The only other manual focus 50mm or equivalent lens I like more than the Meike 35mm f/0,95 is the Zeiss Planar 50mm 1,4. And what I like more about the Zeiss is its superior ergonomics, haptics, and build quality, none of which is a strike against the Meike, certainly not at its price.
Read moreThere is nothing like the ZEISS Planar T F/1.4 50mm
My favourite fast 50, bar none
For more photos and perhaps even less nuance, hit up the video below. The text behind this review and the video is the same (or as close to the same as I could manage).
Read moreTTArtisans 11mm F2.8 Fisheye on Leica, Fujifilm APS-C, and GFX
Let’s clear the air: I’ve never before used a fisheye lens. In fact, so lost and daunted was I by the prospect of using one that time and time again I delayed publishing this review. Prior to it arriving I boned up on how to shoot a fisheye lens. Hints came from the general internet as well as from the comments section of Fauxtaku Lounge. I’m still not confident that the examples I shot really get the picture across, but I hope I’ve learned a thing or two and that this review will help someone. Thanks to everyone for the advice and help.
Read moreReview: YONGNUO Macro Lens YN60mm F2 MF
Whilst penning a review of my favourite semi wide-angle medium format lens, I realised that I’d not updated my experience with Yongnuo’s 60mm F/2 Macro EF lens. The short of it is that in a few areas: contrast, sharpness, colour aberrations, and general mechanics among them, it is good. But its misses are big; one in particular is a show stopper.
Read moreThree fast fifties - Canon, Leica, Voigtländer
A question I'm often asked - what is your favourite 50mm lens? - is tough to answer. In terms of aesthetics, Voigtländer's 50mm 1,5 Nokton ASPH is hard to beat. And while its handling isn't great, it is also built damn well. Its colour, bokeh, and overall draw are ridiculously good. It retails for around 1000$ USD.
Read moreZeiss Makro Planar 2/100 - end of an era
I loved the pre-Milvus version of this lens, but when I sold my D800 I had no place to use it. It did't work on my M240, it didn't work on my Fujifilm X-T1- a fact the Leica SL and Novoflex's active EOS/SL adapter changed.
Read moreFujifilm GF 63mm F/2,8: The prettiest lens I don't use
Soon after the GFX-50s was announced I sold my Hasselblad CFV-50c and Linhof M679cs. And, under the assumption that I'd use it like my favourite 50mm lens, I purchased the 63mm F/2,8 GF lens.
Reviews for it are good. It is light, easy to use, and despite making F150-like noises when focusing, keeps to itself. I hope to use it someday. Until then, I'll use it as a prop, or advertising for my portfolio.
For this image:
Taking camera: Fujifilm GFX-50s
Taking lens: Sinaron Digital 100/4 enlargment lens (Composit showdown - YouTube)
Focusing system: Cambo Actus GFX (more on this technical camera here)
ohmage to the Voigtlander Nokton 40mm F/1,2 Aspherical
Disclaimer: I picked my copy up from a local online retailer in Japan. This review is unaffiliated with anyone but my own bad attitude.
I wasn’t a 40mm guy on 26 November when my VM 40mm/F1,2 copy came in. After capturing about a thousand images of my daughter, a few of my wife, and about a dozen bokeh frames of our beloved IKEA Christmas tree, I’m ready to say that I’m still not a 40mm guy- at least not on a Leica M.
Read moreLens Rentals: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED AF-S VR MTF Tests
It looks as if Nikon's 70-200/2,8E FL ED VR AF-S is its best to date. This one even looks good at 135mm:
Read moreSinaron VS Schneider - 1:2 and beyond, the macro advantage
Sharper and more contrasty at high magnifications, well-designed macro lenses rock the close-up. Or, at least that’s the typical apologetic. For the most part, it is true. The closer you get to, and the more you magnify a subject, the better corrected the optic has to be for macro work.
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