Category Archives: Review

135mm legacy Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M f/3.5 vs Canon nFD f/3.5 vs. Panagor f/2.8

Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 vs. Canon nFD 135mm f/3.5 vs. Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8

In my search for a compact but good budget telelens I came across the SMC Pentax-M 135mm f3.5 and the Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5. Later, I also found a Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 in Canon FD mount. These lenses are cheap, light, and small, but how do they perform?

Disclaimer: I only tested one sample of the Canon and Panagor, and two samples of the Pentax. Since these lenses are old there might be more sample variation than usual, other samples might perform slightly better or worse. Both Pentax samples displayed similar performance. 

Left to right: Panagor, Canon, Pentax

Specifications

Specifications Canon newFD 135mm f/3.5 SMC Pentax-M 135mm f/3.5 Panagor PMC auto tele 135mm f/2.8 (FD)
Diameter 63 mm 63 mm 61 mm
Length 85 mm 66 mm 88 mm
Filter diameter 52 mm 49 mm 55 mm
Weight (ex. Adapter) 325 g 270 g 411 g
Aperture f/3.5-32 f/3.5-32 f/2.8-22
Minimal focus distance 1.3 m 1.5 m 1.5 m
Elements/groups 4/4 5/5 4/4*
Aperture blades 6 8 6

(*Based on the optical design of this lens for other mounts)
Continue reading 135mm legacy Shoot out: SMC Pentax-M f/3.5 vs Canon nFD f/3.5 vs. Panagor f/2.8

Hands On: Olympus 250mm 2.0 OM Zuiko Auto-T

Introduction

olympus super tele om 250mm 2.0 180mm 350mm 2.8 review hands on
Olympus OM 250mm 2.0 Zuiko Auto-T on Sony A7rII

The Olympus OM 250mm 2.0 Zuiko Auto-T is one of those legendary lenses. Only few have been made and there has never been something similar again. So I was very excited to get the chance to have a look at one.

Samples

olympus super tele om 250mm 2.0 180mm 350mm 2.8 review hands on bokeh rendering out of focus
Sony A7rII | Olympus OM 250mm 2.0 Zuiko | f/2.0
olympus super tele om 250mm 2.0 180mm 350mm 2.8 review hands on bokeh rendering out of focus
Sony A7rII | Olympus OM 250mm 2.0 Zuiko | f/2.0
olympus super tele om 250mm 2.0 180mm 350mm 2.8 review hands on bokeh rendering out of focus
Sony A7rII | Olympus OM 250mm 2.0 Zuiko | f/2.0

Continue reading Hands On: Olympus 250mm 2.0 OM Zuiko Auto-T

Review: Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton E

Introduction

voigtlander_50mm_1.2_nokton_e_title
Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton E on Sony A7rII

I already reviewed the M-mount version and liked it a lot. Now the native E-mount version has finally been released. Can it hold up to my high expectations?

Sample Images

voigtlander 50mm 1.2 e nokton sony fast 50 bokeh sharpness 42mp resolution a7rii a7riii review
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton E | f/1.2
voigtlander 50mm 1.2 e nokton sony fast 50 bokeh sharpness 42mp resolution a7rii a7riii review
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton E | f/2.8
voigtlander 50mm 1.2 e nokton sony fast 50 bokeh sharpness 42mp resolution a7rii a7riii review
Sony A7rII | Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton E | f/1.2

Continue reading Review: Voigtlander 50mm 1.2 Nokton E

Review: Zhong Yi Mitakon 50mm 0.95 III

Introduction

mitakon zhong yi noctilux okton noctiron 50mm 0.95 review sony fe alpha 7 a7rii a7riii a9 42mp 42
Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 III on Sony A7rII

I am a big fan of the Zhong Yi Mitakon 50mm 0.95 II, but there was definitely room for improvement in some areas, so I was curious to find out if those have been addressed in this redesign. Luckily I got the chance to review one of the early production models, so let us find out if this is a worthy update!

Sample Images

mitakon zhong yi noctilux okton noctiron 50mm 0.95 review sony fe alpha 7 a7rii a7riii a9 42mp 42
Sony A7rII | Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 III | f/0.95
mitakon zhong yi noctilux okton noctiron 50mm 0.95 review sony fe alpha 7 a7rii a7riii a9 42mp 42
Sony A7rII | Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 III | f/0.95
mitakon zhong yi noctilux okton noctiron 50mm 0.95 review sony fe alpha 7 a7rii a7riii a9 42mp 42 mitakon zhong yi noctilux okton noctiron 50mm 0.95 review sony fe alpha 7 a7rii a7riii a9 42mp 42
Sony A7rII | Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 III | f/0.95

Continue reading Review: Zhong Yi Mitakon 50mm 0.95 III