Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE EVO Apo

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Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo on Sony A7rII

Not that long ago we reviewed the Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo – the first lens of the Evo series – and it turned out to be a very compelling lens; correcting most optical aberrations very well in a compact, affordable package. It didn’t take long for Viltrox to extend the lineup, so here is the Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 Evo and this time Viltrox even added an “Apo” tag, hinting at even better optical performance. Did they design the ideal compact autofocussing 35mm lens?  Let’s find out in this review.
Update May 4th: new sample pictures added

Sample Images

viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8
viltrox 35mm 1.8 evo apo fe af bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE Evo | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.8 FE EVO Apo →

Nikon, Review

Review: Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G

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Introduction

nikon af-s 20mm 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 20mm 1.8G via FTZ II on Nikon Zf

One of the first reviews I wrote here was for the Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G in 2016. A lot has happened since: Nikon now has its own mirrorless system, many new ~20mm lenses have been released in the meantime and also my testing methods have improved. A lot of reasons, to have another look at this lens.
Update April 2026: complete rewrite of the review.

Sample Images

Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8
nikon af-s 20mm 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 D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8 | two exposures merged
nikon af-s 20mm 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 D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/8.0
nikon af-s 20mm 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 D800 | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8
sony a7s nikon 20mm 1.8g black and white mustek prague
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/2.8
nikon af-s 20mm 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 Zf | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/1.8
nikon af-s 20mm 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
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/11
nikon af-s 20mm 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 Zf | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 20mm 1.8G →

lenses, Review, Viltrox

REVIEW: Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO

33 Comments

Introduction

Viltrox has just released two new full-frame lenses in its EVO series—a 35mm f/1.8 and a 55mm f/1.8—both featuring APO designs for improved correction of chromatic and spherical aberrations. Here, I’m testing the 55mm lens.

Based on Viltrox’s earlier Air and EVO lenses, which delivered exceptional sharpness, I was curious to see if this new 55mm can reach the same level as Nikon’s 50mm f/1.8 S—a lens I regard as the best “nifty fifty” Nikon has ever produced, with outstanding sharpness and overall optical quality. Let’s find out.

Available for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica L mounts.

Sample Images

Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/16
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/1.8
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/13
Nikon Zf | Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO | f/2.2

Continue reading REVIEW: Viltrox 55mm f/1.8 EVO →

Review, Sony, Sony E-mount

Review: Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM

26 Comments

Introduction

sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM on Sony A7rII

The Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM is a lens I surely hadn’t expected when it was released – especially only two years after the Sony FE 50mm 1.2 GM hit the market. Some people say this one is better than the half-a-stop faster f/1.2 lens, but is that really the case? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Images

sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/2.0
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4
sony fe 50mm 1.4 gm gmaster g fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a7v a9ii a1 bokeh portrait
Sony A7III | Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM | f/1.4

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 50mm 1.4 GM →

Review, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2

9 Comments

Introduction

Today I’m looking at another Carl Zeiss lens from the Milvus series—the 35mm f/2. A lens that is popular for street, travel, and everyday photography. As Zeiss’s final DSLR-era lineup, the Milvus lenses benefited from decades of optical experience, aiming to deliver high image quality in a more practical, less bulky package than the no-compromise Otus line. I was impressed by the Milvus 21mm’s build and manual handling. 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 | Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2 ZF.2 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2 ZF.2 | f/14
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2 ZF.2 | f/2
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2 ZF.2 | f/4
Nikon Zf | Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2 ZF.2 | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/2 →