Clik here to view.
Revisited and reviewed: The Zeiss ZF.2 2/100 Makro-Planar T*
I’ve actually owned two of these lenses. My first experience was in mid 2010, with the D700 and after discovering the joys of Zeiss microcontrast; I found it stonkingly sharp, very contrasty, yet...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Understanding lens-related descriptive terms
I realize that in almost all of my past lens reviews, I use terms whose meanings may not be immediately obvious to everybody – allow me firstly to apologize for that, and remedy the situation by...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: The Carl Zeiss ZF.2 2.8/21 Distagon T*
One of the legendary wideangles for SLR users, the Carl Zeiss ZF.2 2.8/21 Distagon T* (referred to simply as the ’21′ after this) is a fairly complex – by Zeiss standards, anyway – telecentric design...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Nikon AF-S 85/1.8 G
The Nikon AFS 85/1.8 G (released at the start of this year) is a slightly odd product. Unusually for Nikon, the new version doesn’t cost a lot more ($50, give or take a bit) than the old one; doubly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Nikon AFS 60/2.8 G Micro
In what appears to be a hideously enormous oversight on my part, I seem to have neglected to review what is ostensibly my most used lens: the Nikon AFS 60mm f2.8 G Micro-Nikkor. As you might expect, I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Leica 35/1.4 Summilux-M ASPH FLE
I couldn’t find a product shot in my archive, so you’re going to have to settle for one of me using it instead. Not long after this lens was initially released and generally available – early 2012 – I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Nikon AF-S 80-400/4.5-5.6 G ED VR II N
Nikon’s 80-400mm received a long-deserved update earlier in the year; it’s in fact had a complete overhaul and optical redesign. The original lens was Nikon’s very first VR lens, and body-driven to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Panasonic Lumix Vario PZ 14-42/3.5-5.6 X G
14-42 X on OM-D, collapsed and extended. If you’re wondering why I got a silver one, it’s because the black ones were out of stock at the time I needed it. Would I have preferred black? Obviously. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Olympus 12-40/2.8 M.Zuiko PRO
Announced and available together with the new OM-D E-M1 (reviewed here), the 12-40/2.8 M.Zuiko Digital PRO (24-80mm equivalent) is the first in a new line of M.Zuiko Digital PRO lenses. Development of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Photoessay-review: the Nikon AFS 70-200/4 VR and Havana cityscapes, part I
This will be the first in my new review format for ‘light’ reviews – pieces of equipment that perhaps don’t necessarily need a full blown magnum opus, but benefit from some context in deployment and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Lens review: The Zeiss ZF.2 1.4/85 Otus APO-Planar
One year after the 1.4/55 Otus APO-Distagon, Zeiss is back as promised with the second installment in the new line of super-lenses: the 1.4/85 Otus APO-Planar. Announced unofficially on facebook...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A visit to Zeiss and thoughts on the Milvus line
The mothership I was fortunate enough to spend the last three days at Zeiss with Lloyd Chambers (update: his blog entry is here) – with a level of access that I suspect that has never been granted...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: the Zeiss 1.4/28 Otus APO-Distagon
28, 55, 85. A pretty versatile core set for pretty much any purposes. And now fully filled out by the latest in the Otus series, the recently-announced 1.4/28 APO-Distagon. Advance warning: this is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The ultimate lens list, at Nov 2016 (part I)
Following a couple of recent email exchanges I’ve had, I thought I’d tidy things up and publish them here for the benefit of the general readership. This is a list of what I consider to be the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The ultimate lens list, at Nov 2016 (part II)
Continued from part 1. Remember: what constitutes ‘ultimate’ is actually highly subjective; some value smooth drawing quality and tonal transitions over outright resolution; others require zero...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Reasons to have multiple lenses in the same focal length/AOV
85mm lenses and equivalents on native or adapted formats – yes, I probably have too many. Upper left row: Nikon 85 PCE Macro, Zeiss 1.4/85 Otus, Nikon 24-120/4 VR, Hasselblad HC 2.2/100; middle row:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN C
After my review of the Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm F1.2 PRO, a few people suggested a lower priced yet seemingly competent alternative – the Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens. A dear friend, Amir, who...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Wider please, but on a budget: the Nikon AF-P 10-20mm f4.5-5.6 DX VR review
Most of you know me for being at the bleeding edge of hardware and being able to deploy the difference – that was true at least until my back injury last year, which has severely limited what I’m able...
View Article/pic9814888.png)
/fit-in/580x348/filters:format(webp)/english-betterindia/media/media_files/2026/09/17/balaghat-4-2026-09-17-19-01-31.png)
