Samyang Rokinon AF 50mm f/1.4 FE vs Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 – The complete comparison

samyang-50mm-vs-sony-55mm-comparison-4

Most photographers want a fast, standard prime lens in their collection, but what do you do when there are no fewer than seven to choose between?

This is the very situation in which Sony full-frame E-mount users find themselves. What started as a lens ecosystem with just one option – the much-lauded FE 55mm f/1.8 – has exploded to include one nifty-fifty prime, one expensive f/1.4 and one macro-lens from Sony itself, one 50mm f/2 manual focus prime from Zeiss, one 50mm f/0.95 prime from Mitakon Zhongi, and one 50mm f/1.4 prime from Samyang-Rokinon. The final lens on the list is special because it, along with the 14mm f/2.8, is the first autofocus lens from the brand.

Read more

Olympus 45mm vs. Panasonic 42.5mm vs. Nocticron 42.5mm vs. Voigtlander 42.5mm – Portrait lens battle!

olympus 45mm vs panasonic 42.5mm vs nocticron 42.5mm vs voigtlander 42.5mm

One aspect I love about Micro Four Thirds is the sheer amount of choice users have when it comes to standard portrait lenses for the system. On one hand, there are three autofocus lenses: two compact and affordable primes from Olympus and Panasonic (the M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.8 and Lumix G 42.5mm f/1.7) and the premium Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 from Panasonic / Leica. On the other, we find two manual focus options: the Voigtlander Nokton 42.5mm f/0.95 and the Zhongyi Mitakon 42.5mm f/1.2.

Read more

Zeiss Batis 18mm vs Loxia 21mm – The complete comparison

Zeiss’ effort to produce quality primes for the Sony full-frame E-mount system has been remarkable. There are now no fewer than six lenses divided into two separate families (Loxia and Batis) in addition to the many FE lenses the brand has designed for Sony, and we are sure that more will come in the near future.

Read more

Olympus 75mm f/1.8 vs Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 – Apples vs Oranges

If you are a professional events photographer, you can go one of two routes when choosing a telephoto lens.

On one hand, you can opt for a telephoto prime with a very bright maximum aperture. The advantage of a lens like this isn’t just the extra shallow depth of field; there is also the fact that you can work in poor light conditions without having to raise your ISO or reduce your shutter speed too much.

Read more

Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm vs. 75mm – Apples vs Oranges

olympus 60mm vs 75mm

Portrait lenses with an equivalent focal length of 85-90mm in full-frame terms are a dime a dozen in the Micro Four Thirds range but there is currently only one long telephoto prime for portraits: the M.Zuiko 75mm f/1.8. Its equivalent focal length of 150mm is a good compromise since it allows you to achieve good compression and background blur, yet doesn’t place you too far from your subject that it becomes difficult to communicate.

Read more