Hardware
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Nikon Nikkor Z 58mm F0.95 S Noct: Initial Impressions
The Nikkor Z 58mm F0.95 S Noct is one of Nikon’s showcase lenses – a sort of throwback to the early days of Nikon’s interest in optical research. It’s certainly a lens that splits opinions – I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about it – though there’s no denying it’s a beautifully made lens that’s capable of extremely high image quality in all its nuances. You can read additional opinion on this lens here. Build Like other Nikon exotics, it’s delivered in a massively oversized cardboard box, but inside it contains a large Pelican-type case, instead of the more usual soft-padded type. I didn’t weigh the case but…
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Sony FE 85mm F1.8 lens review: Excellent image quality at a reasonable price
Overview Announced in early 2017, the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 is a short-tele designed for the company’s mirrorless full-frame a9/a7 models. It will of course, also serve double duty on the APS-C a6000 series, where it’s more or less a 135mm equivalent. Although not a premium G-master model like the F1.4 version announced the year before, it’s a lot smaller and lighter and still has some features that might be considered “premium.” This includes ED glass, a near-silent, twin-focus drive system (using a stepping motor), a focus-hold button that can be customised, weather sealing and a nine-blade circular aperture. It’s also quite nicely made, with a mainly metal exterior and…
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Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4S lens review: Compact and capable performer
This is what you’ll get if you buy one of the mirrorless Nikon Z 6 or Z 7 cameras as part of a kit, but as one of Nikon’s S series of primes it’s meant as a ‘premium’ model. While we’ve yet to see what one of the ‘standard’ models is like build-wise, this sober-looking lens is a step or two above the DX equivalent zooms in the company’s range. It’s nicely made but it’s not quite up to the pro-oriented build of the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S (reviewed here). Still, with a part-plastic part-metal outer, this is intended as lightweight and compact design. It even has a retractable…
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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm F4E TC1.4 FL ED VR lens review: Nikon’s best tele-zoom
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 180-400mm F4E TC1.4 FL ED VR is an updated version of the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm F4G ED VR – one of the first lenses Nikon added stabilisation (VR) to (the other being the AF-S Nikkor 200mm F2.0, effectively a 300mm on the DX only bodies back then) and the favourite of animal safari photographers everywhere. Not surprisingly, it’s also a popular choice with those who cover sports. This new model, though, is much more than just an update – it’s a redesigned lens complete with a built-in 1.4x teleconverter that’s meant to counter the Canon EF 200-400mm F4L IS USM Extender 1.4x, itself a showcase model…
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Sigma 45mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens review: Great rendering and build quality
Sigma’s range of ‘Contemporary’ series lenses, such as the Sigma 45mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary, are all about maintaining a balance between size, performance and price. They’re not smaller versions of the Art series lenses, which are meant to deliver the best possible image quality, regardless of size. With a 55mm filter thread, and weighing 215g ( 7.58 oz), its diminutive size in E-mount nicely complements the Sony a7/9 series and in the L-mount version, maybe also the larger Leica SL and Lumix S1 models, which it has also been designed for. At around £549 / $549 [advertiser links], this all-metal lens is beautifully made. It even comes with…
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Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S lens review: Nikon’s best 24-70mm to date
What is it? The Nikkor Z 24-70mm F2.8 S [advertiser link] is the first pro-oriented lens for Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless Z series cameras, currently the 24MP Z 6 and the high-resolution Z 7. Naturally, it’s a constant-aperture, high-speed standard zoom and has several features not found on the earlier consumer grade Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S [concise review]. Besides the larger initial aperture the new lens features 17 elements in total, two of which are ED glass to lower color fringing and four are aspherical to reduce distortion and spherical aberration. Like others in the S-series, it has Nikon Integrated coatings while fluorine coatings are used to help keep the front…
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Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 sample gallery
Update (06/12/2019): Read our review of the Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 S here. The Nikkor Z 24-70mm F4 is Nikon’s first zoom for its mirrorless Z 7 and Z 6 full-frame models. Given the marketing spiel about it being high-end, it is really just a consumer-grade lens, and one that seems more geared towards filmmakers than photographers. That said, it’s quite a capable performer, and we put it to work on the Nikon Z 7 in London’s Canary Wharf – take a look and please leave a comment. All images are edited to taste in Capture One Pro 12. Please click on the thumbnails for an enlarged view.…
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NEC MultiSync PA271Q monitor review
Update December 2022: NEC has pulled out of the pro-photo market completely. I now recommend the rival the Eizo ColorEdge CS (or CG with built-in colorimeter) range. NEC MultiSync PA271Q monitor review – Introduction With outstanding image quality, the 2560 x 1440 27-inch NEC PA272W is one of my favourite displays. So I was a little discouraged to hear that it was discontinued in all its guises; MultiSync, SpectraView and SpectraView Reference. My disappointment didn’t last long, however, as NEC has announced a single replacement for all three versions, the MultiSync PA271Q. Typically, there isn’t much between updates though; a new connection standard and perhaps one or two new colour modes for out-of-the-box colour control…
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Sigma 105mm F1.4 DG HSM Art lens review: Outstanding performer
The Sigma 105mm F1.4 DG HSM Art debuted earlier in the year, around May, and is priced at around $1400/£1500. From the DG designation, you can tell that it’s a full-frame lens, and it’s available in Canon, Nikon and Sigma mounts. It is of course, targeting the superb but pricey Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm F1.4E ED, but would also appeal to Canon users, where a high-speed L-series model in that focal length is strangely absent from the line-up. It may also be possible that it becomes available in the Sony FE mount; it is already suitable for mirrorless cameras. Sigma has recently introduced some Art series in Sony FE mount,…
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Nikon Z 7 mirrorless camera: Promising addition to range
The new 45.7MP Nikon Z 7 (not Z7, according to the maker’s marketing department) appears to offer a lot to photographers looking for a mirrorless ‘solution’. Existing Nikon users seem well catered for with the FTZ adapter offering wide-ranging support for their existing lenses, providing it’s made to exact tolerances. At $250 it looks reasonably priced. The Nikon Z 7 also looks promising if trying to attract users from other high-end systems. The Leica SL is a good example of how a mirrorless camera should be but detractors are likely to cite the high price, low-ish 24-MP resolution sensor and lack of in-camera stabilization as barriers to entry. A Leica…
