One thing is for sure: the move to fullframe mirrorless led to the boundaries of lens design being pushed further and this Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G is a good example of that, as there has never been a zoom with this range before. As a do-it-all travel lens this range is way more appealing to me than those variable aperture 28-200mm or 24-240mm super zooms. But to realize a lens with these parameters, surely some compromises had to be made. Let’s find out about them in this review.
Sample Images
Sony A7III | Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G | 20mm | f/4.0Sony A7III | Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G | 20mm | f/4.0Sony A7III | Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G | 33mm | f/8.0Sony A7III | Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G | 58mm | f/4.0Sony A7III | Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G | 20mm | f/4.0Sony A7III | Sony FE 20-70mm 4.0 G | 70mm | f/4.0
The Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f/3.5 is a vintage lens, originally designed in 1929. Renowned for its simple yet ingenious design and impressive sharpness, it’s also celebrated for its remarkably light weight. Historically, 135mm has been the classic focal length for portrait photography, and the most popular telephoto focal length for most photographers. Therefore almost all of the lens manufacturers had at least 2 of them, a f/2.8 and a f/3.5, many offered other speeds in between or even faster than 2.8. The Sonnar design, with its compact size, made it a popular choice for photographers on the move. While Carl Zeiss produced numerous Sonnar 135mm lenses, other manufacturers have also developed their own Sonnar-inspired lenses incorporating modern technology. Despite its historical significance, I found the Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm f/3.5 price more reasonable than other coveted vintage lenses, prompting me to purchase one for testing. (I bought mine for €10 but prices normally start from €20)
I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z 7II (Sample images Nikon Z6 and Nikon Zf) You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
The Nikon AF-S 105mm 1.4E was one of Nikon’s last fast primes designed for the F-mount. And when it was released, I felt like it is supposed to be the replacement for an 85mm 1.2 lens Nikon users never got. Is this the best portrait tele lens ever made for the F-mount? Let’s try to find out.
TTArtisan has produced several affordable and well-regarded manual lenses in recent years. Now, they’ve introduced their first full-frame autofocus lens: a 75mm f/2, available for Sony E and Nikon Z mounts at a budget-friendly price of $178. Lenses in the 50mm to 85mm range are typically known for their strong optical performance, and this focal length is particularly well-suited for portraiture and general-purpose photography, offering a slightly tighter field of view than a standard 50mm. The 75mm f/2 allows for excellent subject isolation while maintaining enough background detail to keep the blur subtly recognisable. Let’s dive into its strengths and weaknesses!
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!
TTArtisan has done it again. After previously remaking the legendary Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8—renowned for its distinctive soap bubble bokeh—they’ve now turned their attention to another iconic lens: the Big B, or more precisely, the Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5. This legendary lens, famous for its swirly bokeh, sharp centre, and 3D pop, has become something of a myth over time.
While TTArtisan has never claimed to have replicated the Biotar, the lens’s shape, mount choice, and, more importantly, its optical formula leave little to the imagination about what they have aimed to mimic.
The Biotar 75mm is often called the “Original King of Bokeh,” as the popular Soviet-era Helios 40 85mm f/1.5—known simply as the “King of Bokeh”—is rumored to be based on the Biotar’s design due to their similar optical formula.
Thanks to its unique optical characteristics, limited production, and beautiful bokeh, sharpness, and 3D pop, the Biotar 75mm f/1.5 became highly sought after, eventually turning into a collector’s item. Prices on the used market soared to between $1,500 and $4,500, depending on the version and condition. Now, let’s take a closer look at TTArtisan’s remake of this iconic lens!
I tested this lens on a Nikon Zf. You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sony α | Leica M | Nikon F/Z New article every week
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I tested this lens on a 46 Mp Nikon Z 7II (Sample images Nikon Z6 and Nikon Zf)
You can see this review as 
