Category Archives: Manufacturers

Review: Samyang AF 24mm 1.8 FE

Introduction

24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Samyang FE 24mm 1.8 AF on Sony A7rII

The earlier Samyang lenses didn’t really impress me: dinky casing, lack of controls and severe issues with sample variation. This Samyang FE 24mm 1.8 AF was the first of a new generation of Samyang AF lenses though: customizable switch, focus hold button, rubber gasket and vastly improved materials. Did they finally hit the mark? Let’s find out in this review!

Sample Image

24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Sony A7III | Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Sony A7III | Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF | f/2.8
24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Sony A7III | Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Sony A7III | Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF | f/5.0
24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Sony A7III | Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
24 1.8 af fe samyang review a7rii a7rv a7riv 42mp 61mp contrast resolution sharpness bokeh
Sony A7III | Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Samyang AF 24mm 1.8 FE

Analogue Adventures – Part 17: Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2 processed

Kodak Ektar 100

Ektar 100 is easily one of my favorite films: low grain, lots of details, lovely colors – simply what I would call high a quality film. Some of you may remember when I exposed a roll of badly expired Ektar, but this time let’s have a look what it can really do.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany. The pictures in this article are from two rolls of film.
Update 2025: more sample pictures added

ektar 100 kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2
ektar 100 kodak review Nikon F80 analogue analog
Nikon F80 | Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2 | Sigma 24-35mm 2.0 Art
ektar 100 kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/5.6 | Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2
ektar 100 kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 | f/11 | Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2
ektar 100 kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2
ektar 100 kodak review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 17: Kodak Ektar 100 ECN-2 processed

Review: Laowa 28mm 1.2 FFII Argus

Introduction

laowa 28mm 1.2 review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Laowa 28mm 1.2 FFII Argus on Sony A7rII

Laowa was already responsible for releasing the world’s fastest 35mm lens and now they are back doing the same for the 28mm focal length. This time around it isn’t f/0.95, but f/1.2 at 28mm – in a more compact package. This is just as impressive, especially when most manufacturers seem to have neglected the 28mm focal length altogether. But is it only impressive on paper or does it also deliver in the field? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

laowa 28mm 1.2 review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm 1.2 | f/1.2
laowa 28mm 1.2 review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm 1.2 | f/2.0
laowa 28mm 1.2 review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm 1.2 | f/1.2 | Glimmerglass1
laowa 28mm 1.2 review fast super f/0.95 bokeh sharpness contrast a7riv a7riii a7iv a9 a1 resolution coma vignetting review
Sony A7III | Laowa 28mm 1.2 | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Laowa 28mm 1.2 FFII Argus

Analogue Adventures – Part 16: Kodak Gold 200 ECN-2 processed

kodak gold 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Kodak Gold 200

Kodak Gold 200 again? Hasn’t there been an article covering this film already? Yes, but the Silbersalz35 guys started offering a new lab service in 2022 for developing some of the popular C-41 still photography films with the more complex ECN-2 process. But is it a good idea? I wanted to find out, I received the scans, so let’s have a look together.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.
Update May 2023: more pictures added

kodak gold 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 | f/8.0 | Kodak Gold 200 ECN-2
kodak gold 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 24mm 2.0 | f/2.0 | Kodak Gold 200 ECN-2
kodak gold 200 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/11 | Kodak Gold 200 ECN-2
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Kodak Gold 200 ECN-2
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 40mm 1.7 | f/8.0 | Gold 200 ECN-2
Voigtländer Cosina 40mm 1.4 1.4/40 mc multi coated sc single comparison review leica m10 m11 m10r sony a7rv a7riv 61mp 42mp 24mp sharpness resolution handling build quality
Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/8.0 | Gold 200 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 16: Kodak Gold 200 ECN-2 processed

Review: Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon

Introduction

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Modified to Leica M-mount 16mm 8.0 Hologon on Leica M6

Over the decades some exotic lenses saw the light of day that have a bit of a legendary status now and these also happen to be my favorite lenses to review. One such lens is the Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon, an eccentric ultra wide angle lens still made by Zeiss in Germany, when every other part of the Contax-G system had already been manufactured in Japan. The Hologon sure looks cool, it has a history, but is it also still relevant today? We will try to find that out, see how to change its bayonet for M-mount and I will tell you what cameras it can best be used on.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
cinestill 800t 800 tungsten cinefilm kodak vision 3 review m6 leica analogue analog
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Cinestill 800T
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Center Filter
hologon leica m contax-g 16mm 8.0 8/16 center filter review sharpness leica m10 m11 sony e-mount adapter conversion sharpness distortion carl zeiss germany
Leica M10 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Center Filter

Continue reading Review: Contax-G 16mm 8.0 Hologon