Category Archives: Review

Review: Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton MC

July 1, 2023 BastianK 42 Comments

Introduction

Voigtländer Cosina 40mm 1.4 1.4/40 mc multi coated sc single comparison review leica m10 m11 m10r sony a7rv a7riv 61mp 42mp 24mp sharpness resolution handling build quality — Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton Classic on Minolta CLE

After my experience with the Voigtländer 35mm 1.4 Classic I haven’t exactly been interested in spending any more time with lenses from Cosina’s Classic line (which is not to be mistaken for their Vintage line). That being said the acquisition of a Minolta CLE got me interested in a compact 40mm M-mount lens and this Voigtlander VM 40mm 1.4 Nokton Classic is actually the cheapest option available, so here we are.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10 as well as some analogue cameras.

Sample Images

Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4

Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/2.0 | Portra 800 | Push +1

Voigtländer Cosina 40mm 1.4 1.4/40 mc multi coated sc single comparison review leica m10 m11 m10r sony a7rv a7riv 61mp 42mp 24mp — Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4

agfa apx 400 agfaphoto agpha black white bw sw schwarz weiss weiß minolta cle leica m voigtländer vm 40mm 1.4 classic nokton — Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4 | APX400

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Leica M, MS-Optics, Review

Review: MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia

June 25, 2023 BastianK 10 Comments

Introduction

ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny — MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia on Leica M6

The MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia must be a bit of a fan favorite, as it has been rereleased – and the mechanical design improved – several times over the years, making it the first MS-Optics lens available in a Mark III version. I will be having a look how it all started though by reviewing a first generation Mark I version provided by a long-time reader.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII (UT) and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

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Review, Sony E-mount

Review: Meike 50mm 1.2

June 18, 2023 BastianK 11 Comments

Introduction

meike 50mm 1.2 e fe review 42mp 61mp sony a7riv coma bokeh fast resolution vignetting ca lateral — Meike 50mm 1.2 on Sony A7rII

It is astonishing how many lens manufacturers there are in China these days. Meike is one of them and around since roughly 2017, but just lately they started producing fullframe lenses and this 50mm 1.2 is one of their first, so let’s have a closer look!

Sample Images

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Leica, Leica M, lenses, Review

Review: Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph

June 5, 2023 BastianK 26 Comments

Introduction

leica 50mm 1.4 summilux-m summilux asph asph. aspherical review leica m10 m10r m11 42mp sony a7rv a7riv a7 contrast sharpness resolution bokeh vignetting — Leica 50mm 1.4 Summilux-M Asph on Leica M10

This Leica Summilux-M 50mm 1.4 Asph is definitely among Leica’s most famous M-mount lenses. When it had been released in 2004 there was nothing quite like it. A compact fast 50mm rangefinder lens with aspherical element and floating elements design? You could not find this anywhere else.
But – maybe unlike some of the Nocitlux lenses – this wasn’t just a showcase of engineering technology, it actually proved to be a useful and capable lens cherished by many to this day.
Leica kept this in their portfolio – with unchanged optics – for 20 years, so how does it stack up against its younger and significantly cheaper competitors in 2023, especially the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.5 Nokton MC and the TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 Asph? Let’s find out in this review.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

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lenses, Nikon Z, Review

Review: KMZ Helios-44 58mm 2.0

May 24, 2023 Martin 41 Comments

Introduction

The Helios 44 is basically a copy of the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2, optically that is. At the beginning it was even called “БТК” – “БиоТар Красногорский” (BioTar Krasnogorski). At the end of Wold War II the Russians took the Zeiss’ designs and materials back to Russia and copied them. The Soviet Union manufactured millions of this lens in different variants and it shipped as standard lens on many Soviet (Zenit) cameras. KMZ (the same factory that made the Zenit cameras) started manufacturing this lens from 1945. The Helios 44 lenses have built a cult around themselves in modern days and have been very popular for portrait photography and videography, it is the number one vintage lens used for making videos on modern cameras. It is very popular for its image character, its clickless aperture, balanced center sharpness and not least its swirly bokeh. Let’s have a look!