Category Archives: Review

Review: Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon

Introduction

zeiss distagon 35mm 1.5 zm t* adapter leica m a7rII a7r a7s a7 sony review
Sony A7rII with Voigtlander VM-E close focus adapter and Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon

The Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon has often been referred to as being one of the best 35mm lenses available, combining high sharpness as well as microcontrast and smooth bokeh in a small yet very pricey package. But is this still the case in 2023?
Update March 2023: general update

Sample Images

sunstar sun sunburst blendenstern diaphragm stroke 10 7 8 14 18
Sony A7rII | Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 Distagon | f/11 | higher resolution
zeiss distagon 35mm 1.5 zm t* adapter leica m a7rII a7r a7s a7 sony review
Sony A7s | Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon | f/1.4 | full resolution
zeiss distagon 35mm 1.5 zm t* adapter leica m a7rII a7r a7s a7 sony review
Sony A7rII | Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon | f/1.4 | full resolution

Continue reading Review: Zeiss ZM 35mm 1.4 T* Distagon

Review: MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar

Introduction

ms-optics ms-optical 50mm 1.1 sonnetar f/1.1 fast summilux leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness contrast resolution
MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar on Leica M10

The MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar is probably Miyazaki’s most famous lens. While it wasn’t his first lens it was to my knowledge the first one that was produced in “greater” quantities and widely recognized across the globe.
As is still typical today for his lenses it is small, fast and quirky, so let us have a closer look…
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10
Last Update: February 2023

Sample Images

ms-optics ms-optical 50mm 1.1 sonnetar f/1.1 fast summilux leica m10 24mp 42mp review bokeh sharpness contrast rendering
Leica M10 | MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar | f/1.4
ms-optics ms-optical 50mm 1.1 sonnetar f/1.1 fast summilux leica m10 24mp 42mp review bokeh sharpness contrast rendering
Leica M10 | MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar | f/8.0
ms-optics ms-optical 50mm 1.1 sonnetar f/1.1 fast summilux leica m10 24mp 42mp review bokeh sharpness contrast rendering
Leica M10 | MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar | f/1.1

Continue reading Review: MS-Optical 50mm 1.1 Sonnetar

Review: Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS

Introduction

canon fd ts tilt shift 35mm 2. fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Canon FD 35mm 2.8 T/S on Sony A7rII

I already reviewed a few of Canon’s TS-E lenses, but this Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS is something special, as it was the first Tilt/Shift lens for the 35mm format (at least as far as I know and according to Canon’s marketing department).
This lens has first been released in 1973, so we are also celebrating its 50th anniversary with this review.

Sample Images

canon fd ts tilt shift 35mm 2. fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS | f/8.0 | shift up
canon fd ts tilt shift 35mm 2. fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS | f/2.8 | tilted
canon fd ts tilt shift 35mm 2. fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS | f2.8
canon fd ts tilt shift 35mm 2. fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS | f/2.8
canon fd ts tilt shift 35mm 2. fe sony a7rii a7riv review comparison contrast sharpness vignetting pancake small
Sony A7rII | Canon FD 35mm 2.8 TS | f/5.6 | shift up

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Lenses I would like to Review

Introduction

There are some lenses I would like to review one day, but the more interesting (read: rare and expensive) they are, the less feasible it is for me to buy them just to write a review.
Thanks to several readers here I already got the opportunity to remove several lenses from this list in the past, but there are still some left:

E-mount:

Sony FE 12-24mm 2.8 GM
Sony FE 14mm 1.8 GM
Samyang 18mm 2.8 AF Review
Sony FE 20mm 1.8 G Review coming soon
Samyang 24mm 1.8 AF Review coming soon
Samyang 50mm 1.4 AF MKII
Sony FE 50mm 1.2 GM
Samyang 85mm 1.4 AF MKII

Continue reading Lenses I would like to Review

Review: Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL

Introduction

laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Laowa 9mm 5.6 on Sony A7rII

The king is dead, long live the king! After the Voigtlander 10mm 5.6’s field of view has been matched by the Samyang 10mm 3.5 XP and the Laowa 10-18mm 4.5-5.6 it has now been surpassed by this Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL. Can a lens be wider and at the same time better? Let us try to find out!
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII and 24mp Leica M10
Last Update: January 2023

Sample Images

Leica M10 | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6
Leica M10 | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/8.0
laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d
Sony A7III | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6

Continue reading Review: Laowa 9mm 5.6 FF-RL