Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro

November 2, 2023 Martin 14 Comments

Introduction

We have seen macro lenses with 1:2 magnification, 1:1 magnification, and even with 2:1 magnification. What if you want to have a lens that goes further and has greater magnification? The cool thing about macro at 3x-5x is that you can take any random ordinary everyday object and make it highly interesting.

For a long time the only available lens that had a magnification greater than 1x was the Canon MP-E 65mm, and not only that, it also could go up to 5x magnification. A long time a matter of envy for all non-Canon users, until mirrorless cameras and adapters made it possible to adapt that lens to other brands, but it was the only option and expensive. This is where the Laowa 25mm f2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro comes in handy. A small lens that has a whopping 5X magnification, costs half and does not need any adapters as it comes in almost all popular mounts. Let’s see how good this little wonder is!

Sample Images

Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500 — Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 29 images)

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Comparison, Leica, Leica M, Mr. Ding Studio, MS-Optics, Voigtlander, Zhong Yi

Comparison: Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses

October 22, 2023 BastianK 41 Comments

Introduction

comparison super fast 50mm m-mount leica 24mp 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting noctilux 0.95 zhong yi speedmaster voigtländer vm nokton 1.0 1.2 MS-optics ISM mr. ding 1.1 — Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux | Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 M | Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton | MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM | Mr. Ding 50mm 1.1 | Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton

The M-mount seems to be more popular than ever, thanks to plenty of manufacturers – old and new – from Europe, Japan and China designing and releasing countless of new lenses every year for this bayonet.
Super fast 50mm lenses are especially popular here, so many manufacturers designed one as their “flagship” lens.
Thanks to a reader and very cooperative companies I managed to get 6 of these lenses on my table at the same time, so let’s see what each of them is good at – to help you figure out which one might work best for your needs.
Last Update March 2025: Transmission section updated

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Leica, Leica M, Review

Review: Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph

October 15, 2023 BastianK 15 Comments

Introduction

leica 50mm 0.95 f/0.95 m 24mp m11 m10 m10r sharpness contrat resolution bokeh vignetting review — Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph on Leica M10

For one decade (2008-2018) the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph was Leica’s most expensive M-mount lens and it is still the fastest lens in their line up to this day.
Now in 2023 there are many f/0.95 lenses from China available for your mirrorless camera of choice, but in 2008 – when most people were using (D)SLRs – this was a unique offering and something you could only find in the M-system.
But is this lens (still) worth the asking price? Let’s try to find out.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

This lens is also part of my Comparison of 6 Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses together with the Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 M, the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton, MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM, Mr. Ding 50mm 1.1 and Voigtänder VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton.

Sample Images

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7Artisans, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: 7Artisans 9mm 5.6

October 10, 2023 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

7artisans 9mm 5.6 fullframe widest lens rectilinear contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 — 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

While the Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL is one of my favorite lenses, I am very well aware that a 9mm fullframe lens is not for everyone and most certainly a niché lens, which is why I was very much surprised to see 7Artisans offering their own 9mm 5.6 lens. Who makes the better 9mm 5.6? Let us try to find out in this review!

The optical and most of the mechanical construction of this 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 lens is identical to the Brightin Star 9mm 5.6, which features an additional rear filter thread, so be sure to check out its review as well.

Sample Images

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Analogue, Leica, Leica M, MS-Optics, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 26: Kodak Portra 800 ECN-2

October 10, 2023 BastianK 6 Comments

kodak portra 800 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om — Kodak Portra 800

In 2023 Kodak Portra 800 is the fastest (or rather most sensitive) color negative film that is still in production. Ever since using that awful Cinestill 800T I was curious what results from a real ISO 800 color film will look like, so here we are.
Exposed as ISO400. Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.