Category Archives: Review

Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II

December 20, 2025 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

sony fe 70mm-200 4.0 g macro oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma — Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II on Sony A7rII

Sony managed to significantly reduce the weight of their 70-200mm 2.8 zoom with its second iteration, leaving less room for an f/4.0 version below that. With the weight difference between the f/2.8 and this f/4.0 lens being a mere 250g, Sony had to find another way to make this Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II more attractive and they tried to do that by adding a 1:2 macro feature. But was that enough? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 4.0 G Macro OSS II →

Review, Sony E-mount, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB

December 17, 2025 BastianK 58 Comments

Introduction

viltrox 35mm 1.2 lab fe pro 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 35mm 1.2 FE LAB on Sony A7rII

Since its release in 2019 I have been using the Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN as my main lens for any kind of reportage work. It took until 2025 for another manufacturer to challenge Sigma by releasing a 35mm 1.2 lens with autofocus of their own. Actually, there were two at almost the same time: Nikon with their Nikon Z 35mm 1.2 S and Viltrox with this Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB. As the Nikon lens sells for 3 grand it is out of reach for most people. This Viltrox lens is way more attractively priced, so let’s find out if it is time to retire my Sigma 35mm 1.2 Art DG DN after 6 years of usage.
Update 12/25: now also available for Nikon Z-mount

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Viltrox AF 35mm 1.2 FE LAB →

Canon EF-Mount, Review, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 Distagon

December 13, 2025 BastianK 5 Comments

Introduction

zeiss 25mm 1.4 milvus otus t* germany german high resolution bokeh portrait sharpness resolution lateral ca chromatic aberration aberrations zf z6 z6iii z8 z9 z7 z7ii z6ii 24mp 42mp 61mp zf.2 ze — Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 via Sigma MC-11 on Sony A7rII

About a year after the release of the Zeiss Otus 28mm 1.4 Distagon – to the surprise of many – Zeiss released this Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 Distagon. Almost as complex optical design, almost as big, almost as heavy, but “only” half the price – making it the most expensive lens of the Milvus lineup. What are you giving up in terms of performance compared to the 28mm Otus? Let’s try to find out in this review.

Sample Images

Continue reading Review: Zeiss Milvus 25mm 1.4 Distagon →

Review

Vivo X200 Ultra – The Death of the compact Camera

December 9, 2025 BastianK 69 Comments

Introduction

vivo x200 ultra review bokeh sharpness contrast vignetting comparison 50mp 200mp — Vivo X200 Ultra with Photography Kit Case

I am not someone who buys a new smartphone every year – quite the opposite actually – but when I need a new one I always look for the one with the most capable cameras. I did that in 2019 and ended up with the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and when I needed a new phone in 2025, after a lot of research, I decided to go with the Vivo X200 Ultra. On paper this looks like the death of the 1″ sensor compact camera segment, so let’s have a closer look at this intriguing device.
Update 12/25: Extender lens sections added

Sample Images

vivo x200 ultra review bokeh sharpness contrast vignetting comparison 50mp 200mp EXTENDER zeiss 2.35x 2,35 200mm — Vivo X200 Ultra | 2.35x Extender Lens | 200mm f/8.5 equiv

Vivo X200 Ultra | 35mm f/5.9 equiv | Landscape & Night mode | from airplane window

Continue reading Vivo X200 Ultra – The Death of the compact Camera →

7Artisans, lenses, Review

REVIEW: 7Artisans AF 10mm f/2.8 (APS-C)

November 30, 2025 Martin 2 Comments

Introduction

Just two years ago, finding a true ultra wide-angle prime for APS-C cameras felt like chasing a unicorn. But that’s changed fast. A wave of new releases—many from Chinese lens makers—has opened up a lot of new options for APS-C shooters. Now, 7Artisans joins the mix with its 10mm f/2.8, a lens that promises a lot for its price. Can it really stand out in this crowded new field? Let’s find out.

camera-icon2 I tested this lens on a Nikon Zfc.
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.