Tag: Camera

Today we will review Panasonic Lumix G Micro 4/3 LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4 ASPH objective lens with 25 mm fixed focal length and aperture in f/1.4 – f/16 range, that is controlled by 7 diaphragm blades. It is very light and is well suited for photos taking in dark conditions : in the rooms, in a cloudy weather and at night time. It is attached to camera via Micro Four Thirds mounts and it can be used with Panasonic and Olympus devices. Field of view is 47 degrees on diagonal, minimal focusing distance is 0.3 m, lens does not support image stabilization, but it can be performed by camera by sensor shifting. Objective lens has 9 lens elements in 7 groups, 2 of them are aspherical for spherical and chromatic aberrations reduction, 1 lens element is made of UHR ( Ultra High Refractive Index ) glass. All of them are coated with protective and anti-reflective Nano Surface Coating. There is ability to attach 46 mm optical filters to it; its sizes are 63 mm ( diameter ) x 54.5 mm ( length ), its weight is 200 g. Its base is made of metal, which increases its durability. Package contains : Panasonic Lumix G Micro 4/3 LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4 ASPH objective lens itself, frontal and rear caps and protective and carrying case. All in all it is very good light objective lens, which is superior in this respect to many other objective lenses with similar parameters. But there is need to note, that there is ability to find among M42x1 objective lenses similar or even better lenses for much smaller price and use them with modern camera with use of adapters and converters.

Lets continue reviews of Soviet and Russian made objective lens for M42x1 mounts with LZOS MC Rubinar 10/1000 Macro device. It is very powerful telephoto objective lens with 1000 mm focal distance, 1.9 kg weight and 125 x 210 mm sizes. Its aperture equals to f/10, because of this it is not very light and more suited for shooting of objects on land and for shooting of bright astronomical objects. Its field of view is 2.5 degrees and focusing distances range is 4 m – infinity. LZOS MC Rubinar 10/1000 Macro has M116x1 mount on frontal side for optical filters and other accessories. It has 7 lens and mirrors elements in 5 groups ( which is very good ), all of them are coated with protective and anti-reflective multicoating. Also, LZOS MC Rubinar 10/1000 Macro can be used as small telescope, which is not surprisingly, because its optical scheme is very similar to Macsutov-Kassegrene telescope. For this purpose special converters and eye-pieces can be used ( previously LZOS even produced kits, which allowed to use lens as photo camera objective lens and as small telescope, such kit can be seen on photo ); also, this can be achieved with use of special converter with M42x1 mount on one side and 1.25 or 2-inch eye-piece focusing unit on the other side. 2-inch module and eye-pieces are preferably, because they allow to fully reveal capabilities of lens. Currently LZOS does not produce those lenses ( which is pity ) and they can be bought only in stores, which still have them in storage rooms, or through private ads. All in all it is a great objective telephoto lens and, if you have no telescope with similar characteristics, it is good candidate for this purpose, which can be used as multifunctional device. But if you have telescope, then it can be also used as camera lens with use of T-ring.

Today we will look on Tamron AF 18-200mm А/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO. As it is seen from its name, it has varying 18 – 200 mm focus distance and varying maximal aperture f/3.5-6.3, depending on zoom settings; its minimal aperture is f/22; it is controlled with use of 7 diaphragm blades. Lens has macro function and its minimal focusing distance is 0.45 m; field of view is 75 – 8 degrees, depending on zoom settings. Objective lens has 15 lens elements in 13 groups, among them there are : 3 aspherical lens elements, 2 are produced from LD glass with low dispersion level. All lens elements, except LD, are produced from XR ( Extra Refractive Index ) glass; all lens are coated with protective and anti-reflective multicoating. There is ability to attach 62 mm optical filters to Tamron AF 18-200mm А/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] MACRO; its sizes are : 73.8 x 83.7 mm, and weight is : 405 g. It is produced only in black color variant. All in all : this is a good objective lens, which costs optimal amount of money ( in comparison with other similar lenses ) 149 USD at the middle of Autumn 2015. Wherein : there is ability to buy more affordable lenses for M42x1 mounts and use them with converters and adapters; or there is ability to buy macro lens, which can be attached to existing objective lens.

Today in our field of view will be Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM telephoto objective lens. It has initial focus distance for lens of this type and big aperture, which allows to use it for land scenes shooting and for shooting of big astronomical objects. Its maximal and minimal appertures are : f/1.4 and f/16, accordingly, with 9 diaphragm blades; it is designed for full-frame sensors. Lens has 28.6 degrees field of view and 0.85 m minimal focusing distance with support of automatic focusing with use of Hyper Sonic Motor ( HSM ). Lens is produced in variants for Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Sony/Minolta and Pentax mounts. It supports internal focusing and has no image stabilization. 11 lens elements in 9 groups are built into it, all of them are coated with protective and anti-reflective Super Multi-Layer Coating. There is ability to attach to Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM optical filters with 77 mm diameter; its sizes are : 86.4 x 87.6 mm, and weight is : 725 g. Package contains : Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM objective lens itself, frontal and rear caps, case, user’s manual and 1 year warranty card. All in all : this is a good objective lens, which has interesting characteristics, but its price is quite big : 969 USD at the middle of Autumn of 2015 year ( for comparison : there is ability to buy new Nikon D3200 camera for 350 – 400 USD ). Because of this it is more appropriate for photographers, which need its particular characteristics; for photographers, which just need telephoto objective lens it is better to look at models, that are priced at lower level.

Today we will look on Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 lens for Micro Four Thirds mounts. As it can be seen from its name, it has 45 mm fixed focus and maximal and minimal diaphragms f/1.8 and f/22, accordingly, with 7 diaphragm blades. It has 0.5 m minimal focusing distance with auto-focusing, which works via High-speed Imager AF ( MSC ) motor. It has 9 lens elements in 8 groups ( which is much for lens of such type ), among them 2 are E-HR lens elements; all of them are covered with protective and anti-reflective multicoating. Field of view is equal to 27 degrees, which is not much for prime lens; there is ability to attach 37 mm optical filters to it. Its sizes are : 56 x 46 mm, and weight is : 116 g. Package contains : Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 lens itself, front and rear caps, decorative ring, user’s manual and warranty card. Overall it is not bad objective lens, but accounting its average characteristics and high price ( 399 USD at the middle of Autumn 2015 ), it is better to buy more functional prime lens with smaller price.

Lets review Nikon Nikkor 2137 50mm f/1.8D prime lens for Nikon F mounts. As it can be seen from its name, it has 50 mm fixed focus and maximal and minimal apertures f/1.8 and f/22, accordingly, with 7 diaphragm blades. It has 46 degrees field of view for 36 mm FX sensors and 31 degrees 30 minutes for smaller DX sensors; minimal focusing distance is 0.45 m with support of automatic and manual focusing. It has 6 lens elements in 5 groups, they all are coated with protective and anti-reflective Super Integrated Coating. 52 mm optical filters of Screw-on standard can be attached to it. Objective sizes are 63.5 x 39 mm and weight is : 155 g. All in all it is good objective lens with fixed focus, small lens elements amount and auto focus function, which costs affordable amount of money, in comparison with other objective lenses. Nikon Nikkor 2137 50mm f/1.8D Auto Focus can be recommended to novice and experienced photographers, who want to capture beautiful and clear portrait and panorama photos without zoom.

Lets study Panasonic Lumix G 20mm / F1.7 II ASPH objective lens with 20 mm fixed focus for Micro Four Thirds mounts. Its diaphragm is set in F1.7 – F/16 range with use of 7 blades; minimal focusing distance is 0.2 m; field of view is 57 degrees. There are 7 lens elements in 5 groups set in the objective, 2 of them are aspherical ( to reduce image geometrical and color distortions ); all lens are covered with protective and anti-reflective multicoating. There is ability to attach 46 mm optical filters to it; objective lens sizes are 63 x 25.5 mm, its weight is : 87 g; its body is made from metal, which increases its durability and reliability. It has no image stabilization functions and have automatic focusing with use of built-in motor. Package contains : Panasonic Lumix G 20mm / F1.7 II ASPH objective lens itself, front and back caps, lens storage bag and user’s manual. There is need to note, that this objective lens can be used not only with Panasonic cameras, but with all other cameras, that support Micro Four Thirds mounts, for example, Olympus.

Lets continue our study of Russian-made photo objective lens with MC APO Telezenitar-M 2.8/135. As it follows from its name, it is apochromatic ( it has corrected spherical aberrations ( geometrical image distortions ) and chromatic aberrations ( color image distortions ) for 3 or more light waves lengths ); has 135 mm fixed focal distance and 1/2.8 – 1/22 diaphragm. They were developed in KMZ plant in the beginning of 1980ties and their industrial productions started in 1983 year; also, modifications of objective lens were produced by other companies. Field of view of objective lens is 18 degrees, frame sizes are 24 × 36 mm, and minimal focusing distance is 1.3 m. There are 5 lens elements in 4 groups set in it, all of them are covered with protective and anti-reflective multicoating. MC APO Telezenitar-M 2.8/135 attaches to camera via M42×1 mount, with use of adapters and converters it can be attached to modern cameras with other bayonets formats. Objective lens sizes are : 83 x 66.5 mm, and weight is : 430 g. All in all : it is very good objective lens; it has no automatic focusing and diaphragm control and they should be set manually via control rings, because of this this lens can be advised for experienced photographers or to those, who want to dive in this area. It has small amount of lens elements and because of this it is far more superior in image quality area, than zoom-objecte lenses with simillar characteristics. Also, it is light weight ( for tele-objective lens ) and it is convenient to shoot photos from hands with it and wear camera in trips. Currently these objective lenses are rare in shops and they can be bought via private ads in conditions from “new one” to “with marks of use”.

Lets review wide angle objective lens KMZ Mir-20, it was produced by KMZ plant from 1973 year to 1992 year and by other plants, now it can be bought through private ads in conditions from “new” to “with marks of use”. It has 20 mm fixed focus and field of view 96 degrees; 1/3.5 – 1/16 diaphragm; 24 × 36 mm frame size; and minimal focusing distance 0.18 m. Objective lens has 9 lens elements in 8 groups with enlightened optics or with protective and anti-reflective multi-coating, depending on objective lens modification. KMZ Mir-20 is attached to camera via M42×1 mount, using different adapters and converters it can be attached to cameras with different mounts standards. It has no automatic focusing and diaphragm control, so they should be set manually with use of control rings. Because of this it most suitable for experienced photographers, who know which settings to use in different situations. Optical filters can be attached to objective lens from back side with use of M28×0.75 mount. All in all it is very good objective lens, accounting its low lens elements amount and their high quality ( in USSR and in Russia optics production takes its roots in military area and quality of production is very high ), it is far more superior, than zoom objective lenses with similar characteristics; and taking into account its low price ( especially when it is bought through private ads ) it is very competitive with other fixed focus wide angle lenses.

Lets review extra-wide angle objective lens ( “fish eye” ) Zenitar 2,8/16, that is produced in Russia. It was developed and now is manufactured by «Krasnogorskiy Plant of S.A. Zverev» for following bayonets : M42×1, Nikon, Pentax and Canon, it also can be used with other mounts via adapters and converters. It has 180 degrees field of view, 16 mm focal length, maximal and minimal apertures : f/2,8 – f/22 ( with 6 diaphragm blades ), frame size : 24 × 36 mm, and minimal focusing distance is 0.3 m. To obtain optimal results, there is need to use full-frame cameras, otherwise field of view will be cut near the edges. It has 11 lens elements in 7 groups, all of them are coated with multilayer protective and anti-reflective coating. Objective lens does not have automatic focusing and image stabilization; they would not work any way with adapters and converters; so, this lens is appropriate for experienced photographers, which know which settings to use for different scenes. It has great picture quality at the center and strong geometrical distortions at the edges ( they are inherent for all objective lens of this type ). Zenitar 2,8/16 has fixed focus and small amount of lens elements, so by image clarity, sharpness and lightness it is far more superior, than standard zoom objective lens of cameras. Wherein it has much smaller price, than other competing extra-wide angle objective lens.