REVIEW: FotoPro Origin Plus Travel Tripod

Introduction

Do you even need a tripod these days? To be honest, the necessity of tripods has been significantly reduced thanks to highly effective in-body image stabilisation, improved image quality at high ISOs and AI noise reduction, super-wide dynamic range of today’s digital sensors, and in-camera HDR modes.

Despite modern tech making tripods less necessary in some situations, they’re still invaluable in plenty of others. Tripods remain essential for long-exposure and astro photography, staging group photos, and focus stacking, to achieve sharp and crisp landscapes from close foreground to infinity, and especially for macro photography. Other applications where tripods are crucial include architectural photography, when you need to set up your camera with supreme precision, or when taking a series of shots with incremental panning to create panoramas. They also free up your hands for attaching or removing accessories like lens filters and microphones. Furthermore, tripods are indispensable for video work and studio photography.

So, which tripod should you choose?
Many of us know about high-end tripods like Gitzo and RRS, but are we always willing to pay a premium for that level of quality and reputation? And what about newer, lesser-known brands? one of them: the Fotopro Origin Plus Travel Tripod, a model that promises innovation and stability at a competitive price. Let’s have a look!

You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Long exposure on Fotopro Origin Plus tripod
Precise architectural photography in Low light (1/6 s) on Fotopro Origin Plus tripod
Panorama made of multiple exposures on a Fotopro Origin Plus
The original panorama of the previous image
Multiple exposures on a Fotopro Origin Plus tripod
Long exposure on Fotopro Origin Plus tripod

Continue reading REVIEW: FotoPro Origin Plus Travel Tripod

Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II

Introduction

sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II on Sony A7rII

Having a state of the art 70-200mm 2.8 zoom is something very important for the camera manufacturers, as these are extremely popular lenses – especially among the professional customers. Sadly, Sony’s first generation for the FE system wasn’t exactly a stellar performer and fell noticeably behind Nikon’s and Canon’s offerings. I said it before: Sony is very much aware of what the duds in the lineup are, so also here they released an improved version, the Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II. Is this finally the 70-200mm 2.8 telezoom Sony customers deserve? Let’s find out in this review.

Sample Images

sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 145mm | f/2.8
sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 200mm | f/2.8
sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 70mm | f/2.8
sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 170mm | f/2.8
sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 70mm | f/4.0
sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 70mm | f/4.0
sony fe 70mm-200 2.8 gm g master oss mark ii mk 2 sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Zf | Megadap ETZ21pro | Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II | 150mm | f/2.8

Continue reading Review: Sony FE 70-200mm 2.8 GM OSS II

Review: Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G

Introduction

nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G via Monster LA-FE1 on Sony A7rII

One-and-a-half years after the faster – and significantly more expensive – Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.4G, this Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G had been released. Two thirds of a stop slower, about half the weight and less than a third of the price – but with very similar imaging characteristics. At the end of the DSLR era this was a very popular lens and Nikon made a whole lot of them, but is it still an interesting option today? Let’s try to find out in this review.

Sample Images

nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon D800 | Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G | f/1.8
nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Sony A7III | Monster LA-FE1 | Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G | f/1.8
nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Z6 | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G | f/1.8
nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Z6 | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G | f/2.8
nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Z6 | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G | f/2.8
nikon af-s 85mm 1.8 g n ed sony 42mp 61mp a7rii a7riv a7riii a1 a9iii a7rv review resolution sharpness contrast bokeh vignetting coma z6 z7 z8 z9
Nikon Z6 | FTZ II | Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G | f/1.8

Continue reading Review: Nikon AF-S 85mm 1.8G

Review: Canon 50mm 0.95 – The original f/0.95 Dream Lens

Introduction

review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Canon 50mm 0.95 on Leica M10

While only lately f/0.95 fullframe lenses have become somewhat wider available and affordable, the first one that was commercially produced was the Canon 50mm 0.95 for the Canon 7 rangefinder cameras and that was in 1961. To put things into perspective, that was 47 years before Leica’s first f/0.95 lens, the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M Asph, and 58 years before Nikon’s first, the Nikon Z 58mm 0.95 S Noct-Nikkor. Canon themselves called this the “Dream Lens”, so after already having reviewed most of these f/0.95 fullframe lenses, let’s get back to their roots and have a look at the original!
Big thanks to Camera Obscura Elburg for sending me the lens for this review!

Sample Images

review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens 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
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit Adapter | Canon 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens 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
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit Adapter | Canon 50mm 0.95 | f/1.4
review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens 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
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit Adapter | Canon 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens 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
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit Adapter | Canon 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens 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
Nikon Zf | TTArtisan 6-bit Adapter | Canon 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95
review canon leica m 50mm 0.95 tv dream lens 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
Leica M10 | Canon 50mm 0.95 | f/0.95

Continue reading Review: Canon 50mm 0.95 – The original f/0.95 Dream Lens

REVIEW: Viltrox AF 25mm f/1.7 Air (APS-C)

Introduction

Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 STM ASPH ED IF

About two months ago, Viltrox released a 35mm f/1.7 for APS-C cameras. It seems they’ve been busy, as they’ve now introduced the 25mm f/1.7 in their Air series. Officially named the Viltrox AF 25mm f/1.7 Air STM ASPH IF, it certainly comes with a lot of acronyms to keep track of!

This is an unusual focal length, equivalent to 37.5mm on a full-frame camera—sitting between the classic 35mm and 40mm, both popular choices for everyday and street photography. Let’s take a closer look!

camera-icon2I tested the lens on a Nikon Zfc
You can see this review as a YouTube video here!
Sample images in high resolution here.

Sample Images

Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 Air (STM ASPH ED IF) | f/5
Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 Air (STM ASPH ED IF) | f/7.1
Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 Air (STM ASPH ED IF) | f/4
Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 Air (STM ASPH ED IF) | f/1.7
Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 Air (STM ASPH ED IF) | f/5
Nikon Zfc | Viltrox AF 25mm F/1.7 Air (STM ASPH ED IF) | f/8

Continue reading REVIEW: Viltrox AF 25mm f/1.7 Air (APS-C)

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