Category Archives: Review

Review: Canon EF 24mm 1.4L II USM

July 19, 2025 BastianK 12 Comments

Introduction

canon ef 24mm 1.4l 1.4 ii usm sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9 zf — Canon EF 24mm 1.4L II USM via Sigma MC-11 on Sony A7rII

While Nikon is somewhat famous for their 28mm 1.4 lenses, when it comes to 24mm lenses as fast as f/1.4, Canon beat them by several decades, as they released their first Canon FD 24mm 1.4 S.C.C. Aspherical in 1975. Canon also kept the fans of the 24mm 1.4 lenses happy with regular updates: a New FD lens in 1979, the original Canon EF 24mm 1.4L USM in 1997 and then this updated Canon EF 24mm 1.4L II USM in 2008. Let’s see in this review how it compares to the Nikon AF-S 24mm 1.4G (released in 2010) and to today’s mirrorless designs like the Sony FE 24mm 1.4 GM.

Sample Images

Sony A7III | Sigma MC-11 | Canon EF 24mm 1.4L II USM | f/1.4

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Leica M, Review, Thypoch

Review: Thypoch 21mm 1.4 Simera

July 12, 2025 BastianK 7 Comments

Introduction

thypoch simera 21mm 1.4 fast portrait wide angle leica m10 m11 m9 m8 m10r review 42mp 24mp 61mp contrast sharpness bokeh vignetting — Thypoch 21mm 1.4 Simera on Leica M10

As fifth lens of the Simera lineup, Thypoch released this Thypoch 21mm 1.4 Simera lens in mid 2025. This is obviously a direct competitor to the Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton, so we will especially check how these two lenses compare.
Lens is being reviewed on Sony A7rII and Leica M10

Sample Images

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lenses, Review

REVIEW: Artralab Nocty-NONIKKOR 50mm f/1.2 – An Homage to Classic Nikkor 50mm f/1.2

July 9, 2025 Martin 23 Comments

Introduction

The Artralab Nocty-Nonikkor 50mm f/1.2 is a manual lens that clearly evokes the nostalgic look of classic Nikkor lenses from the 1960s to the 1980s. Combined with the fact that it’s designed and built using modern technology—without being a direct replica—it makes for a lens that feels both exciting and appealing. Its fast aperture in a relatively compact package is also an intriguing combination. Let’s see how it performs!

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 | Artralab Nocty-Nonikkor 50mm f/1.2 | f1.2

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Leica M, Review

Review: SLRmagic 50mm 0.95 Hyperprime LM

July 5, 2025 BastianK 13 Comments

Introduction

review slrmagic hyperprime lm T0.95 leica m 50mm 0.95 lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignettingreview canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting — SLRmagic 50mm 0.95 Hyperprime on Leica M10

In 2025 you can find various f/0.95 fullframe lenses from different manufacturers and with different focal lengths – most (or all by now?) of which you can find reviews here. In 2013 that wasn’t the case though, you only had the Canon 50mm 0.95 Dream Lens from the 1960s, the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M from 2008 for 10k and then this SLRmagic 50mm 0.95 Hyperprime. Not many people were willing to spend 5k on this lens from a rather unknown manufacturer and production ceased soon, so this is an extremely rare lens. I finally managed to acquire one, so let’s have a look at one of my white whales.
Tests are being done on the Leica M10, samples have been taken with various cameras.

Sample Images

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Review

Vivo X200 Ultra – The Death of the compact Camera

June 29, 2025 BastianK 60 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.