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The Viltrox 20mm f/1.8 ASPH has decent performance for its price along with excellent build quality. To get the most out of it you will need to stop it down and the lens does not have weather sealing. You can read optical limits full review here or you can read the conclusion below.

The Viltrox PFU RBMH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH enters a rather crowded space but it has a couple of differentiators that set it apart from the rest of the gang. There is, of course, the fast maximum aperture of f/1.8. The image quality is perfectly fine in the image center whereas the borders are quite soft. This may or may not be important depending on the target application. If you are into shallow depth-of-field photography, this isn’t really an issue for instance whereas for astro photography this isn’t ideal. If you stop down, the quality improves quite a bit and it’s really good at medium aperture settings. Lateral CAs are low and you don’t have to worry about image distortions either. The vignetting is on the high side though. The quality of the bokeh (out-of-focus blur) is pretty good for a lens in this class.
The build quality is excellent thanks to a tightly assembled, all-metal-construction. The price you have to pay for the solid body is the high weight and it isn’t a small lens either. Weather-sealing is not provided but that’s no surprise at this price point. If you are into videos, you will love the dampened control rings and yes, it has a step-less aperture ring – but no stepped mode. On the downside, it’s a fully manual lens with no coupling so if you can’t live without AF, a camera-controlled aperture and EXIF data, this lens is not for you. The Viltrox lens comes with two different lens hoods – one that is optimized for the job and a 2nd one that accepts conventional, albeit large filters (82mm). It’s a smart approach to have the choice without having to rely on aftermarket solutions. The quality of the lens cap could be better though.
Another differentiator is, of course, the price. At just under 400USD/EUR, it is not only very affordable, but it is also almost a steal considering the large aperture.

Viltrox PFU RBMH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged VILTROX, Viltrox PFU RBMH 20 mm f/1.8, Viltrox PFU RBMH 85 mm f/1.8 STM| Leave a comment

Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 and 40mm f/1.2 Now Available on Amazon

By Louis Ferreira | Published: July 13, 2020

The Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 and 40mm f/1.2 are now available on Amazon. They were announced a few months ago here.

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Optical Limits: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review – an excellent example for how mirrorless lenses should be

By Louis Ferreira | Published: July 13, 2020

If you’re a Sigma fan the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary won’t disappoint with the optical limits saying “an excellent example for how mirrorless lenses should be.” Below you can read Optical Limits conclusion or you can read the full review here.

The Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is an excellent example for how mirrorless lenses should be. It’s small and well built with a focus on the optical characteristics where it counts the most while compromising on secondary aspects that can be corrected without too many headaches. Namely the sharpness is very good at f/1.4 and downright superb between f/2 and f/8. The laternal CAs are very low. This can’t be said about the original distortion which is on the high side for a prime lens. Vignetting is also very pronounced at f/1.4. However, these two aspects are mostly corrected with image auto-correction either in-camera (with JPGs) or in RAW converters. A strength of the lens is the quality of the bokeh with nicely rendered out-of-focus highlights and a smooth blur in the focus transition zones. Bokeh fringing is present at large aperture but that’s rather normal for such a lens.
The overall build quality is very good. The lens body is made of metal and the big, rubberized focus ring is both smooth as well as very grippy. It also has basic sealing of some kind. On the downside, manual focusing is way too coarse to be useful at shorter focus distances. The AF is about average for a modern mirrorless lens – thus it’s quite fast, noiseless and accurate. You won’t use it for action photography though.
The sum of its qualities combined with the very reasonable price tag make the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary an obvious choice in its class. Therefore – highly recommended!

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Posted in 3rd Party Lens| Tagged Sigma 56mm, Sigma 56mm 1.4, Sigma 56mm 1.4 DC DN, Sigma 56mm 1.4 DC DN Contemporary, Sigma 56mm f/1.4, Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN, Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary, Sigma 56mm F1.4, Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN, Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary, Sony a7000| Leave a comment

LEE85 System – Available 1st August 2020!

By Louis Ferreira | Published: July 12, 2020

LEE85 System – Available from 1st August 2020!
We are delighted to announce that its new LEE85 Filter System will be available through our global dealer networks (B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama) from 1st August 2020.

First announced in March, the LEE85 Filter System is centered around a lightweight, compact, precision-engineered filter holder designed for landscape, cityscape and other photographers working with smaller form new technology compact system cameras, allowing them to travel light without compromising quality or versatility.

via FujiAddict

Posted in Accessories, Press releases| Tagged LEE, LEE 85, LEE 85 Filter System, LEE Filter, LEE85 Filter system| Leave a comment

DPRTV: Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Review

By Louis Ferreira | Published: July 11, 2020

DPRTV released their review of the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM. Below is a summary of the above video:

The worlds first f/2.8 full-frame zoom to go down to 12mm
Quite lightweight for the speed 847g or 1/2 Nikkor Noct
Easy to carry and balances well
Rugged build and good weather sealing
No front filter thread so you have to use cut gel filters on the back and they give you a template to cut them accurately
One of the fun things about wide angles is how it pushes everything away
Very well corrected in-camera so you won’t have to worry about fixing distortion
Great wide open at f/2.8
Very good center sharpness even handheld in non-optimal conditions
Great sun stars from 12-24mm
Very advanced formula with 4 ASPH elements and 3 XA (Extreme Aspherical) element, which is the most ever and the largest XA element Sony has ever put in a lens
Chromatic Aberration and LoCA, not a problem
You can get nice shallow depth of field up close
Good Bokeh wide open or even stopped down but might get busy in the background
Little lost of contrast with flare
4 XDM linear motors driving the elements so AF is fast
This lens can keep up with an a9
The minimal focus distance is 0.28 meters
Resolution at 12mm to 24mm is very good, but there is a little softness in the corners until f/5.6
For video close to being parfocal, but there is a little breathing
GM are typically fantastic and this is no exception
Amazing that is is the same size and weight as other manufactures 14-24mm
Blown away that f/2.8 and 12mm is useful
The only catch is this lens is expensive!

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Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama

Posted in Sony lenses| Tagged FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM, Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, Sony 12-24mm F2.8 GM, Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM, Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM| Leave a comment

Sony Photography News and Rumors

B&H Photo Has New Mac Pros Discounted $1,500 and Discounted 2018 iPad Pros While Supplies Last

Optical Limits: Viltrox PFU RBMH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH Review

Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 and 40mm f/1.2 Now Available on Amazon

Optical Limits: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review – an excellent example for how mirrorless lenses should be

LEE85 System – Available 1st August 2020!

DPRTV: Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Review

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Sony Photography News and Rumors

B&H Photo Has New Mac Pros Discounted $1,500 and Discounted 2018 iPad Pros While Supplies Last

Optical Limits: Viltrox PFU RBMH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH Review

Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 and 40mm f/1.2 Now Available on Amazon

Optical Limits: Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Review – an excellent example for how mirrorless lenses should be

LEE85 System – Available 1st August 2020!

DPRTV: Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 GM Review

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