Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review, Viltrox

REVIEW: Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro (APS-C)

8 Comments

Introduction

Viltrox has been on a roll lately, releasing new lenses at a rapid pace. One of their latest additions is the APS-C 56mm f/1.2 Pro, equivalent to an 85mm on full-frame—a classic and highly popular focal length for portrait photography. As the name suggests, this lens belongs to the Pro series, following the earlier 75mm f/1.2 and 27mm f/1.2 models. Both of those lenses delivered excellent performance on APS-C cameras, so I’m eager to see how this new release stacks up.

camera-icon2I tested the X mount version of this lens on a Fujifilm X-S10.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro | f/1.2
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro | f/1.2
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro | f/1.2
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro | f/1.2
Fujifilm X-S10 | Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro | f/1.2

Continue reading REVIEW: Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro (APS-C) →

Leica M, Mr. Ding Studio, Review

Review: Mr. Ding Optics 35mm 1.8 Pactcron

9 Comments

Introduction

mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron on Leica M10

Compact 35mm lenses are very popular among the M-mount users and while they usually come with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 or f/2.0, Mr. Ding decided to go for f/1.8, making this a bit of a unique offering. The Mr. Ding 50mm 1.1 Noxlux became a favorite of mine and many others, can they repeat that success with this 35mm 1.8 Pactcron? Let’s try to find out in this review. 
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10 and some sample pictures taken on a Nikon Zf are also available.

Sample Images

mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Nikon Zf | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/1.8
mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Nikon Zf | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/1.8
mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Nikon Zf | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/1.8
mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Nikon Zf | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/11
mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Nikon Zf | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/1.8
mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/1.8
mr ding studio optics 35mm 1.8 classic summilux summicron leica m10 m11 m6 review contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting coma flare 42mp 61mp 24mp
Leica M10 | Mr. Ding 35mm 1.8 Pactcron | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Mr. Ding Optics 35mm 1.8 Pactcron →

Review, Viltrox

REVIEW: Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 Air (APS-C)

15 Comments

Introduction

On the same day that Viltrox introduced the AF 14mm f/4, an affordable autofocus ultra-wide-angle lens for full-frame cameras, they also announced a 9mm f/2.8 autofocus lens for APS-C cameras — the widest AF prime lens for crop sensors and another addition to their compact, lightweight Air series.

camera-icon2I tested this lens on a Nikon Zfc via a Megadap adapter (Sample images were taken with a Sony a6700)
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Sony a6700 | Viltrox 9mm f/2.8 Air | f2.8
Sony a6700 | Viltrox 9mm f/2.8 Air | f2.8
Sony a6700 | Viltrox 9mm f/2.8 Air | f6.3
Sony a6700 | Viltrox 9mm f/2.8 Air | f3.5
Sony a6700 | Viltrox 9mm f/2.8 Air | f2.8

Continue reading REVIEW: Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 Air (APS-C) →

Nikon, Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 FE

32 Comments

Introduction

viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF on Sony A7rII

We have already seen some affordable compact ultra wide angle lenses from the Chinese manufacturers, but so far none of them came with autofocus. Thanks to Viltrox this is about to change, so let’s have a look together at this Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 FE.

Sample Images

viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/5.6
viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/5.6
viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/4.0
viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/4.0
viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/4.0 | Ai Denoise
viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/4.0 | Ai Denoise
viltrox af 14mm 4.0 fe air small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 AF | f/4.0

Continue reading Review: Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 FE →

Laowa, Macro, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa 180mm 4.5 Apo Macro 1.5:1

18 Comments

Introduction

laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Laowa 180mm 4.5 Apo Macro on Sony A7rII

Compact 180-200mm primes are pretty much dead today and have been replaced by bigger and heavier zoom lenses. Personally, I have been hoping for a modern incarnation of something like the Voigtländer 180mm 4.0 SL Apo-Lanthar or the Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro for a long time. In 2025 Laowa released this Laowa 180mm 4.5 1.5:1 Apo Macro. Is this the versatile tele prime we have been waiting for? Let’s try to find out in this review.
Update 10/25: a firmware update has been released allowing for automated focus stacking, see here.

Sample Images

laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Sony A7III | Laowa 180mm 4.5 Macro | f/4.5 | Ai denoise
laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Sony A7III | Laowa 180mm 4.5 Macro | f/4.5
laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Sony A7III | Laowa 180mm 4.5 Macro | f/8.0
laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Nikon Zf | megadap ETZ21pro | Laowa 180mm 4.5 Macro | f/4.5 | Ai Denoise
laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Sony A7III | Laowa 180mm 4.5 Macro | f/4.5
laowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5iilaowa 180mm 4.5 f/4.5 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii A9 A9ii a1 a1ii review resolution sharpness contrast sunstar sunstars starburst blende blendenstern Nikon z z5 z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z5ii
Sony A7III | Laowa 180mm 4.5 Macro | f/4.5

Continue reading Review: Laowa 180mm 4.5 Apo Macro 1.5:1 →