 70-200mm 2.8 telezoom Sony customers deserve? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II →

Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G

March 6, 2025 BastianK 9 Comments

Introduction

nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9 — Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G via Monster LA-FE1 on Sony A7rII

One-and-a-half years after the faster – and significantly more expensive – Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.4G, this Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G had been released. Two thirds of a stop slower, about half the weight and less than a third of the price – but with very similar imaging characteristics. At the end of the DSLR era this was a very popular lens and Nikon made a whole lot of them, but is it still an interesting option today? Let’s try to find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G →

Canon, Leica M, Review

Review: Canon 50mm 0.95 – The original f/0.95 Dream Lens

March 3, 2025 BastianK 22 Comments

Introduction

review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting — Canon 50mm 0.95 on Leica M10

While only lately f/0.95 fullframe lenses have become somewhat wider available and affordable, the first one that was commercially produced was the Canon 50mm 0.95 for the Canon 7 rangefinder cameras and that was in 1961. To put things into perspective, that was 47 years before Leica’s first f/0.95 lens, the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph, and 58 years before Nikon’s first, the Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor. Canon themselves called this the “Dream Lens”, so after already having reviewed most of these f/0.95 fullframe lenses, let’s get back to their roots and have a look at the original!
Big thanks to Camera Obscura Elburg for sending me the lens for this review!