Category Archives: Review

Review: Sigma 135mm 1.4 Art DG – The actual Bokeh Master

October 25, 2025 BastianK 35 Comments

Introduction

sigma 135mm 1.4 art dg aizu bokeh master sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 zf a1 a1ii a9 a9ii l-mount — Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art on Sony A7rII

The Sigma 105mm 1.4 DG HSM Art was one of Sigma’s last flagship lenses designed for DSLRs and one of the few that hasn’t seen a successor designed for mirrorless cameras yet. If you read my review, you know it is an impressive lens, but I still had some reservations calling it the “Bokeh Master”. Now I get the feeling someone at Sigma read my comment and decided to take it as a challenge by designing this Sigma 135mm 1.4 DG Art – the actual “Bokeh Master”. To me, this is one of Sigma’s masterpieces, so let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

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Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 FE Evo

October 20, 2025 BastianK 37 Comments

Introduction

viltrox 85mm 2.0 evo fe af bokeh master gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 — Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo FE on Sony A7rII

The “Evo” series is a new lineup of Viltrox lenses positioned between the “Pro” and “Air” lineups. This series seems to combine the build quality and controls of the “Pro” lenses with a slightly slower maximum aperture like the “Air” lenses while maintaining very high image quality – similar to the Voigtländer Apo-Lanthar series or Sigma’s Contemporary primes. Let’s find out what the first entry of this series – the Viltrox AF 85mm 2.0 Evo FE – has in store for us.

Sample Images

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Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 50mm 1.4 FE Pro

October 16, 2025 BastianK 7 Comments

Introduction

viltrox 50mm 1.4 pro fe af bokeh master gm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma astrophotography z6 z7 z8 z9 — Viltrox AF 50mm 1.4 Pro FE on Sony A7rII

Viltrox offers several different lens lineups: positioned at the top is the “LAB” series, slightly below that the “Pro” series. I already reviewed the Viltrox AF 85mm 1.4 Pro FE – offering very good performance at an affordable pricepoint – and this time we will be having a look at the Viltrox AF 50mm 1.4 Pro FE.

Sample Images

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7Artisans, lenses, Nikon Z, Review

REVIEW: 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8

October 15, 2025 Martin 5 Comments

Introduction

The 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8 full-frame lens for E-mount was released on September 4th, and now the company has added L- and Z-mount versions. It follows their earlier 24mm f/1.8 full-frame lens, which was well received by photographers. At a launch price of $299, this new 35mm sits on the budget-friendly side of the lineup, and if it performs as well as its 24mm sibling, it should offer great value for money. Let’s check it out!

camera-icon2 I 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 | 7ARTISANS AF 35mm F/1.8 | f/4

Nikon Zf | 7ARTISANS AF 35mm F/1.8 | f/1.8

Nikon Zf | 7ARTISANS AF 35mm F/1.8 | f/4.5

Nikon Zf | 7ARTISANS AF 35mm F/1.8 | f/8

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Laowa, Nikon, Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Laowa AF 200mm 2.0 C-Dreamer – The Chinese Air Cutter

October 14, 2025 BastianK 30 Comments

Introduction

laowa af c-dreamer aura 200mm 2.0 f/2.0 super tele fast 2025 sport reportage press review 42mp sony nikon z 61mp z6 z7 z8 z9 a1 a9 a9ii a1ii a7riv a7rv contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting a7v ac7 zf — Laowa 200mm 2.0 AF C-Dreamer on Nikon Zf

Tele lenses with a huge entrance pupil are being called “Air Cutter” in China, which I think is quite a fitting description when looking at portrait pictures taken with them featuring that super thin depth of field. So far we have only seen 200mm 2.0 lenses from the Japanese manufacturers, but now Laowa decided to also offer a lens like this and even managed to make it the smallest and lightest lens in its class – making this Laowa AF 200mm 2.0 C-Dreamer the original Chinese Air Cutter. Let’s have a closer look!