The NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4 was the lens that almost all the pro photographers had on their cameras most of the time during the 60s, 70s and 80s and most young and aspiring photographers dreamed of having on their cameras. From an era when Nikon was the undisputed number one 35mm camera/lens system among professional photographers worldwide. The NIKKOR lenses had a reputation for being tough with outstanding quality, both optically and mechanically. This lens was, because of its popularity, in production long after the advent of the autofocus and even digital cameras and was sold new alongside AF and digital lenses until mid 2005. Let’s see how it fares today!
It is a bit odd that the manufacturers of E-mount lenses seemingly abandoned the 28mm focal length, especially when it comes to AF lenses. The only ones available for the FE system are the mediocre Sony FE 28mm 2.0 and the huge designed-for-DSLR Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art – both released in the early days of the FE system and nothing came since. Until now, as Viltrox is offering an alternative with this 28mm 1.8 AF lens. The recently reviewed Viltrox 16mm 1.8 AF proved to be an astonishingly good lens, will this 28mm lens be similarly good? Let’s find out.
Sample Images
Sony A7III | Viltrox 28mm 1.8 AF FE | f/1.8Sony A7III | Viltrox 28mm 1.8 AF FE | f/1.8Sony A7III | Viltrox 28mm 1.8 AF FE | f/1.8Sony A7III | Viltrox 28mm 1.8 AF FE | f/1.8
It was my second time in Istanbul and as I already covered many of the “must see” tourist sights the first time I thought it was a good opportunity to shoot some more film this time around. Being less flexible with film it also helped that I already knew what to expect and where to go.
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/1.4Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/2.0Leica M6 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/2.0 | Portra 800 | Push +1Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/11 | Wolfen 500 NCLeica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/4.0Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4Minolta CLE | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4 | APX400Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 40mm 1.4 MC | f/1.4
Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan (Black Version) on Nikon Z6
The Meyer-Optik Görlitz Domiplan is a very small and compact lens, a classical anastigmatic triplet lens. It was the standard kit lens on EXA II cameras but was also sold as kit with many EXA I & Praktica cameras. Opinions on the Domiplan are very different. Some love it for its sharpness and its bokeh, especially its so-called “Soap Bubble” bokeh, others think it is nothing more than average in performance. In the manufacturer’s brochure of this lens from 1960 you can read:
“With our new Domiplan 2.8/50 mm we have combined the advantages of the modern lens mount and the fully automatic pressure diaphragm with an extremely inexpensive three-lens construction.”
I’ll come back to “the fully automatic pressure diaphragm” later in the review. Also as the first point in a features list in the same brochure you can read:
” – Inexpensive three-lens anastigmat of the proven triplet type”
The underlining is done by me, not in the original text. So it should be clear that we are dealing with a cheap and simple lens. Just to have our expectations at somewhat right levels. Do not despair though! It can produce very nice pictures and is quite cheap too. Continue reading and it might be the next lens you invest in after all. Let’s have a closer look!
Sony α | Leica M | Nikon Z/F New articles every week
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