Review: KMZ Helios 40, 85mm f/1.5 – Can the Legend Live up to Its Reputation?

March 7, 2024 Martin 36 Comments

Introduction

Review KMZ Helios 40 40-2 Zenit 85mm 1.5 nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f — Helios 40 85mm f/1.5 on a Nikon Z 7II

Impact-Site-Verification: a2860072-f116-4f45-9cf9-c8b7959dd6e4

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

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Leica M, Review, Voigtlander

Review: Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton

March 3, 2024 BastianK 7 Comments

Introduction

Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 nokton fle review sharpness comparison leica m10 24mp 42mp 61mp m11 bokeh vignetting — Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton on Leica M10

Before the release of the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton in 2022, this Voigtländer VM 21mm 1.4 Nokton was Cosina’s most expensive M-mount lens and also one of their most complex ones – thanks to 13 elements in 11 groups, 4 aspherical surfaces and a floating elements design. Unfortunately this also made it one of their heaviest and most expensive lenses and I have the feeling it didn’t quite get the momentum Cosina expected for their flagship lens, hence in many parts of the world the price has been reduced several times since release – reason enough to have a closer look at this intriguing lens now.
Lens is being reviewed on Sony A7rII and Leica M10

Sample Images

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Comparison, Laowa, Leica, Leica M, lenses, Nikon, Sigma, Sony E-mount, Thypoch, Voigtlander

Comparison: Fast 28mm f/1.2 | f/1.4 | f/1.5 Fullframe Lenses

February 25, 2024 BastianK 39 Comments

Introduction

28mm fullframe comparison 1.4 1.2 1.5 voigtländer laowa nikon af-s af-d argus nokton thypoch simera sigma art dg contrast resolution bokeh vignetting coma sharpness loca ca — Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art | Nikon AF-S 28mm 1.4E | Nikon AF 28mm 1.4D | Laowa 28mm 1.2 Argus | Thypoch Simera 28mm 1.4 | Voigtländer VM 28mm 1.5 Nokton

To me, fast 28mm fullframe lenses are very useful. No matter where I go, I either carry a fast 28mm or a fast 35mm lens. When it comes to the 28mm focal length we are not exactly blessed with great options though. I gathered six of those ranging from f/1.2 to f/1.5 and will compare them, to give you an idea which might work best for your needs.
Last update: February 2025

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Nikon Z, Review, Viltrox

Review: Viltrox AF 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO (APS- C)

February 23, 2024 Martin 16 Comments

Impact-Site-Verification: 67a4fc58-70e9-4954-8e14-1c2e15aa969d

Review Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PROViltrox 27mm f/1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO STM ASPH ED IF PRO APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f — Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO on a Nikon Z fc

Viltrox AF 27mm 1.2 STM ASPH ED IF PRO is the company’s second lens in its APS-C PRO series lenses, 75mm f/1.2 being the first. 27mm focal length in APS-C format, roughly equivalent to 40mm full-frame. While it”s not a “real” wide-angle lens, it is wider than a normal 50mm lens, which, in my opinion, can be more useful for everyday and street photography, compared to a 50mm lens, as it allows to include more of the environment. On the other hand, it does not introduce the perspective distortion of a 35mm wide-angle lens. This lens was released with X mount earlier and now it is released with Z and E mount, with a few improvements to the original X version. I test the new Z mount version on a Nikon Z fc camera.

Sample Images

Review Laowa CF 8-16mm f/3.5-5 C-Dreamer Zoom APS-C nikon z6 Z6ii z50 z30 zfc z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f fc Sony FE Fuji X canon rf m43 review nikon z z-fc z30 z50 test sharpness bokeh coma vignetting Flare 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 Zf nikon z f — Nikon Z fc | Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 PRO | f/1.8

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

Review: Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF – The Beginning of a New Era

February 20, 2024 BastianK 64 Comments

Introduction

laowa 10mm 2.8 II fe C&D dreamer zero-D autofocus auto focus AF venus optics review architecture 42mp 61mp sony a7riv a7rv sharpness contrast vignetting flare — Laowa 10mm 2.8 AF on Sony A7rII

2024 is a special year for Laowa, as it marks the company’s 10th anniversary. What better way to celebrate this than with a 10mm lens? But wait, Laowa already released a 9mm full frame lens, so what is so special about this 10mm lens? For starters, this lens features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, making it the world’s fastest 10mm lens and also the world’s widest f/2.8 lens. But what might be even more important: this is Laowa’s first AF lens. The beginning of a new era.