We’ve been big fans of the Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR since we tested it more than 10 years ago. It’s still part of Fujifilm’s lens lineup today so let’s verify again whether this old-time favorite can stand the test of time. It has seen a $200 price increase since 2016 and at $1150 USD, it was not exactly a budget offering back then nor is it today. Fujifilm’s prime lenses are usually very well built and this is also the case for the XF 90mm f/2. The lens body is made of metal with a smoothly turning,…
Author: Klaus
PRESS RELEASE Viltrox Brings Its Full-Frame Air Series to L-Mount with Four Compact Prime Lenses Press Release Media Highlights Viltrox Brings Its Full-Frame Air Series to L-Mount with Four Compact Prime Lenses Four compact autofocus prime lenses bring the philosophy of “Carry Less, Capture More” to creators. SHENZHEN, China — September 22, 2026 — Viltrox today announced the full launch of its full-frame Air Series lineup for L-Mount, including four compact autofocus prime lenses – the Viltrox AF 14mm F4.0 Air L, Viltrox AF 20mm F2.8 Air L, Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5 Air L, and Viltrox AF 50mm F2.0 Air…
PRESS RELEASE Panasonic is pleased to introduce the new LUMIX S 20mm F2.5 (S-S20), an interchangeable lens based on the L-Mount system standard. Combining an ultra-wide 20mm focal length with a bright F2.5 aperture in an exceptionally compact design, the new lens offers greater creative freedom for full-frame LUMIX users. Designed for creators on the go, the LUMIX S 20mm F2.5 delivers expansive perspectives while maintaining a compact and lightweight form factor. Particularly well suited to the LUMIX S9, it forms a highly portable full-frame system for daily photography, travel, street photography, landscapes, and video content creation. The 20mm focal…
PRESS RELEASE Sony today announced two new G Master™ super telephoto prime lenses for the Alpha™ full-frame E-mount system, the FE 400MM F4.5 GM OSS with a focal length of 400 mm and the FE 600MM F6.3 GM OSS with a focal length of 600mm, both are the world’s lightest*1 lenses in their respective categories. The FE 400MM F4.5 GM OSS weighs approximately 994g and the FE 600MM F6.3 GM OSS approximately 995g, achieving the world’s lightest*1 design in their respective categories. Their lightweight design makes them suitable for dynamic shooting styles that involve exploring the environment to identify and capture photographic opportunities…
The Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 is another budget prime lens in Nikon’s lens lineup. It very much resembles the Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 that we reviewed just before this one. Similarly, it is available in two different flavors: with a modern-style look as shown below or as SE (“Special Edition”) which mimics the design philosophy of the “classic” Nikon era. The somewhat more elegant SE variant (shown in the left below) costs a little more – just over $300 USD – compared to the standard version at circa $230 USD. Once again, the difference is purely cosmetic and the optical…
The Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS WR has been with us for quite a while. We reviewed the initial version back in 2015. Fujifilm released a mild mid-life refresh in 2020, which added weather-sealing (WR = Weather-Resistant). The optical design has not been changed. It’s still a very popular lens for obvious reasons – it covers the most important focal length range in the ultra-wide segment, it features an optical image stabilizer and, importantly, it doesn’t come with the bulk and price tag of the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM. Although it has to be said that the XF…
The Nikkor Z 40mm f/2 is one of the budget prime lenses in Nikon’s lens lineup. It is actually available in two different flavors: with a modern-style look as shown below or as SE (“Special Edition”) which mimics the design philosophy of the “classic” Nikon era. The SE variant (shown in the center below) costs a little more at $260 USD compared to the standard version at $230 USD, but the difference is purely cosmetic. The optical system is the same. It’s a full-format lens and thus, a standard prime lens. The Nikkor has an all-plastic construction including the mount.…
Introduction It’s time for another blast from the past review – this time covering the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART in Nikon F mount. Good ol’ Markus in Germany collected a huge amount of test data for Nikon F lenses, so we’ll check out some of the more important lenses over time now. The Sigma lens is a competitor to the Nikkor AF-S 105mm f/1.4E that we discussed some weeks ago. It has been discontinued for quite a while although you should be able to find it on the used market. It’s worth pointing out that the lens uses…
So you’d like to purchase a new system camera but can’t afford any of the fancy lenses in the Nikon lineup? Nikon (and all the others) have something for you then – a “kit” lens. There are a couple of options but the most affordable of them all is the Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3. If purchased as part of a camera kit, it’ll cost just about $200-300 USD extra. Purchased separately, this would set you back $450 USD (but who does that …). So the question of the day is whether this is just cheap, or cheap and cheerful? Let’s…
PRESS RELEASE Viltrox IBC2026 Press Release Media Highlights• Viltrox will attend IBC2026 at RAI Amsterdam, Sept 11-14, Hall 11, Stand 11.A39• To debut wide-ranging new products under the theme “MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SEE”• New Full-frame L-Mount lenses: AF 14mm F4.0, AF 20mm F2.8, AF 40mm F2.5, and AF 50mmF2.0• New Full-frame Pro Series Lens: Viltrox AF 35mm F1.4 Pro• New APS-C lenses: Viltrox 18mm F1.2 Pro and Viltrox 40mm F1.2 Pro• New high-power flash• New Viltrox DC-X4 camera monitor Viltrox to Unveil New Lenses & Production Solutions at IBC2026 Under the theme of “MORE THAN ONE WAY TO…
The Fujinon XF 30mm f/2.8 R LM WR macro is one of the three macro lenses in Fujifilm’s lens lineup for the X-mount system. However, you can also use it as a conventional standard prime lens, although it is a little slow for this purpose. It retails for around $700 USD which isn’t cheap, so let’s see how it performs. The Fujinon is capable of focusing down to 0.1m or a maximum object magnification of 1:1. At 1:1, the object-to-front-lens-distance is merely ~1cm, so it’s only really aligned to shooting static “things”. As you may imagine, object lighting can also…
The Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR is an older design “recently” enhanced with weather-resistance (hence the WR) to keep the lens relevant. This is certainly a smart move because such pancake lenses are often used for street photography where weather can play a role. The field-of-view is equivalent to 41mm on full-format cameras, so it’s basically a standard prime lens. It retails for $449 USD, so while not cheap, it doesn’t cost a fortune. Fujifilm knows how to produce lenses with a pleasant build quality, and that’s also the case here. While obviously small and extremely lightweight at just…
PRESS RELEASE Sony introduces the FE 8-14mm F3.5 Fisheye G (SEL814G), the company’s first fisheye zoom G Lens™ for full-frame Alpha™ E-mount cameras. The 8 mm to 14 mm zoom range covers circular fisheye at 8 mm through diagonal fisheye at 14 mm. Built for landscapes, architecture, sports, and video production, the lens pairs a compact, lightweight body with G Lens resolution, fast and precise autofocus, and refined operability for stills and movies. In a dual-lens configuration with the VENICE Extension System Mini¹ it also supports spatial content production. The SEL814G brings new creative fisheye perspectives to Sony’s E-mount lineup for photographers,…
The Chinese lens manufacturers are getting more and more ambitious. The latest company exploring the premium lens segment is 7Artisans with their new AF 135mm f/1.8 MAX lens, a full-format fast medium tele lens available in Sony E, Nikon Z and L-mount. This review discusses the Nikon Z-mount version. As hinted by the “MAX” in the name, it is a member of their new high-end lineup. However even so, it’s available for just $689 USD — an amazing value if it can provide quality results. Let’s find out. The build quality of the 7Artisans AF 135mm f/1.8 MAX impresses upon…
PRESS RELEASE Kanagawa, Japan – Sigma Corporation (Headquarters: Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, CEO: Kazuto Yamaki) is pleased to announce the “Sigma 20-60mm F2.8-4 DG | Contemporary,” a standard zoom lens for full-frame cameras, covering an ultra-wide 20mm to a standard 60mm. Designed to deliver both a wide-angle perspective and exceptional portability, this lens packs uncompromising sharpness and impressive close-up capabilities into a palm-sized design.This new lens option from Sigma is designed to maximize the mobility of full-frame systems, and will be available on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. SpecificationsOptical construction15 elements in 13 groups (3x SLD, 3x aspherical)Fluorine coating (front element)Number of aperture…
PRESS RELEASE Kanagawa, Japan – Sigma Corporation (Headquarters: Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, CEO: Kazuto Yamaki) is pleased to announce the a large-aperture medium-telephoto lens for full-frame cameras that combines unparalleled rendering power with a compact, lightweight design. At 85mm, a focal length widely regarded as ideal for portrait photography, the lens achieves Sigma’s brightest-ever F1.2 aperture while also delivering outstanding portability, and will be available beginning September 30th, 2026. SpecificationsOptical construction17 elements in 12 groups (2x SD, 3x aspherical)Fluorine coatingNumber of aperture blades13 (rounded)min. focus distance0.84m (Max. Magnification: 1:8.9)Dimensionsφ 87.2 x 121.7mWeight905g Filter sizeφ 82mmHoodbarrel-shaped, suppliedOther featuresDust and moisture-resistant2x Fn-buttonsAvailable mountsSony E, L-mount
PRESS RELEASE Fujifilm Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Teiichi Goto) will release the “FUJINON XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR Lens” (XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR) as part of its lineup for the “X Series” mirrorless digital cameras, which combine exceptional image quality achieved through proprietary color reproduction technology with a compact and lightweight design. The XF400mmF4.5 R LM OIS WR is a super-telephoto prime lens featuring a focal length of 400mm (equivalent to 609mm in the 35mm format) and a bright maximum aperture of F4.5, delivering the highest optical performance in the XF lens lineup. Despite its long focal…
Recently, we reviewed the Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4 with pleasing results. There is another full-format AF lens in their lineup – the Sirui Aurora 35mm f/1.4; a fast moderate wide-angle prime lens. It is available for Sony E, Fujifilm X, L-mount, and Nikon Z and retails around $549 USD. Compared to OEM lenses, this is, once again, a very attractive value proposition, so let’s check it out. The build quality of the Sirui lens is certainly impressive. It’s a metal construction from the top to the bottom, including the control rings. Even so, it is comparatively lightweight. The focus ring…
Fast, standard zoom OEM lenses have become quite expensive over the years. And apparently, that’s also something that Nikon recognized as well. It’s a popular segment, so they made a deal with Tamron. The Nikkor Z 28-75mm f/2.8 is, mostly, a carbon copy of the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (1st gen). At around $1000 at this point, it’s still not exactly cheap, but that’s a fraction of what Nikon is asking for their “S” lens. The Z 28-75mm f/2.8 isn’t the only lens licensed from Tamron – there’s also the Z 17-28mm f/2.8 and Z 70-180mm f/2.8. At…
Decades ago, fast zoom lenses had a maximum aperture of f/4. When AF SLRs emerged, the speed increased to f/2.8, resulting in a set of ultra-wide, standard, and medium telezoom lenses affectionately known as the holy trinity. It appears that the manufacturers are now readying the next phase centered around f/2 lenses, thus almost matching ultra-fast prime lenses. So that’ll then be the godly trinity? Both Canon and Sony have already released their own interpretation of a 28-70mm f/2. And Sony also unleashed the Sony FE 50-150mm f/2 GM upon us, which we’ll discuss in this review. As you may…
Sirui may not be a household name among photographers yet, but the company has been a player with the cinema lenses for more than a decade. They are well-known for the anamorphic cine lenses. However, they also released some more photography-centric AF lenses with their Aurora (full-format) and Sniper (APS-C) lineups. One of them is the Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4. It is available in Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm X, and L-mount and retails for around $449-549 USD which is an amazing value assuming that it performs adequately, so let’s find out. Upon first contact, you are surprised by the compact dimensions…
The FE 100mm f/2.8 macro GM OSS is Sony’s 2nd generation macro lens for the E-mount system. It supersedes the FE 90mm f/2.8 macro G OSS, which has been with us since 2015. Sony is convinced that they created something special here because they lifted the designation from G to GM class for the new lens. And alongside, the price has also been raised by 50% to now $1500 USD. So let’s check how much substance they added to the recipe. The 100mm f/2.8 uses a combination of tough engineering plastics and magnesium alloy with extensive weather sealing. That’s not…
Introduction After all these fancy new lenses for mirrorless cameras, let’s do a little excursion to a blast of the past – the not-yet-quite-vintage Nikkor AF-S 105mm f/1.4 E ED in Nikon F mount, released back in 2016. It’ll be part of a miniseries of reviews where we’ll cover some of the more iconic Nikon lenses for Nikon DSLRs. The 105mm f/1.4 E is actually still available new in shops out there, but given the paper specs, don’t expect it to be on the affordable side – it still retails for about $1900 out there. Let’s start with the less…
Introduction We tested the Viltrox AF 9mm f/2.8 Air (black version) in Sony E-mount a while ago already. For obvious reasons, we’ll reuse most of the findings of this test here again. The MTFs, vignetting, and CAs tests were run again, though. The 9mm f/2.8 Air XF is an APS-C format lens equivalent to about 14mm in full-format terms. The lens stays, of course, true to the cause of their “Air” lineup. Thus, it’s both very compact and very affordable at just $199 USD / 229 EUR / 190 GBP. The lens is available in E- , Z-, and X-mount.…
Introduction This is a retest of the Viltrox AF 15mm f/1.7 Air XF – this time with a silver finish, which matches with the silver-top Fujifilm cameras a la X-T5 and the like. We’ll reuse most of the original review, but the MTF and CA tests were executed again with this sample. It’s an APS-C format wide-angle lens equivalent to roughly “23mm f/2.6” (full format). It’s a quite attractive focal length with applications such as landscape, architecture, or street photography. It is available in E-, Z-, and X-mount for 239 USD / 269 EUR / 229 GBP / 335 CAD…
Ref.: https://viltrox.com/collections/x-mount?ref=rwuxbpue These lenses have a silver finish to match with Fujifilm’s classic silver-top X-mount cameras. They join the AF 35mm f/1.7 AIR XF and AF 56mm f/1.7 AIR XF which have been available with a silver finish for some time. AF 15mm f/1.7 Air XFPrice: 239 USD / 269 EUR / 229 GBPOptical construction12 elements in 10 groups (3x ED, 3x HRI, 2x aspherical)HD nano multi-layer coatingNumber of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.23m (Max. Magnification: 0.1x)Dimensionsφ 65 x 56.4mmWeight180gFilter sizeφ 58mmHoodpetal-shaped, suppliedOther featuresSilver editionAvailable mountsFujifilm X AF 9mm f/2.8 Air XFPrice: 199 USD / 229 EUR / 190 GBPOptical construction13…
PRESS RELEASE SAN DIEGO, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics introduces SEL100400 – FE 100-400mm F5.6-8 OSS, a super-telephoto zoom lens for 35mm full-frame Alpha™ E-mount cameras. Despite its super-telephoto reach of up to 400mm, the lens stays compact and lightweight, weighing just 654g (approx.). Its latest optical design incorporates two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements and two aspherical elements, delivering excellent image quality and clear rendering across the entire zoom range no matter how far away the subject is. The lens also features fast, precise AF (autofocus) and built-in optical image stabilization to support handheld shooting, letting you quickly capture…
Over the last few years, Canon has created a set of hybrid prime lenses that prioritize video features alongside still photography. These lenses share a nearly identical form factor, minimal focus breathing, a fast f/1.4 max aperture, and they use a magnetic VCM (Voice-Coil-Motor) with Nano USM to drive focus groups independently for autofocus. As of the time of this writing, they range from 14mm to 85mm. In this review, we are discussing the widest and most expensive of these prime lenses — the Canon RF 14mm f/1.4 L VCM. At $2600 USD, this lens is not for the faint-hearted,…
Ref.: https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-aksen-ultra-macro-apo/ Laowa Axon 45mm f/2.8 1-5X Ultra Macro APO SpecificationsOptical construction13 elements in 9 groups (3x ED, 4x HR)Number of aperture blades11min. focus distanceMax. Magnification: 1X – 5XMin. Working Distance: 41.35mmDimensionsφ 70.2 x 121mmWeight599gFilter size-Hood-Other featuresAperture ringFully manual lensParfocalTripod collar with rods (optional)USB Coaxial Light (optional)Available mountsSony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L mount, Nikon F, Canon EF, Fuji X, M43 Laowa Axon 17.5mm f/1.7 5-10X Ultra Macro APO SpecificationsOptical construction17 elements in 12 groups (5x ED, 3x HR)Number of aperture blades11min. focus distanceMax. Magnification: 5X – 10XMin. Working Distance: 22.48mmDimensionsφ 70.2 x 127.5mmWeight570gFilter size-Hood-Other featuresAperture ringFully manual lensParfocalTripod…
Ref.: https://www.7artisans.com/prod_view.aspx?nid=3&typeid=125&id=576 Note: As of now it has only been announced in China. Price in China: 3300 Yuan (~350 USD). SpecificationsOptical construction11 elements in 8 groups (2x ED, 1x aspherical)185 degrees viewNumber of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.15mDimensionsφ 76 x 94mmWeight510gFilter size-Hoodpetal-style, built-inOther featuresAperture ring2x Fn buttonsMount gasketUSB-C port for firmware updatesAvailable mountsSony E, Nikon Z, L-mount
We don’t know who first came up with the nickname “Fujicron”, but it’s certainly a fitting name for Fujifilm’s medium-speed prime lenses consisting of the XF 16mm f/2.8, 23mm f/2, 35mm f/2, and 50mm f/2. For those not familiar with the term, it relates to Leica’s “Summicron” prime lenses, which stand out not in terms of speed but compact size and low weight. This review focuses on the widest of these Fujicrons – the Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR. Unlike the Summicrons, the lens is very affordable at just $450 USD. Released in 2019, it’s not a new lens…
As mentioned in a previous Tamron review, they have a long tradition of developing “super-zoom” lenses, basically pioneering the category back in the day. And this time, we are discussing the Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD in Fujifilm X-mount. Its rather extreme 16.6x zoom ratio translates to a full-frame equivalent focal range of a whopping “27-450mm” covering everything from wide-angle to almost super-tele ranges. While this may sound a little bonkers already, it’s not even Tamron’s most extreme design – this honor goes to the 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD, but this one is/was reserved for DSLRs…
There aren’t many Fujifilm “red-label” lenses around. They are the members of the exclusive club of high-end lenses. One of them is the Fujinon XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR. It’s the widest zoom lens available in X-mount. As you might expect, it’s far from being affordable at about $1800 USD. Professional-grade lenses deserve a professional-grade build quality and the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR does qualify here. The lens body is mostly made of metal alongside the broad rubberized zoom-ring. The rugged construction and huge glass elements come at a price – at 805g it is neither compact…
Tamron has a long tradition of making “super-zoom” lenses. They released the first of such lenses back in 1994 – the 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 Aspherical. I can count at least 21 (!) of such lenses in total, but I reckon I didn’t catch them all. Their latest interpretation of the topic is the Tamron 25-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2, a successor of the popular 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD. Tamron obviously felt that it was time to push things a little with a little extra range at the wide end as well as improvements in build quality and AF speed.…
There aren’t too many budget zoom lenses available for Nikon Z cameras. It appears that Nikon felt the same, so they released the Nikkor Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1 with a much more attractive zoom range compared to the Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 kit lens. It’s a very slow lens, obviously, but Nikon had to keep some distance to the Z 24-120mm f/4 S. At just $500, it’s nicely matched with the more affordable Z-mount cameras, so let’s take a closer look.The build quality is clearly consumer-grade. The lens body is made of rather thin engineering plastics down to the mount. One has…
Introduction I suppose that the readers of this article will fall into two categories – one group will be bored because it’s only about a moderately fast wide-angle prime lens, and the other group is excited because it’s a member of the rare species of pancake lenses. And yours truly is in the latter group. So let’s meet the Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 EVO FE. The lens is available in Sony E- and Nikon Z-mount for 299USD (319EUR, 279GBP, 420CAD, 52800JPY). This is actually Viltrox’s 2nd pancake lens. The other one is the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 VCM. However, the…
PRESS RELEASE Media Highlights Viltrox Launches Ultra-Compact AF 26mm F2.8 EVO Pancake Lens Durable, Full-Frame E/Z Mount Lens with Dual Control Rings Designed for the Portability Needs of Everyday Photography Shenzhen, China, July 15, 2026 — Viltrox today announced the launch of its AF 26mm F2.8 EVO, a compact full-frame autofocus pancake lens designed for everyday carry and photography. Well suited to street photography, architecture, environmental portraits, travel, and visual storytelling, the AF 26mm F2.8 EVO is an ideal companion for creators who value great portability, dependable image quality, and intuitive handling in a lightweight full-frame system. Durable, Ultra-Compact, With…
SpecificationsOptical construction8 elements in 7 groups (6x AD)Number of aperture blades10 (rounded)min. focus distance0.5m (max. magnification: 0.28x)Dimensionsφ 53 × 54.8mmWeight235gFilter size43mmHooddome-style, screw-in, suppliedOther featuresAvailable mountsLeica M
PRESS RELEASE July 15, 2026 – Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shogo Sakuraba; Headquarters: Saitama City, Japan; “TAMRON”), a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the launch of the 12-20mm F2.8 (Model A084), a fast-aperture ultra wide-angle zoom lens, compatible with Sony E-mount and Nikon Z mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. The defining feature of the 12-20mm F2.8 (Model A084) is its ultra-wide focal range, from 12mm to 20mm. The overwhelming breadth of the 12mm perspective enables dynamic expression that seems to “capture the entire expanse of a scene.” With a bright F2.8 aperture maintained throughout the entire…
The Nikkor Z MC 50mm f/2.8 is the more affordable of the two “Micro” lenses in the Nikon lineup. It can serve you both as a (slow-speed) “nifty-fifty” as well as a dedicated macro lens. Unlike the Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S it is not a member of the more premium “S-class” and it shows in a couple of aspects.The construction can be described as somewhat archaic. Modern macro lenses use an internal focusing mechanism. Instead the Z MC 50mm f/2.8 uses an extending focusing system. So the inner lens tube extends towards closer focus distances. That’s basically similar…
A system is incomplete without some macro lenses and Nikon does have two in its lineup. One of them is the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S. As a member of the “S”-class family it promises professional-grade performance. This may sound scary in terms of pricing but it’s not too bad at just over $1000 USD.The lens body is mostly made of high-quality engineering plastics except for the metal rear portion and the mount. This results in a comparatively low weight of 630g. The control rings turn smoothly. It combines internal focusing with extensive weather sealing and a water-repellent…
Chinese lens manufacturers have upped their game during recent years. The more keen readers are probably aware of Viltrox and Laowa by now. Meike may not be a household name in the West but they have been around for quite a while. And they are beginning to move up the food chain lately. Their latest and greatest lens is the Meike AF 85mm f/1.4 MIX II. As the name implies, this is their 2nd generation fast medium tele lens. It retails for just $569 and is available for E-, L- and Z-mount cameras which the latter variant being discussed here.…
The old Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM is a good lens. However, it isn’t exceptional. Sony got the message and released the FE 85mm f/1.4 GM II which is supposed to improve across all aspects … except, of course, the price tag. At $1850 USD, the GM II has to deliver, so let’s see.You may be in for a surprise upon first contact. Historically, 85mm f/1.4 lenses tend to be bricks, but the Sony lens is comparatively compact and lightweight at just 642g. The build quality is still excellent. The used engineering plastics feel very solid. Sony incorporated extensive weather-sealing,…
The Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR is another high-performance prime lens by Fujifilm. In shape and build quality it resembles the other f/1.4 lenses in their lineup – namely the XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR. These three cousins would make a nice combo for street photography if that’s your thing. But, of course, the scope is much broader than just this. The pricing is also pretty similar sitting at around $1050 USD. That’s not at the affordable end, so let’s see whether the lens is worth it.The build quality is,…
Ref.: https://7artisans.store/products/af-135mm-f1-8-full-frame-lens-for-e-z-l SpecificationsOptical construction16 elements in 13 groups (6x ED, 5x HR)Number of aperture blades12min. focus distance0.68m (max. magnification 0.25x)Dimensionsφ 86.7 x 149.0mmWeight1014gFilter size82mmHoodbarrel-shaped, suppliedAvailable MountsSony E, Nikon Z, L-mountOther featuresUSB-C port for firmware updatesControl-ring (Nikon Z)Aperture ring 2 Fn buttonsMount gasketPrice689 USD
The Fujinon XF 35mm f/1.4 R is beloved for its smooth rendering characteristics among many Fujifilm users – despite being ancient by now. However, it’s not really a high-performance standard prime lens. For this purpose Fujifilm has another lens up its sleeve – the Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR. High performance comes at a price – literally – so you will have to invest $950 for the privilege. However, the build quality matches the price tag. It’s an all-metal lens body with weather-sealing, hence the “WR” (weather-resistant) in the name, and it’s even freeze-proof down to -10C. The…
Speed is nice, more speed is better. So let’s meet the Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S. Actually, it’s not the fastest standard prime lens in the Nikon lens line up – this glory goes to the Nikkor Z 50mm f/0.95 NOCT but you are probably not prepared to pay almost ten grand for this manual focus marvel. The Z 50mm f/1.2 S is already not exactly cheap at over $2000 USD.Upon first contact, you will notice that Z 50mm f/1.2 S is a brick of a lens. It weighs over 1 kg and it’s also quite long for what it…
The Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S was released back in 2019 so it’s not exactly a newcomer anymore. At the time, it was certainly a special lens. It offers an extremely wide angle of view – even by today’s standards – and it allows conventional filters to be attached. Many zoom lenses this wide still rely on a bulb-like front element. It’s not a cheap lens at $1100 USD but there aren’t many options around in this segment either. In terms of build quality, it resembles the Z 24-70mm f/4 S. To minimize the size during transport, it uses a…
Ref.: https://www.lksamyang.com/en/product/product-view.php?seq=690 PRESS RELEASE LK SAMYANG Introduces AF 60-180mm F2.8 FE Completing an Ultra-Light Compact Zoom System with Three Lenses June 25, 2026 – South Korea, LK SAMYANG, a global optical specialist, announces the upcoming launch of the AF 60-180mm F2.8 FE, developed in collaboration with Schneider-Kreuznach, completing its “Compact Zoom Series.The Compact Zoom Series is a zoom lens lineup from LK Samyang designed to redefine the balance between performance and portability. While camera and lens performance has continuously improved, the resulting increase in weight has also become a concern. In particular, for creators who need to carry multiple lenses…
Ref.: https://www.tamron.com/global/consumer/news/detail/b070rf_z_20260624.html PRESS RELEASE The 17-70mm F/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD (Model B070) is a fast aperture standard zoom lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras. It’s engineered to deliver both a broad zoom range and excellent image quality. With a focal length range of 17-70mm,1 it achieves a 4.1x zoom ratio, class-leading for an APS-C standard zoom lens, while maintaining a fast, constant maximum aperture of F2.8. The 17-70mm F2.8 VC includes VC (Vibration Compensation), and a fast, quiet AF2 system. With focus breathing and AF noise effectively suppressed, the 17-70mm F2.8 VC is optimized for both stills and video shooting. Despite offering…
Yes, we are very late with this review. The Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S was released back in 2020, and Nikon has released its successor meanwhile. However, better late than never so let’s go for it — also because the lens is readily available in the used market and some shops may still have some in stock as of the time of this writing.The lens body is based on high-quality engineering plastics over a magnesium alloy chassis. Just like all other S-class lenses, the internals are extensively sealed against the elements. Nikon didn’t go for the smallest physical dimensions and…
Every once in a while, manufacturers produce something that is more like a tech statement rather than a product that they expect to sell in volumes. For Fujifilm the Fujinon XF 50mm f/1 R WR does certainly fall into this category – more so for an APS-C system. If you require lenses this fast for your workflow, you should probably have a deep look into full-format options where equivalent lenses are far more common and also more affordable. Speaking in terms of dreadful equivalency, the XF 50mm f/1 resembles a full-format “76mm f/1.5” thus it’s a moderate tele lens in…
Usually we don’t really test high-end tele primes because besides getting one for testing isn’t trivial and these lenses rarely face any competition from third-party vendors. However, the Fujinon XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR came along the way so who are we to argue …With a price tag of $5000 USD, the lens is obviously targeting professional users. However, on the positive side you do not only get the lens; Fujifilm also includes a 1.4x teleconverter at no extra cost. In equivalent full-format terms, we are talking about a “305mm f/3” (or “427mm f/4.2” with 1.4x) making it…
The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is another lens with old test data in our storage that we didn’t publish so far (for complicated reasons), but better late than never I suppose. Obviously, it is, or was, Nikon’s professional-grade standard zoom lens. Meanwhile Nikon released a Mk II version. However, this older version can still be found new for around $2000 USD at some dealers and there’s obviously the used market.The exterior shell of the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is based on high-quality engineering plastics over a magnesium alloy structural internal chassis. Typical for most pro-grade lenses, it is…
Our review of the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S feels almost like doing time travel. It was the first Nikkor released in Z-mount back in 2018. And yes, we are late with this one. A colleague had the test data in storage for years actually, but life got in the way as it sometimes happens. This review is actually part of a longer series based on such accumulated test data that we’ll release in the coming weeks.A bit of a surprising aspect of the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S is that it’s both a kit lens as well as a…
Viltrox is busy filling all the prime lens niches that they can find. This time they found the 90mm focal length for APS-C format cameras. So let’s meet the Viltrox AF 90mm f/2.2 EVO, equivalent to an 137mm f/3.3 lens in full format terms. It’s available in Sony E, Nikon Z as well as Fujifilm X mount with the latter version being discussed here. In Fujifilm X mount, it’s placed directly against the Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR, one of the highest-rated lenses that we ever tested (albeit that was back in the day on 16 megapixels). While…
New, dedicated APS-C format prime lenses from OEMs have become a bit of a rare sight outside the Fujifilm ecosystem. However, Viltrox has been putting some new life into this format lately. Besides the AF 90mm f/2.2 EVO, Viltrox just released the Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.8 EVO – again available in E-, Z- and X-mount. We’ve tested the E-mount version for this review. In full-format terms it’s equivalent to a 114mm f/2.7 putting it in between the classic 56mm (FF “85mm”) and 90m (FF “135mm”) focal lengths. Just like the other EVO lenses, it is very competitively priced at just…
Thypoch (derived from “Thy” = “your” and “Epoch” = “era”) is a fairly recent addition to the fleet of Chinese lens manufacturers. They debuted back in 2023 with a set of interesting prime lenses inspired by some classic European designs. Thypoch belongs to the DZO group, which also owns DZO Film, a manufacturer of CINE lenses so despite being a newcomer in the mirrorless lens market, they got some history behind them. Normally, you’d expect a new manufacturer to step up from manual focus prime lenses to AF prime lenses. However, Thypoch decided to skip this step and moved straight…
Ref.: https://meikeglobal.com/products/8514iie SpecificationsOptical construction11 elements in 8 groupsNumber of aperture blades11min. focus distance0.81m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 85 x 110mmWeight648gFilter size77mmHoodbarrel-shaped, suppliedAvailable MountsSony E, Nikon Z, L-mountOther featuresaperture ring (de-clickable)aperture lockFn custom buttonUSB-C port for firmware updatesPrice$498 USD
I’d like to start this review with a caveat – it is almost crazy trying to test a fisheye lens in a formal way. The image distortions are all over the place, and making readings for a software analysis is a gamble. However, every once in a while we should challenge ourselves with an impossible task, shouldn’t we? 🙂 Anyway, so here’s our attempt to review the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Zoom Fisheye lens. For starters, it’s not really a zoom lens in a conventional way. It’s a circular fisheye lens at 8mm and a full-frame fisheye lens at 15mm. You…
Ref.: https://brightinstar.com/products/brightin-star-af-12mm-f2-8-full-frame-lens SpecificationsOptical construction15 elements in 11 groups (2x aspherical, 2x ED, 2x HR)Number of aperture blades5min. focus distance0.24m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 70 x 96.9mmWeight550gFilter size34mm rear-filterHoodbuilt-inAvailable MountsSony E-mount (AF version)Other featuresaperture ringFn custom buttonPrice$659 USD
Ref.: https://www.venuslens.net/product/4-5-10mm-f-2-8-cf-zoom-fisheye/ SpecificationsOptical construction13 elements in 9 groups (4x ELD, 1x HR)Number of aperture blades7min. focus distance0.10m (max. magnification 0.27x)Dimensionsφ 68.9 x 59.3mmWeight338gFilter size-Hood-Available MountsE / Z / RF / L / X / EF-M / MFTOther featuresaperture ringPrice$399 USD
A little while ago, we already tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE in both Nikon Z and Sony E-mount – with impressive results. The original version of the lens – which is still available -uses a rather unusual aperture ring handling. The ring is unmarked and turns infinitely, and you can’t really determine the currently set aperture / mode before switching on the camera. While some videographers may actually prefer this, it’s probably not ideal from a photographer’s perspective. So Viltrox listened and released this new “N” version, which features a more traditional marked aperture ring with clear…
Ref.: https://brightinstar.com/products/brightin-star-10mm-f5-6-ii-aps-c-fisheye-lens SpecificationsOptical construction7 elements in 5 groupsNumber of aperture bladesRound (fixed)min. focus distance0.12m (max. magnification ? )Dimensionsφ 57 x 32mmWeight132gFilter size-Hoodbuilt-inAvailable MountsSony E, Nikon Z, EF-M, RF-S, Fujifilm X, MFTOther featuresAvailable in black and silverPrice$75 USD
PRESS RELEASE Thypoch enters autofocus market with Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8 for Sony E-mount The first full-frame autofocus zoom developed by a Chinese optical brand, in a constant f/2.8 internal-zoom design Shenzhen, China, May 14, 2026. Thypoch today announced the Voyager 24-50mm f/2.8, the first full-frame autofocus zoom developed by a Chinese optical brand and Thypoch’s first AF lens. Built for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras, the Voyager uses an internal zoom mechanism that holds physical length fixed across the focal range, with a constant f/2.8 aperture from 24mm through 50mm. Three Primes in One Lens A photographer working with primes typically…
Ref.: https://www.sony.com.au/electronics/camera-lenses/sel100400mc PRESS RELEASE Sony introduces the FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS, the newest addition to its flagship G Master™ lens series for full-frame Alpha™ E-mount cameras. Covering a 100-400 mm focal range with a constant F4.5 aperture, the lens delivers the exceptional resolution and bokeh that define the G Master series, high-precision autofocus (AF) up to approximately 3x faster1,2 than the FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS. Weighing approximately 65 oz. (1,840 g) with an internal zoom structure, its stable weight balance offers highly mobile shooting capabilities. The FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS gives wildlife, birding, sports, and photojournalism creators the…
Ref.: https://www.canon.com.au/camera-lenses/rf-20-50mm-f4l-is-usm-pz PRESS RELEASE Canon also introduces the RF 20-50mm f/4L IS USM PZ, its first full-frame RF L-series lens with an internal power zoom. The zoom ring operates as both a controlled, steady servo zoom while recording video and a manual zoom-by-wire for precise adjustments when capturing stills or filming. Covering a wider-than-standard 20-50mm focal range at a constant f/4 maximum aperture, this incredibly versatile lens is ideal for vlogging, interiors, and capturing superb views without changing lenses. The RF 20-50mm f/4L IS USM PZ delivers exceptional L-series image quality, featuring UD lens elements, Air Sphere Coating (ASC), and…
A little while ago, Sigma released the second iteration of its interpretation of fast standard zoom lenses – the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN ART II, available both in Sony E- and L-mount. As of the time of this writing, it actually leads the sales chart over at B&H, one of the world’s biggest camera retailers, which is also a testament to how popular this whole category is. And that’s despite a fairly high price tag of around $1300 USD. We reviewed the mark I some years back. The results were good but not stellar, so let’s see whether Sigma…
PRESS RELEASE Classic and Compact: Thypoch Eureka 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. Available Now After announcing the pre-order of the Eureka 28mm f/2.8 ASPH in November 2025, Thypoch today officially released this high-performance pancake lens , the latest addition to its vintage line of compact lenses. Following the success of the series’ inaugural 50mm lens, the new 28mm model maintains the signature blend of classic aesthetic appeal and cutting-edge optical engineering, offering photographers a wider option. Inspired by the iconic British legend – the Dallmeyer 35mm f/3.5 Anastigmat mounted on the Ilford Advocate camera, the Eureka 28mm f/2.8 ASPH. embodies a heritage…
Ref.: https://7artisans.store/products/af-25-35-50mm-f1-8-aps-c-lens-for-e-fx-z AF 25mm f/1.8 LITE SpecificationsOptical construction8 elements in 5 groups (5x HR)Number of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.25m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 67 × 51mmWeight183gFilter sizeφ 58mmHoodpetal-shaped, suppliedAvailable MountsSony E, Fujifilm XOther features-Price$125 USD AF 35mm f/1.8 LITE SpecificationsOptical construction7 elements in 6 groups (5x HR)Number of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.35m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 67 × 51mmWeight181gFilter sizeφ 58mmHoodpetal-shaped, suppliedAvailable MountsSony E, Fujifilm XOther features-Price$125 USD AF 50mm f/1.8 LITE SpecificationsOptical construction6 elements in 5 groups (3x HR)Number of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.55m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 67 × 51mmWeight178gFilter sizeφ 58mmHoodpetal-shaped, suppliedAvailable MountsSony E, Fujifilm XOther features-Price$125 USD
The Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM is what you could describe as a middle-ground lens in the Canon lens lineup. It’s not quite a professional L-class lens, but it’s not really a barebones consumer-grade lens either – just like the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM. This is also obvious when looking at the price tag of around $1100 USD/EUR – give or take a little depending on sales events. It may feel steep, but if you look across the fence, the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary (not available in Canon R-mount) costs about the same. Another aspect…
Ref.: https://amzn.to/4e01x5V Viltrox just released a version of the AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE for Sony E-mount with some tweaks that make it more appealing to users who prefer a more conventional handling of the aperture ring.The original version has a stopless, unmarked aperture ring as well as an LCD. The new (N) version has distinctive, marked aperture steps with proper stop points at the limits of the aperture range. It also omits the display. The optical design remains identical to the variant with LCD that we reviewed a while ago here: PRESS RELEASE Shenzhen, China — April 23, 2026…
Ref.: https://shop.panasonic.com/products/lumix-s-series-40mm-f2-l-mount-camera-lens SpecificationsOptical construction7 elements in 6 groups (3x aspherical)Number of aperture blades7 (circular)min. focus distance0.3m (max. magnification 0.17x)Dimensionsφ 69.4 × 40.9mmWeight144gFilter sizeφ 62mmHoodpetal-shaped, built-inAvailable MountsL-mountOther featuresDust and Splash ResistantAlso available in silverPrice$399.99
SpecificationsOptical construction15 elements in 11 groups (HRI, ED, aspherical elements)Number of aperture blades7min. focus distance0.3m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 70 × 96.6mmWeight499gFilter size- (bulb-like front element)Hoodpetal-shaped, built-inAvailable MountsNikon ZOther featuresAperture ring Fn-ButtonMount sealingSTM AFPrice?
Recently, we reviewed the Viltrox AF 85mm f/2 EVO, and it turned out to be probably the best value prime in its segment. Viltrox didn’t stop there, and they’ve just released the Viltrox AF 55mm f/1.8 EVO – both in Sony E- and Nikon Z-mount. The EVO lenses sit between their PRO and AIR lenses. In many ways they are more related to the PRO lineup except for the more moderate speed. Compared to the AF 85mm f/2, Viltrox is going for a higher price at 370 USD / 429 EUR / 359 GBP / 539 CAD / 68,400 JPY,…
The Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 EVO is the 3rd EVO lens by Viltrox. And given that the 85mm f/2 EVO and 55mm f/1.8 EVO performed nicely, this raises some expectations. As usual, the 35mm f/1.8, available in both Nikon Z and Sony E-mount, is competitively priced at 395 USD / 459 EUR / 385 GBP/ 579 CAD /73,100 JPY, although this does represent a price hike of ~100 USD over the 85mm f/2 EOV. Technically, this is a second-generation lens, which is also printed as such on the lens. The mark I has a very different optical design, and it wasn’t…
Ref.: https://www.cosina.co.jp/voigtlander/vm-mount/apo-skopar-75mm-f2-8/ SpecificationsOptical construction7 elements in 6 groups (4x ED)Number of aperture blades10min. focus distance0.7m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 54.0 × 44.0mmWeight191gFilter sizeφ 43mmHooddome-shaped, includedAvailable MountsLeica MOther featuresAvailable in black and silverPrice¥90,000
Ref.: https://meikeglobal.com/products/5617e SpecificationsOptical construction11 Elements in 7 GroupsNumber of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.55m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 66.5 x 59.2mmWeight190gFilter sizeφ 52mmHood?Available MountsE/XOther featuresAvailable in black and whitePrice$169
Ref.: https://ttartisan.com/?af-lens/350.html SpecificationsOptical construction14 Elements in 10 Groups (2x ED, 3x HR elements)Number of aperture blades?min. focus distance0.18m (max. magnification ?)Dimensionsφ 60 x 47mmWeight161gFilter sizeφ 52mmHood?Available MountsE/XOther features-Price$149
The 600mm zoom lenses are all the rage among tele lens enthusiasts – for a good reason. However, these lenses are heavy, expensive, and, for many users, simply an overkill, which is why it makes sense for manufacturers to offer 300mm as an alternative. This is especially true for APS-C format users who can benefit from the natural crop factor. In Fujifilm land, the Fujinon XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR fills this niche. In full-format terms, this is equivalent to a “107-457mm” which is good enough for a wide array of use cases. And at around $950/800EUR, it’s…
A new pancake lens for Sony E, Nikon Z, and L-mount. SpecificationsOptical construction7 Elements in 5 GroupsNumber of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.35m (max. magnification 1:7.7)Dimensionsφ 69 x 36.2mmWeight163gFilter sizeφ 52mmHood-Available MountsE/Z/LOther features-Price$149
PRESS RELEASE March 26, 2026 – Republic of Korea – LK SAMYANG, a global optical solutions company with more than 50 years of expertise in optical technology and innovation, today announces the launch of the AF 35mm F1.8 P FE, a new addition to the Prima Series designed for hybrid creators and everyday photographers. The new lens expands the Prima Series lineup following the introduction of the AF 35mm F1.4 P FE in 2024, and the AF 16mm F2.8 P FE and AF 85mm F1.8 P FE in 2025. Built on the philosophy of portability, practicality, and usability, the Prima…
The Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S is a popular standard zoom range for a reason. It combines a high zoom ratio of 5 with a reasonably fast max aperture (for a zoom lens). Unlike the native f/2.8 alternatives, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg at around $1000, making it an obvious choice for enthusiasts – on paper, at least. It’s also a member of Nikon’s “S” series of lenses, which promises professional-grade qualities.Historically, this is actually Nikon’s 2nd 24-120mm f/4 lens. They are still offering the AF-S 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR for DSLR cameras – released back…
Ref.: https://myfunleader.com/ PRESS RELEASE The Story Behind the Contax G to Leica M Conversion Project The project aims to bring classic Contax G lenses, originally designed for the Contax G autofocus rangefinder system of the 1990s, to modern Leica M cameras without permanently modifying the original lenses. A Classic System The Contax G system, developed by Contax and Carl Zeiss, debuted in the mid-1990s and included several well-known lenses such as the Planar 35mm f/2, Planar 45mm f/2, and Biogon 28mm f/2.8. While the cameras themselves have long been discontinued, the lenses remain popular among photographers for their distinctive rendering…
Ref.: https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-17mm-f-4-zero-d-tilt-shift-shift/ SpecificationsOptical construction18 elements in 12 groups (4x ELD, 5x HR, 2x aspherical)Number of aperture blades14min. focus distance0.25m (max. magnification 0.131x)Dimensionsφ 93 x 111mmWeight810g (770g without caps)Filter sizeφ 86mmHood-Available MountsE / Z / RF / L / GFX / XCDOther featuresAperture ring (manual only)Tilt ±12mm Shift: ±10mm (Tilt-Shift model only)360° rotationPrice1000 USD (Tilt only) to 1250 USD (Tilt-Shift)
Introduction The Canon FD 50 mm f/1.4 S.S.C. is a classic standard-prime lens from Canon’s FD series of manual-focus optics for 35mm SLRs, introduced during the early phase of the FD system in the 1970s. Following the original FD 50 mm f/1.4 from 1971, it was released in March 1973 with Canon’s S.S.C. (Super Spectra Coating) to improve contrast and control flare compared with earlier single coatings (S.C). As an FD-mount lens, the 50 mm f/1.4 S.S.C. used Canon’s breech-lock mounting system, which allowed open-aperture metering and automatic exposure communication with compatible bodies like the Canon F-1 and AE-1.The breech-lock…
Ref.: https://ttartisan.com/?full-frame-lenses/345.html SpecificationsOptical construction17 Elements in 11 Groups (6x HR, 2x aspherical)Number of aperture blades10min. focus distance0.3m (max. magnification 1:?)Dimensionsφ 88 x 107mm (length depends on mount)Weight1051gFilter size-Hood-Available MountsE / GFX / Z / RF / LOther featuresAperture ring (manual only)Tilt ±8°Shift ±8mmE-mount only: 360° rotationPrice550 USD
Introduction The Helios 44M-4 58 mm f/2 is a classic Soviet-era standard-prime lens that sits within the long-running Helios-44 family—one of the most mass-produced and recognizable vintage optics ever made. The Helios-44 line originated in 1958 as a Soviet copy of the German Carl Zeiss Biotar 58 mm f/2 design, produced initially by the Krasnogorskiy Mechanical Factory (KMZ) and later by other manufacturers such as MMZ and Jupiter—a production span that stretched to 1999 (!!!) across all variants. The 44M-4 variant itself emerged in the late 1970s as part of a generational update to the original Helios-44 and 44M designs.…
Introduction The Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4 is a “legendary” piece of glass among vintage lens enthusiasts. It is sometimes referred to as the “bokeh king” of its era. Some love its “dreamy” wide-open rendering and its transition into a (fairly) sharp performer once stopped down. There are two versions of the MC 58mm f/1.4. The tested sample is an “MC I” first released in 1966 with a flatter, more traditional metal knurled focus grip. This was followed by the MC II, released in 1969, which has a “hills and valleys” focus grip. Just like most other vintage lenses that…
Ref.: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/news/2026/02/26/012003/ PRESS RELEASE By Sigma Photo Japan The Sigma 85mm F1.2 DG | Art is a large-aperture medium-telephoto lens designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras. With the latest optical design, the lens delivers exceptional resolution even at maximum aperture, enabling striking portrait photography with the distinctive depth of field unique to F1.2.Featuring a compact, lightweight design and fast, precise autofocus driven by dual HLA (High-response Linear Actuator) system, the lens offers reliable performance for professional applications. With the addition of this lens, Sigma’s lineup of F1.2 prime lenses is now complete, joining the Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG II | Art…
15mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary Ref.: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/news/2026/02/24/011998/ SpecificationsOptical construction13 elements in 11 groups (1x FLD, 3x SLD, 3x aspherical)Number of aperture blades9 (rounded)min. focus distance0.177m (max. magnification 1:7.9)Dimensionsφ 64 x 64.8mmWeight220g (-240g)Filter sizeφ 58mmHoodFlower-shaped hood, providedAvailable MountsE/X/RF-mountOther featuresAperture ringPrice$580 35mm f/1.4 DG II ART Ref.: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/news/2026/02/24/011999/ SpecificationsOptical construction15 elements in 12 groups (2x SLD, 4x aspherical)Number of aperture blades11 (rounded)min. focus distance0.28m (max. magnification 1:5.4)Dimensionsφ 73mm x 96mmWeight525g ( L: 530g )Filter sizeφ 67mmHoodFlower-shaped hood, providedAvailable MountsE/L-mountOther featuresDual HLA high-speed motorAperture ringPrice$1060 USD
Press Release Oberkochen, Germany | 24 February 2026 | ZEISS Photonics & Optics ZEISS is expanding its Otus ML lens family with the introduction of the new ZEISS Otus ML 1.4/35. This manual-focus lens is designed for photographers who live to tell visual stories with deliberate narratives, from street and travel to documentary work. Inspired by the legendary Otus lineage, the ML generation brings ZEISS’ renowned optical excellence and mechanical precision to the latest mirrorless systems, with mounts available for Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z.The ZEISS Otus ML series continues to deliver natural color rendition, exceptional sharpness, and signatured micro contrast. A fast…
Ref.: https://www.nikon.com/company/news/2026/0224_imaging_01.html PRESS RELEASE TOKYO – Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce the release of the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II, a fast telephoto zoom lens compatible with full-frame/FX-format mirrorless cameras. As part of the S-Line*1 series of NIKKOR Z lenses, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II is a telephoto zoom lens, the lightest in its class*2 with a weight of just 998 g*3, that covers the 70 mm to 200 mm range of focal lengths with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout that range. Moving components of both the optics and internal mechanisms have been…
Ref. https://www.tamron.com/global/consumer/lenses/a078/ PRESS RELEASE February 19, 2026 – Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shogo Sakuraba; Headquarters: Saitama City, Japan; “TAMRON”), a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the launch of the 35-100mm F/2.8 Di III VXD (Model A078), a fast-aperture standard zoom lens, compatible with Sony E-mount and Nikon Z mount full-frame mirrorless cameras, on March 26, 2026. The 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD (Model A058), launched in 2021, has earned strong praise as a high-end portrait zoom. While highly acclaimed for its imaging performance, some users have wished for a lighter, more compact option. Developed in…
SpecificationsOptical construction7 elements in 6 groups (1xUD? and 1 aspherical)Number of aperture blades10min. focus distance0.3m (max. magnification 1:5.3)Dimensionsφ 61.7×30mmWeight165gFilter sizeφ 52mmHoodDome-shaped metal hood (included)Available MountsE/Z-mountOther featuresManual focus with electronic apertureEXIF data available
I’ve always been a sucker for pancake lenses, and when Fujifilm announced the XF 23mm f/2.8 R WR, it was obvious that I just had to test it. There are surely many among you who can’t understand my interest. Yes, pancake lenses are almost always slow. In full-format terms, we are “merely” talking about a “35mm f/4.2” here. And it’s not exactly cheap at $500USD / 450EUR either. Still, just look at it. It’s a tiny beauty – at least from a distance. But let’s dig deeper now. As already hinted, the most striking aspect of the lens is the…
This is another look at the Viltrox AF 50mm f/1.4 Pro, but this time in Nikon Z mount. Most of the findings are similar, if not identical, to our Sony E-mount review, so we’ll reuse some of the article here. The Z-mount version has a retail price of $549 USD (619EUR / 525GBP / 799CAD / 90400JPY), That’s just slightly more than the slower Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S. The lens body is made of metal down to the mount. It’s not a small lens, and combined with the tough construction, it is on the heavy side at 800g. Viltrox…
The Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM is one of four (!) Canon ultra-wide zoom offerings in the RF mount lens lineup, positioned as a more compact and affordable alternative to the flagship RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS USM. With a retail price of approximately $1500/ €1500, it’s a premium mid-tier offering in Canon’s L-series range. Mechanically, it follows the tradition of most other Canon RF lenses. The lens body is made of high-quality engineering plastics based on a metal mount. The zoom and focus rings are rubberized and turn smoothly. It is also weather-sealed for more demanding outdoor shooting…
Ref.: https://viltrox.com/products/af-16mm-f1-8-l Price: $580 USD SpecificationsOptical construction15 elements in 12 groups, incl. 4xED and 3 aspherical elementsNumber of aperture blades9min. focus distance0.27m (max. 1:10 magnification)Dimensionsφ85.2x103mmWeight550gFilter size77mmHoodpetal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)Available MountsL-mountOther featuresLCD display2x custom buttonsclickless aperture modedust-sealingaperture ringUSB port for firmware updates
PRESS RELEASE MTFs: https://personal.canon.jp/product/camera/rf/rf7-14-f28-35l-fe/spec Canon RF7-14mm F2.8-3.5 L Fisheye STM zoom lens redefines versatility in ultra-wide angle fisheye imaging. Continuing the heritage of the groundbreaking EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, the world’s first fisheye zoom lens2, this new RF lens pushes boundaries further for professionals seeking impactful, distorted perspectives. It supports a wide range of unique use cases including sports, landscapes, starscapes, video, and virtual reality. Key features include: SpecificationsOptical construction16 elements in 11 groups (5x UD, 2x aspherical)Number of aperture blades9 (circular)min. focus distance0.15m (max magnification 0.31x)Dimensionsφ 76.5 x 109.4mmWeight494gFilter sizeφ -Hood-Other featuresFisheyeRear-filter slotControl ringFormat lockMountsCanon RFRetail Price$1899 USD PRESS RELEASE…