Viltrox has been busying itself with full-frame Z-mount releases over the last year, building upon the core of its business which has been centered around APS-C. In fact, the last Fuji X-mount release was the “Pro” monikered 27mm f/1.2 that I reviewed in August 2023. The new 56mm f/1.7 sits at the opposite end of … Read more
Designed to pair with the newly-announced Lumix S9, Panasonic announced the super-compact and lightweight S-series 26mm f/8. Despite fixed focal length and aperture, Panasonic assures it will deliver outstanding image quality and high resolution. The 26mm f/8 is a surprisingly limited lens — especially considering that it is designed to pair with the S9. Being … Read more
Sigma announced the 50mm f/1.2 Art for full-frame cameras, promising to combine optical excellence and outstanding autofocus performance in the smallest and lightest chassis on the market. Despite promising high resolving power through the entire focus range, beautiful bokeh wide open, and fast and accurate autofocus along with a low asking price compared to the … Read more
I normally dismiss ultra-fast aperture lenses because they tend to be overly large, overly expensive, and overly excessive. I rarely want to have the shallowest depth of field possible, and an f/1.2 lens is only two-thirds of a stop brighter than a reasonably priced f/1.4 lens. But what if I can have my cake and … Read more
Leica will sell an extremely limited run of its 35mm f/1.4 Summilux-M in a black anodized finish, a new re-release of the lens that first hit the market in 1961. When the original 35mm /1.4 Summilux-M first came out, it was the world’s fastest wide-angle lens. Leica re-released the lens in 2022 but today announced … Read more
Sigma’s latest compact telephoto optic, the 500mm f/5.6 DG DN OS Sports lens is so popular that the company can’t keep up with pre-orders. The 500mm f/5.6 is a very impressive lens and is already on PetaPixel‘s shortlist for lens of the year. It should not, therefore, come as a particular surprise that it is … Read more
It’s not often that I get to review a lens that the world has never seen before. I’ve reviewed plenty of f/1.4 lenses and I’ve reviewed the occasional 15mm fisheye, but a 15mm diagonal fisheye with an f/1.4 maximum aperture is a first for me. Although fisheye lenses are a very specialized tool with limited … Read more
The Viltrox 16m f/1.8 lens shown here in E-mount is poised to make its way to Z-mount soon. | Credit: Ryan Mense Reports out of China suggest that Viltrox is preparing to launch four new prime lenses, including its first LAB series prime lens, a new product line that promises pro-level image quality. Last year, … Read more
Meike will release a new full-frame 50mm f/1.8 autofocus lens for Sony E and Nikon Z next month for a very reasonable $160. One of the better-known Chinese-based third-party lens manufacturers, Meike has been stepping up its production to include autofocus-equipped lenses. The latest is this 50mm f/1.8 lens that is expected to come to … Read more
Zhongyi Optic’s latest lens is the Chuichi Kogaku Speedmaster 20mm f/0.95, an ultra-fast, manual focus, mirrorless lens designed for Nikon, Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm APS-C cameras that suspiciously shares a lot in common with its 20mm T1.0 Mitakon lens. The wide-angle prime lens would have a full-frame equivalent of about 30mm (32mm on Canon RF) … Read more