Kase AF 85mm F1.4 Review

The company Kase has long been known as a filter maker, with a wide variety of filters and filter systems. But they have just released their first lens, and it is a surprisingly ambitious one. The Kase AF 85mm F1.4…
The company Kase has long been known as a filter maker, with a wide variety of filters and filter systems. But they have just released their first lens, and it is a surprisingly ambitious one. The Kase AF 85mm F1.4…
The launch of the APS-C specific Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro for Fuji’s X-mount platform was the moment I realized that Viltrox was moving to a whole new level of optical design. I gave that lens a glowing review because…
The launch of the APS-C specific Viltrox AF 75mm F1.2 Pro for Fuji’s X-mount platform was the moment I realized that Viltrox was moving to a whole new level of optical design. I gave that lens a glowing review because…
I’ve owned the Sony 35mm F1.4 GM for about four years, and I think it is one of the best 35mm lenses ever made. It’s small and compact, focuses quickly, has great optics, and even has great magnification. The Viltrox…
We’ve known that Viltrox’s LAB series was coming for about two years, and I, for one, was very excited for the series. Viltrox has proved to be capable of doing very serious optical engineering, and, put simply, the LAB series…
We’ve known that Viltrox’s LAB series was coming for about two years, and I, for one, was very excited for the series. Viltrox has proved to be capable of doing very serious optical engineering, and, put simply, the LAB series…
In the fall of the 2024 I had the opportunity to review the long awaited first entry in Viltrox’s Premium LAB series – the Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB FE. I loved the lens on Sony despite it being large…
In the fall of the 2024 I had the opportunity to review the long awaited first entry in Viltrox’s Premium LAB series – the Viltrox AF 135mm F1.8 LAB FE. I loved the lens on Sony despite it being large…
In the course of any given year, I review a LOT of gear. In 2024 I did 108 total reviews, including 7 cameras and many dozens of lenses at all price points. At this stage of my career, I have…
The LAB series is to be Viltrox’s “Otus” series; an optically superlative lineup of lenses that will eventually include 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm F1.2 lenses in addition to the 135mm F1.8 LAB lens that I’m reviewing here. Viltrox is unique…
I’ve just wrapped up a review of Viltrox’s smallest, lightest, and cheapest lens: the AF 28mm F4.5 “Chip” – a micro-pancake lens just 15mm long. That makes it somewhat ironic to immediately pivot to what is easily their biggest, heaviest,…
I’ve just wrapped up a review of Viltrox’s smallest, lightest, and cheapest lens: the AF 28mm F4.5 “Chip” – a micro-pancake lens just 15mm long. That makes it somewhat ironic to immediately pivot to what is easily their biggest, heaviest,…
Earlier this year I did one of my first ever Nikon Z-mount reviews, and it was of a brand new Viltrox lens that released first to Nikon – the Viltrox AF 40mm F2.5. I found it to be quite an…
Viltrox is clearly a very ambitious company. I’ve had the unique opportunity to start from the beginning with them, reviewing their first 20mm F1.8 manual focus lens in early 2019. Then came an 85mm F1.8 manual focus, then their first…
Viltrox is clearly a very ambitious company. I’ve had the unique opportunity to start from the beginning with them, reviewing their first 20mm F1.8 manual focus lens in early 2019. Then came an 85mm F1.8 manual focus, then their first…
Pergear released a 14mm F2.8 wide angle prime for full frame cameras a few years ago, and while it was nicely sharp, there were some areas that could be improved. But Pergear is back with a second attempt that has…
Pergear released a 14mm F2.8 wide angle prime for full frame cameras a few years ago, and while it was nicely sharp, there were some areas that could be improved. But Pergear is back with a second attempt that has…
I was in a press briefing regarding this lens when the Sony rep said something that resonated with me. He noted with today’s high resolution bodies (I currently do my Sony reviews on the 61MP a7RV body) that getting length…