Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review: Solinon 18mm 5.6 Asph

February 22, 2025 BastianK 25 Comments

Introduction

18mm 5.6 solinon calvin hong kong asph review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting cookie pancake compact m10 leica m11 m10r rangefinder — Solinon 18mm 5.6 Asph on Leica M10

It doesn’t happen often that one of our readers reaches out and tells us he had his own lens made, but that is exactly what happened here. Not finding what he was looking for among the lenses already available, our reader Calvin from Hong Kong decided to had a lens made to his desires and have it manufactured in China. Of course I was interested to review it, so let’s have a look at this intriguing lens together!
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

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lenses, Review, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 ED II (APS-C)

February 19, 2025 Martin 10 Comments

Introduction

It has been about a year since TTArtisan introduced the AF 35mm f/1.8, and now it’s time to release version 2 of that lens. I liked the first version when I reviewed it and enjoyed taking pictures with it. They have tried to improve the lens since last year and therefore we can see a couple of changes, but have they succeeded?

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a 21.5 Mp Nikon Zfc.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon Zfc | TTArtisan AF 35mm F/1.8 ED II | f/1.8

Nikon Zfc | TTArtisan AF 35mm F/1.8 ED II | f/2.8

Nikon Zfc | TTArtisan AF 35mm F/1.8 ED II | f/8

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Review, Sony, Sony Alpha, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM MK II – A worthy Update?

February 16, 2025 BastianK 29 Comments

Introduction

sony fe 85mm 1.4 gm mk ii 2 mark bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 — Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM II on Sony A7rIi

The Sony FE 85mm 1.4 GM is my favorite portrait lens out of the almost 300 lenses I have used so far. Being one of the first GM lenses, it features a comparably slow autofocus and some of the recent competitors offer higher contrast and resolution at f/1.4, so Sony decided to update this lens. Does it still have the bokeh qualities of the first generation 85mm 1.4 while making it smaller and sharper? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

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Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron

February 9, 2025 BastianK 15 Comments

Introduction

voigtländer vm apo-ultron 90mm 2.0 review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting portrait — Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron on Leica M10

I wasn’t sure, if after the Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.8 Apo-Skopar, Cosina will also produce a faster 90mm lens, but that thinking was put to a stop in early 2025, when they announced this Voigtländer VM 90mm 2.0 Apo-Ultron. A direct competitor to the Leica 90mm 2.0 Apo-Summicron, which was first released in 1998. Let’s see how it performs.

Sample Images

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Nikon, Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G

February 5, 2025 BastianK 17 Comments

Introduction

nikon af-s 50mm 1.4 g 1.4g sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9 — Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G via Monster LA-FE1 on Sony A7rII

When released in 2008, the Nikon AF-S 50mm 1.4G was the first fast prime lens updated to the AF-S standard, adding an in-lens AF-S ring motor and ditching the aperture ring. Already back in the day this wasn’t exactly considered a high performance lens, so where does it stand today? Let’s find out in this review.