Introduction The year 2025 was the year of the 35mm 1.2 fullframe lenses, as we saw Nikon and Viltrox releasing their first lens with these specifications and Sigma updating their original 35mm 1.2 Art lens from 2019, releasing a completely overhauled second generation model. How do these lenses compare? Where does the more affordable Viltrox … Continue reading Comparison: Super Fast 35mm f/1.2 AF Fullframe Lenses in 2026 →

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As already pointed out: in 2025 no one makes slide film faster than ISO100 anymore. And no one makes slide film to shoot under artifical light (“Tungsten based”) anymore either. That wasn’t always the case and from 1992 to 2003 Kodak offered this Ektachrome 320T, a higher speed tungsten based slide film. These have all … Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 55: Kodak Ektachrome 320T (expired)

Introduction In 2023 Pergear surprised us with their Pergear 35mm 1.4 lens, as it turned out to be a compact and very affordable 35mm 1.4 lens with surprisingly decent image quality. In 2026 – 3 years later – Pergear released this Pergear 50mm 1.4: similar size, similar price, different focal length and a lot more … Continue reading Review: Pergear 50mm 1.4 →

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Introduction Today I’m taking a look at Meike’s new professional-grade 85mm lens, the 85mm f/1.4 STM MIX II. The 85mm focal length has long been considered the classic choice for portrait photography, but it’s also excellent for subject separation, beautiful background blur, and low-light photography. Not long ago, I reviewed the Mark I version and … Continue reading REVIEW: Meike 85mm f/1.4 STM MIX II →

Introduction In 2023 Samyang introduced a new line of Cine lenses called “V-AF”. Mid 2026 this lineup consists of 6 lenses, 4 of which are rehoused photography lenses. The 20mm T1.9 and this 100mm T2.3 are new designs though. At first sight there do not seem to be any disadvantages to using these lenses for … Continue reading Review: Samyang 100mm T2.3 V-AF →

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Introduction During their EX era Sigma released two f/1.4 primes, the Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX HSM and this Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX HSM. The 50mm is a lens that can still be interesting today due to its good sharpness, appealing bokeh and very low price. Will the same hold true for this 85mm lens as … Continue reading Review: Sigma 85mm 1.4 EX DG HSM →

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Introduction We have seen many new lens manufacturers from China and there are still more coming. This new manufacturer gave itself the name of a famous Leica designer: “Mandler”. And as their first lens they fittingly decided to bring us this Mandler 35mm 2.0 7e, which from the outside looks exactly like a Leica 35mm … Continue reading Review: Mandler 35mm 2.0 7e →

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Introduction Pancake lenses are something I am always interested in, but so far none of the E-mount ones was really convincing. The best one until now was probably the Viltrox AF 28mm 4.5 Chip, but that lens came with one compromise too many: fixed aperture, no focus ring, no filter thread, janky sunstars. Now Viltrox … Continue reading Review: Viltrox AF 26mm 2.8 Evo FE →

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Introduction In the mirrorless world we start to see more f/2.0 zoom lenses, a trend that started with the Canon RF 28-70mm 2.0L USM and Sony built upon with their Sony FE 28-70mm 2.0 GM and the Sony FE 50-150mm 2.0 GM. What is easily forgotten here: it was actually Sigma who first made a … Continue reading Review: Sigma 24-35mm 2.0

Introduction We have recently seen a few 135mm f/1.8 lenses from various manufacturers. Once considered exotic and rare, this focal length and aperture combination has become increasingly popular thanks to its ability to produce tight portraits, fashion images, and excellent subject separation. About a month ago, 7Artisans joined the group with its own version in … Continue reading REVIEW: 7Artisans 135mm f/1.8 MAX →

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