Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review: Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN Contemporary

Introduction

sigma 17mm 4.0 dg dn c contemporarly e fe l small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C on Sony A7rII

While Sigma is mostly famous for their series of fast and big “Art” lenses they also offer a lineup of more compact and more affordable “Contemporary” lenses. At the time of writing this review, the widest prime entry of that series is this Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN Contemporary. Let’s have a closer look and also see how it compares to the Viltrox AF 14mm 4.0 FE Air.

Sample Images

sigma 17mm 4.0 dg dn c contemporarly e fe l small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C | f/4.0
Sony A7III | Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C | f/4.0
sigma 17mm 4.0 dg dn c contemporarly e fe l small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C | f/4.0
sigma 17mm 4.0 dg dn c contemporarly e fe l small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C | f/4.0
sigma 17mm 4.0 dg dn c contemporarly e fe l small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Nikon Zf | Neewer ETZ | Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C | f/4.0
sigma 17mm 4.0 dg dn c contemporarly e fe l small review sharpness contrast bokeh coma vignetting 42mp 63mp sony a7 a7rii a7iii a7riv a7rv a7iv a1 a9 a9ii
Sony A7III | Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN C | f/4.0

Continue reading Review: Sigma 17mm 4.0 DG DN Contemporary

Review: Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit

Introduction

songraw 50mm 1.2 moonlit sony fe gm fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z6iii nikon
Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit on Sony A7rII

Many of the new manufacturers from China decided to start with all manual lenses and often of moderate specifications. With this Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit the story is different: a complex autofocus 50mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.2, only Sony and Sigma released a lens with these specifications for the E-mount yet. But can a lens as ambitious as this from an unknown manufacturer actually be any good? Let’s find out in this review. 

Sample Images

Sony A7III | Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit | f/1.2
songraw 50mm 1.2 moonlit sony fe gm fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z6iii nikon
Sony A7III | Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit | f/1.2
songraw 50mm 1.2 moonlit sony fe gm fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z6iii nikon
Sony A7III | Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit | f/1.2
songraw 50mm 1.2 moonlit sony fe gm fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z6iii nikon
Sony A7III | Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit | f/1.2
songraw 50mm 1.2 moonlit sony fe gm fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z6iii nikon
Sony A7III | Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit | f/1.2
songraw 50mm 1.2 moonlit sony fe gm fullframe fastest lens contrast resolution 33mp 42mp 61mp sharpness vignetting a7riv a7rv a9 bokeh portrait z6 z7 z8 z9 zf z6iii nikon
Sony A7III | Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit | f/2.0

Continue reading Review: Songraw 50mm 1.2 Moonlit

Review: Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G – Way ahead of its time

Introduction

nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G via FTZ II on Nikon Z6

Released in 2007, the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G was way ahead of its time. It pushed the limits of what can be expected from a very wide f/2.8 ultra wide angle zoom – by a lot actually – and not only rendered a bunch of primes in the 14mm to 24mm range useless, it also survived three generations of 70-200mm 2.8 zooms and two generations of 24-70mm 2.8 zooms, because it was simply so good, that it wasn’t necessary to replace it. Is it still a lens worth considerng today? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Images

nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 14mm | f/2.8 | Ai Denoise
nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Sony A7s | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 14mm | f/2.8 | pano from 3 shots
nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 14mm | f/2.8 | Ai Denoise
nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 14mm | f/8.0
nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 14mm | f/8.0
nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 14mm | f/8.0
nikon af-s 14-24mm 2.8 G ed N zoom uwa ultra wide angle astro 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness vignetting portrait
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G | 24mm | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 14-24mm 2.8G – Way ahead of its time

REVIEW: TTArtisan 14mm f/2.8

Introduction

Here we have another ultra-wide-angle lens from TTArtisan: an affordable 14mm with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. It’s quite compact and reasonably fast for such a wide-angle lens. A 14mm lens is a good choice for architectural and dramatic landscape photography. The f/2.8 aperture also makes it suitable for astrophotography, and at around 196 USD it remains very affordable. Let’s take a look at its performance.

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 | TTARTISAN 14mm f/2.8 | f/4
Nikon Zf | TTARTISAN 14mm f/2.8 | f/8
Nikon Zf | TTARTISAN 14mm f/2.8 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | TTARTISAN 14mm f/2.8 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | TTARTISAN 14mm f/2.8 | f/2.8
Nikon Zf | TTARTISAN 14mm f/2.8 | f/2.8

Continue reading REVIEW: TTArtisan 14mm f/2.8

Review: DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 M

Introduction

review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 on Leica M10

Most manufacturers producing M-mount lenses have at least one super fast 50mm lens in their portfolio and quite often these are prestigious flagship lenses for them. The latest entry is DJ-Optical with his 50mm 1.0 lens for M-mount – produced only in small quantities and officially being sold only in China at the moment. Thanks to one of my readers I was still able to acquire one of these to review it for you, so let’s have a closer look at this intriguing lens.
This lens will be reviewed on the 24mp Leica M10 and the 42mp Sony A7rII.

Sample Images

review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.2
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Boryoza LM-Z | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/2.0
review DJ DJO DJ-optical optical china leica m 50mm 1.0 f/1.0 1,0 f/1,0 lens contrast resolution m11 m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Nikon Zf | Boryoza LM-Z | DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 | f/1.0

Continue reading Review: DJ-Optical 50mm 1.0 M