Category Archives: Review

lenses, Review, Sony E-mount, Vintage, Zeiss

Review: Zeiss Loxia 2.8/21 Distagon T*

106 Comments

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Since the introduction of the Contax Distagon 2.8/21 in the early 1990’s, the 21mm lenses from Zeiss have a long and glorious history of being some of the best wide angle lenses in the world. While the Loxia 2.0/35 and the Loxia 2.0/50 are refined ZM-Designs, the Zeiss Loxia 2.8/21 is the first Loxia lens that features a new optical design. Lets have a look if the Loxia 2.8/21 can keep the heritage alive.
31/05/17 Update by Bastian: I have been using this lens regularly for a year now and Jannik asked me if there is anything I would like to contribute to his review, so I added a few notes and sample images.

Sample Images

Zeiss Loxia 2.8/21 | f/5.6 | ISO 100 | A7II
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Zeiss Loxia 2.8/21 | f/5.6 | ISO 100 | A7II | Full Size
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Zeiss Loxia 2.8/21 | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | Sony A7R

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lenses, Review, Sony Alpha 7, Sony E-mount

Review: Voigtländer 12mm 5.6 Ultra Wide Heliar

50 Comments

Introduction

ultra wide heliar a7 series 12mm 5.6
Sony A7s with Voigtländer Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm 5.6 and VM-E close focus adapter (Helicoid)

The Voigtländer 12mm 5.6 Ultra Wide Heliar is actually one of the lenses I bought a camera from the A7 series for in the first place. It is worth to mention though, I am reviewing the old M39 version here. The newer Leica M version is optically the same, although there are other differences – apart from the lens mount – which I will talk about at the end of this review.

Sample Images

castle mannheim a7s 12mm 5.6 voigtländer ultra wide heliar
Sony A7s | Voigtländer Ultra Wide Heliar 5.6/12 | f/11 | full resolution
maulbronn monastery unesco world heritage 12mm 5.6 voigtländer a7s
Sony A7 | Voigtländer Ultra Wide Heliar 5.6/12 | f/11 | full resolution
abstract disneyland 12mm 5.6 ultra wide heliar voigtländer sony a7s
Sony A7s | Voigtländer Ultra Wide Heliar 5.6/12 | f/8

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Canon FD-Mount, lenses, Review, Vintage

Review: Canon new FD 24mm 1:2.8 on Sony a7

70 Comments

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There are many manual lenses above 28mm which work quite well on modern cameras like the Alpha 7 but not that many wide angle lenses perform good enough on modern cameras.

The Canon nFD 2.8/24 is one of the sharpest, affordable wide angle lenses and I think it can be a good solution for budget-oriented Sony Alpha 7 users.

A German version of this review can be found on phillipreeve.de.

Sample Images

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Sony a7 | Canon nFD 2.8/24 | f/11 | full resolution
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Sony a7 | Canon nFD 2.8/24 | f/8

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Sony a7 | Canon nFD 2.8/24 | f/11 | full resolution

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lenses, Review, Vintage, Zeiss

Zeiss Milvus Distagon 1.4/50 – Review

32 Comments

DSC09857Classic 50mm lenses are rather small, affordable and not very good wide open. The new Zeiss Milvus 1.4/50 is very big, very expensive and very good from f/1.4.

For this review I used the Milvus on my Sony a7.

All images in this review are processed from raw unless I mention otherwise. I did nothing fancy, just a little contrast and some sharpening.

Disclosure: This copy was loaned from Zeiss at no charge.

Sample Images

 

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Milvus 1.4/50 | Sony a7 | f/2 | full resolution
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Milvus 1.4/50 | Sony a7 | f/1.4 | full resolution

 

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Milvus 1.4/50 | Sony a7 | f/1.4| full resolution

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