Category Archives: Manufacturers

Leica M, Minolta, MS-Optics, Review

Review: Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF

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Introduction

review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF on Leica M10

In 1971 – two years before the Leitz/Minolta CL with its 40mm 2.0 lens – Minolta released the Hi-Matic E, a compact fixed lens 35mm rangefinder camera with a 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF lens.
While this lens is manual focus its aperture is being controlled electronically, which is why it is very difficult to turn it into an interchangeable lens that can be used on other cameras.
There might be only one person crazy enough to salvage the lens elements from such a Hi-Matic E camera, design a new housing for them and adding a manually controlled aperture diaphragm and that is Miyazaki Sadayasu from MS-Optics.
I came across one of these rare lenses in a small camera shop in Hong Kong and as this was a bit of a “once in a lifetime opportunity” I bought it without really knowing what I am getting myself into, so here we are.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/5.6
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Minolta CLE | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7 | 500T
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7

Continue reading Review: Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF →

Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron

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Introduction

voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron on Leica M10

The Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton was and still is one of the most compelling M-mount portrait lenses for me and an epitome of what Cosina is capable of when it comes to creating very fast yet lightweight lens constructions.
Therefore it was a great surprise for me when only 4 years later Cosina released this slightly slower and only slightly lighter Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron. Which one is the better lens for you? Let’s find out in this review!
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.
Update: because of a bug it was not possible to post comments for this post, this has been fixed.

Sample Images

voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7III | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron | LM-EA9 | f/1.9
voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7III | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron | LM-EA9 | f/1.9
voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7III | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron | LM-EA9 | f/1.9
voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron | f/1.9
voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7rII UT | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron | f/1.9
voigtländer 75mm 1.9 ultron leica review contrast sharpness vignetting 24mp m10 42mp m11 resolution 0.5 m portrait bokeh
Sony A7III | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.9 Ultron | LM-EA9 | f/2.8

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Review, Sony E-mount, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 ED IF

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Introduction

ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 IF ED

The Chinese manufacturers have been busy releasing lenses in the 15-100mm range but only rarely set foot in the tele lens realm. And if they did, those were usually mirror lenses that may be compact but have plenty of other issues.
When TTArtisan asked me if I want to have a look at their new 500mm f/6.3 lens I was hesitant at first, as this is also not a focal length I need or use regularly.
But when I heard it uses ED elements, it is an internal focus design and will cost only $329 I thought it might be worth a closer look, so here we are.

Sample Images

ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/11 | cropped
ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/6.3
ttartisan 500mm 5.6 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7III | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/8.0
ttartisan 500mm 6.3 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/6.3
ttartisan 500mm 6.3 ed if manual focus 42mp 61mp sharpness contrast review tele bokeh vignetting sony a7rv a7riii a1 a9
Sony A7rII | TTArtisan 500mm 6.3 | f/6.3

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Analogue, Leica, Leica M, Minolta, Projects, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 25: Wolfen Color NC500 ECN-2

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Wolfen Color NC500

In early 2023 I managed to buy two rolls of the ORWO Wolfen NC 500 color negative film and it is something special for several reasons, so let’s have a closer look.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

wolfen nc500 orwo agfa iso400 asa review leica analogue film germany
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/5.6 | Wolfen 500 NC
wolfen nc500 orwo agfa iso400 asa review leica analogue film germany
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/11 | Wolfen 500 NC ECN-2
wolfen nc500 orwo agfa iso400 asa review leica analogue film germany
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/5.6 | Wolfen 500 NC ECN-2
wolfen nc500 orwo agfa iso400 asa review leica analogue film germany
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/4.0 | Wolfen 500 NC ECN-2
wolfen nc500 orwo agfa iso400 asa review leica analogue film germany
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/11 | Wolfen 500 NC ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 25: Wolfen Color NC500 ECN-2 →

Leica M, lenses, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III

106 Comments

Introduction

cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III via Metabones adapter on Sony A7rII

The Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III Nokton is already the third iteration of the world’s fastest 35mm M-mount lens. What has changed compared to the predecessors? How does it compare to the competition? Is it any good? Let’s find out together in this review.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII, 24mp Leica M10 and film cameras
Last Update: September 2023 (samples, coma section, conclusion)

Sample Images

cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2
analogue photography leica m6 voigtländer silbersalz35 kodak vision 3
Leica M6 | 200T | Voigtländer VM 35mm 1.2 | f/1.2
cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/2.0
cosina voigtlander vm 35mm 1.2 iii comparison sony leica m10 m 24mp 42mp 61mp review sharpness bokeh coma astro
Leica M10 | Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander VM 35mm 1.2 III →