Category Archives: Manufacturers

REVIEW: Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S

Introduction

In my recent quest to review some of the zoom lenses in the Nikon Z series, we’ve arrived at the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S — an ultra-wide-angle zoom and one of the first in the “S” line after the 24-70mm f/4 S. The other two f/4 S zoom lenses I reviewed (24-70mm f/4 and 24-120mm f/4) delivered impressive performance, but this one is an ultra-wide — a category that has historically been more challenging to get right. That said, Nikon has marketed it as part of the “S” line, which promises higher quality. Let’s see how it performs!

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 | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @20mm f/16 (Stockholm, Sweden)
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @30mm f/4
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @30mm f/4
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @18mm f/13 (Tokyo, Japan)
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S | @21mm f/22 (Nagano, Japan)

Continue reading REVIEW: Nikon Z Nikkor 14-30mm F/4 S

Review: Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora

Introduction

sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora on Sony A7rII

Released at the end of 2024, this Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora was Sirui’s first non-cine fullframe lens aimed at photographers. It is one of the most affordable and compact 85mm 1.4 lenses, but is that enough to pick it over the strong competition? Let’s try to find out in this review!
Update June 2025: Comparison to Viltrox AF 85mm 1.4 FE Pro added

Sample Images

sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora | f/1.4
sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora | f/1.4
sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora | f/1.4
sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora | f/1.4
sirui 85mm 1.4 aurora fe af gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Sirui 85mm 1.4 Aurora

REVIEW/COMPARISON: Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x (vs. 15mm f/4 1x)

Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x on Nikon Z7IIIntroduction

The Laowa 15mm f/4.5 0.5x macro is one of the very few lenses that combine an ultra-wide angle of view with close focusing capabilities, offering up to 1:2 (half life-size) magnification.

Laowa previously introduced a 1:1 macro version back in 2019, but it came with a few quirks. It featured a shift mechanism that added bulk, the full 1:1 magnification required you to get extremely close, almost touching the subject, and its sharpness at infinity focus left much to be desired.

With this newer lens, Laowa has aimed to address all those issues in a more compact, practical design. Have they succeeded? Let’s find out in this review, as I compare it to its predecessor in each section.

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 | Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x | F/8
Nikon Zf | Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x | F/11
Nikon Zf | Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x | F/9
Nikon Zf | Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x | F/11
Nikon Zf | Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x | F/4.5
Nikon Zf | Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x | F/9

Continue reading REVIEW/COMPARISON: Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Macro 0.5x (vs. 15mm f/4 1x)

Review: Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro

Introduction

61mp 42mp high res resolution canon tilt shift ts-e pc-e perspective control TS T/S sony adapter 135mm 4.0 l macro review resolution contrast bokeh makro
Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro via megadap adapter on Nikon Zf

At the end of the DSLR/EF-mount era Canon released a bunch of newly designed extremely high quality TS-E lenses. This Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro is one of them. It is also Canon’s longest Tilt/Shift lens so far. Is this the dream lens for product photography? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

61mp 42mp high res resolution canon tilt shift ts-e pc-e perspective control TS T/S sony adapter 135mm 4.0 l macro review resolution contrast bokeh makro
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro | f/4.0 | unshifted/untilted
61mp 42mp high res resolution canon tilt shift ts-e pc-e perspective control TS T/S sony adapter 135mm 4.0 l macro review resolution contrast bokeh makro
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro | f/4.0 | unshifted/untilted
61mp 42mp high res resolution canon tilt shift ts-e pc-e perspective control TS T/S sony adapter 135mm 4.0 l macro review resolution contrast bokeh makro
Nikon Zf | Fringer EF NZ II | Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro | f/4.0 | unshifted/untilted
61mp 42mp high res resolution canon tilt shift ts-e pc-e perspective control TS T/S sony adapter 135mm 4.0 l macro review resolution contrast bokeh makro
Sony A7III | Sigma MC-11 | Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro | f/4.0 | unshifted/untilted
61mp 42mp high res resolution canon tilt shift ts-e pc-e perspective control TS T/S sony adapter 135mm 4.0 l macro review resolution contrast bokeh makro
Sony A7III | Sigma MC-11 | Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro | f/4.0 | unshifted/untilted

Continue reading Review: Canon TS-E 135mm 4.0L Macro

Analogue Adventures – Part 40: Fujichrome Provia 100F

Fujichrome Provia 100F Slide Film

In the Fujichrome world, Provia is supposed to be the more neutral slide film compared to Velvia. I wasn’t a huge fan of Velvia 100, so let’s see how this Provia 100F worked out for me.
Processing (E-6) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany. The pictures you see in this article are from one roll.

fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G | 70mm | f/2.8
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G
fuji fujifilm fujichrome slide film provia 100f france review nikon f analogue film hamburg germany f80
Nikon F80 | Fujichrome Provia 100F | Nikon AF-S 24-70mm 2.8G

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 40: Fujichrome Provia 100F