Category Archives: Nikon

Analogue Adventures – Part 31: Which Nikon F-mount film camera to get?

May 30, 2024 BastianK 26 Comments

Introduction

Some of you may still remember the first part of this series, where I described what analogue cameras I had a look at and why I ultimately ended up with a Leica M6. An F-mount analogue camera was also in strong consideration, but I did not go for it because I did not want to buy a set of F-mount lenses – and the F-mount being a dead mount anyway. But in the meantime some things have changed, so here I am again…

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon AF 85mm 1.4 D – The ideal Portrait Lens?

May 18, 2024 BastianK 12 Comments

Introduction

nikon nikkor af-d 85mm 1.4 portrait historical review contrast resolution famous 42mp 61mp bokeh vignetting coma aspherical sony a7rII z7 z8 z9 z6 zf — Nikon AF-D 85mm 1.4 on Sony A7rII

For one and a half decades – from 1995 to 2010 – the Nikon AF-D 85mm 1.4 had been Nikon’s top of the line fullframe portrait tele lens. It saw the peak of analogue photography as well as the peak of the digital SLR. When it had been released this was an expensive premium lens aimed at professionals, but in 2024 it has become much more affordable. Reason enough to have a closer look at it and see if this is a lens still worth considering today.

Sample Images

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon Z 40mm f/2 – The Street Sniper for Discreet Photography

May 12, 2024 Martin 24 Comments

Introduction

Review test Nikon nikkor Z 40mm f/2 f2 S nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc z 7 z 7ii review nikon z test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon sample image images

40mm is one of my favorite focal lengths. Closer to the human’s natural angle of view than a 50mm, and slightly wider than 50mm, it allows for more context to be included in the image. I prefer this focal length in front of a 50mm for street and everyday photography. The Nikon Nikkor Z 40/2 with its compact format is therefore an interesting lens. It is not an “S” line Nikkor Z lens, which is Nikon’s premium series but very compelling nonetheless. Let’s have a look at it!

I tested this lens on a Nikon Z 7II with its 46 Mp sensor.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here.

Sample Images

NIKON Review test Nikon nikkor Z 40mm f/2 f2 S nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc z 7 z 7ii review nikon z test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon sample image images — Nikon Z 7II | Nikon Nikkor Z 40/2 | f/2

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Accessories, Adapters, Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Monster LA-FE1 and LA-FE2 AF Adapter (Nikon-F to Sony-E)

May 8, 2024 BastianK 26 Comments

Introduction

monster la-fe2 lafe2 lafe 2 la-fe 2 II Mark MK autofocus autofokus auto focus adapter sony nikon z e mirrorless screwdrive screw driven review performance eye af — Monster LA-FE2 adapter

Canon users that wanted to get into the fullframe mirrorless E-mount world early were in a good spot: the Sigma MC-11 and the metabones Canon EF to Sony E adapters allowed using Canon EF-mount lenses on Sony cameras with only little limitations. For Nikon F-mount users the situation was sadly way worse and it took some time before the first similar adapter (Commlite CMF-EN1) was released – and that one had a lot of issues.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, the situation changed. With the release of the Monster LA-FE1 and later the LA-FE2 adapter we can now finally adapt Nikon F-mount lenses in a similar quality as those Canon EF-mount ones. The LA-FE2 even allows auto focus with the screwdriven Nikon AF(-D) lenses to work on Sony – something not even possible on Nikon’s own Z-mount cameras. Let’s have a closer look.
Update 07/24: more lenses tested, FW 06 for LA-FE1 tested

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Voigtländer 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton – The last F-mount lens?

April 25, 2024 BastianK 21 Comments

Introduction

voigtländer sl iis nokton nikon f 55mm 1.2 ai-s fast review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait — Voigtländer 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton on Nikon FM2n

Cosina is always up for a surprise and when they announced this Voigtländer 55mm 1.2 SL IIs Nokton for the Nikon F-mount in 2023 – 5 years after Nikon transitioned to the Z-mount – that surely was a big surprise. Lenses as fast as f/1.2 are rare birds in the F-mount world because they are really operating at the limit of this bayonet. As I will show you in this review, Cosina’s engineers managed to create something that Nikon’s engineers were not able to achieve in over 60 years.