Category Archives: Manufacturers

Nikon, Nikon, Technical

Nikon AF 180mm 2.8(D): Versions, Teardown and Repair Guide

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Introduction

nikon af af-d 180mm 2.8 ed if sharpness review contrast resolution 42mp 61mp 24mp vignetting coma bokeh build quality flare resistance
Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 D on Nikon FM2n

As you may or may not know there have been several different versions of the Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 over the years. Most notable was the addition of the “D” feature in 1994, allowing the lens to transmit distance information to the camera for more accurate usage of camera flash. As this lens was first released in 1986 some of the samples approach an age of 40 years. As with every product that old, there are some things to be aware of when you are looking to buy a used sample. One of our readers, Q. Xu, did a side-by-side teardown of both versions, so we get to have a closer look at the differences between these versions and what to watch out for.
Of course this article may also be of help if you are looking to perform some kind of repairs on this lens on your own.

Continue reading Nikon AF 180mm 2.8(D): Versions, Teardown and Repair Guide →

Analogue, Canon, Leica M, Minolta, Voigtlander

Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired)

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Kodak Farbwelt 200

I found a few rolls of Kodak Farbwelt 200 that must have expired some 20 years ago and most likely they haven’t been properly stored at all. This first roll I exposed as ISO50 and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The lab wasn’t happy and told me the film was massively expired and the scanner had a hard time scanning the negatives. Let’s see if some usable pictures came out of this.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/1.4 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 | f/5.6 | Kodak Farbwelt 200
kodak farbwelt 200 analogue minolta cle canon 50mm 1.4 ltm m39
Minolta CLE | Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM | f/2.8 | Kodak Farbwelt 200

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 29: Kodak Farbwelt 200 (expired) →

Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton

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Introduction

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton on Leica M10

Before the release of the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton in 2022, this Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton was Cosina’s most expensive M-mount lens and also one of their most complex ones – thanks to 13 elements in 11 groups, 4 aspherical surfaces and a floating elements design. Unfortunately this also made it one of their heaviest and most expensive lenses and I have the feeling it didn’t quite get the momentum Cosina expected for their flagship lens, hence in many parts of the world the price has been reduced several times since release – reason enough to have a closer look at this intriguing lens now.
Lens is being reviewed on Sony A7rII and Leica M10

Sample Images

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4 | see this article
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/11
Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting
Sony A7rII UT | Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton | f/1.4

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Comparison, Laowa, Leica, Leica M, lenses, Nikon, Sigma, Sony E-mount, Thypoch, Voigtlander

Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses

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Introduction

28mm fullframe comparison 1.4 1.2 1.5 voigtländer laowa nikon af-s af-d argus nokton thypoch simera sigma art dg contrast resolution bokeh vignetting coma sharpness loca ca
Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art | Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.4E | Nikon AF 28mm 1.4D | Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus | Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton

To me, fast 28mm fullframe lenses are very useful. No matter where I go, I either carry a fast 28mm or a fast 35mm lens. When it comes to the 28mm focal length we are not exactly blessed with great options though. I gathered six of those ranging from f/1.2 to f/1.5 and will compare them, to give you an idea which might work best for your needs.
Last update: February 2025

Continue reading Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses →

Nikon Z, Review, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO (APS- C)

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Impact-Site-Verification: 67a4fc58-70e9-4954-8e14-1c2e15aa969d

Review Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PROViltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO STM ASPH ED IF PRO APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO on a Nikon Z fc

Viltrox AF 27mm 1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO is the company’s second lens in its APS-C PRO series lenses, 75mm f/1.2 being the first. 27mm focal length in APS-C format, roughly equivalent to 40mm full-frame. While it”s not a “real” wide-angle lens, it is wider than a normal 50mm lens, which, in my opinion, can be more useful for everyday and street photography, compared to a 50mm lens,  as it allows to include more of the environment. On the other hand, it does not introduce the perspective distortion of a 35mm wide-angle lens. This lens was released with X mount earlier and now it is released with Z and E mount, with a few improvements to the original X version. I test the new Z mount version on a Nikon Z fc camera.

Sample Images

Review Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PROViltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO STM ASPH ED IF PRO APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z fc | Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO | f/1.2
Review Laowa CF 8-16mm f/3.5-5 C-Dreamer Zoom APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z fc | Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO | f/1.8
Review Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PROViltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO STM ASPH ED IF PRO APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f
Nikon Z fc | Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Viltrox AF 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO (APS- C) →