Laowa CF 8-16mm f/3.5-5.0 Zoom is an ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras with an impressive zoom range (equivalent to 12-24mm on fullframe sensors). It is a very compact lens and seems to fit nicely on smaller APS-C cameras. Its versatile focal length range makes it a good choice for landscape, architecture, and travel photography or whenever you want a dramatic perspective in your images. In times when it seems that all the major manufacturers (except Fujifilm) are neglecting the APS-C lens development and focusing on fullframe lenses, it is refreshing to see exciting lenses like this from third-party manufacturers. Let’s see how it behaves in real life!
I tested this lens on a Nikon Zfc You can see this review as YouTube video here
Sample Images
Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | 8mm | f/8Nikon Z fc | CF Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 C-Dreamer @8mm | f/5.6Nikon Z fc | Laowa CF 8-16mm f/3.5-5 C-Dreamer | @8mm |f/8
It was the beginning of 2019 when I published my first review of a 7Artisans lens, the 28mm 1.4 FE+ – an M-mount lens optimized for Sony E-mount. Now, 5 years later, this 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF is their first autofocus lens. Let us find out what it is capable of.
Sample Images
Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8Sony A7III | 7Artisans 50mm 1.8 AF | f/1.8
As you may or may not know there have been several different versions of the Nikon AF 180mm 2.8 over the years. Most notable was the addition of the “D” feature in 1994, allowing the lens to transmit distance information to the camera for more accurate usage of camera flash. As this lens was first released in 1986 some of the samples approach an age of 40 years. As with every product that old, there are some things to be aware of when you are looking to buy a used sample. One of our readers, Q. Xu, did a side-by-side teardown of both versions, so we get to have a closer look at the differences between these versions and what to watch out for.
Of course this article may also be of help if you are looking to perform some kind of repairs on this lens on your own.
I found a few rolls of Kodak Farbwelt 200 that must have expired some 20 years ago and most likely they haven’t been properly stored at all. This first roll I exposed as ISO50 and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The lab wasn’t happy and told me the film was massively expired and the scanner had a hard time scanning the negatives. Let’s see if some usable pictures came out of this. Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.
This time we take a look at another famed vintage lens, namely the legendary Helios 40. It’s an 85mm f/1.5 lens, known for, let´s see if we get it from its many titles: The King of Bokeh, The Bokeh King, the Russian Bokeh King, The Funky Bokeh King, The King of Russian Weird Bokeh, The Vintage Lenses’ King of Bokeh, etc. etc. etc. Dear child has many names. You get it, it has a reputation for its bokeh. It is also very popular among videographers seeking a dreamy vintage look with beautiful bokeh in their footage. While this lens was quite popular even back in the day, it has grown in popularity during the digital era to new heights and created kind of a cult around itself.
It was made by KMZ in the former Soviet Union for the Zenit range of SLR cameras. Like the previously reviewed “Helios 44”, there is a belief that when Russians got their hands on Zeiss Jena factory by the end of WWII, they took back the technology and drawings of many lenses to the Soviet Union, copied, and manufactured them. This one is believed to be a “copy” of Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 from 1938. While the optical formula is very similar, it is a widespread Double Gauss Planar design. Besides, it is an 85mm lens. Therefore, some claim it was designed by Russian engineers themselves “based on” the Biotar 75/1.5 in 1950. Anyway, let’s have a closer look at it!
Sample Images
Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5Nikon Z 7II | Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 | f/1.5
Sony α | Leica M | Nikon F/Z New article every week
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
I tested this lens on a Nikon Zfc
You can see this review as YouTube video here
