Lens Reviews Archives - Casual Photophile

May 13, 2020

Schneider Kreuznach Super Xenar 50mm F/2.8 – Lens Review

https://i2.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Schneider-Kreuznach-Super-Xenar-6-of-8.jpg?fit=2100%2C1181&ssl=1 2100 1181 Cheyenne Morrison Cheyenne Morrison https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e7ed78af70fd8ce76583422856499fb8?s=96&d=mm&r=g May 13, 2020 May 13, 2020

Cheyenne reviews his favorite vintage lens, the Schneider Kreuznach Super Xenar 50mm F/2.8 in M42 mount. Sample sand Buyer’s Guide inside.

Cheyenne Morrison
12

April 24, 2020

Our Favorite Lenses as Chosen by Your Favorite Camera Geeks

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An all-star lineup of camera likers pick their favorite lenses, including JCH, Hamish of 35mmc, and many more. Plus, we want to know your favorite lens!

James Tocchio
18

April 10, 2020

Minolta MC Fisheye Rokkor X 7.5mm F/4 Lens Review

https://i1.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/minolta-7.5mm-lens-1-of-10-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1 2560 1440 James Tocchio James Tocchio https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-square.jpg April 10, 2020 May 19, 2020

James shoots and reviews the Minolta MC Fisheye Rokkor X 7.5mm F/4, the widest lens that Minolta ever produced.

James Tocchio
5

March 26, 2020

Minolta MC Rokkor X 85mm F/1.7 Fast Prime Portrait Lens Review

https://i1.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/minolta-85mm-product-photos-7-of-7-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1 2560 1440 James Tocchio James Tocchio https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-square.jpg March 26, 2020 March 26, 2020

James shoots Minolta’s first and fastest manual focus prime lens, the Minolta MC Rokkor X 85mm F/1.7. Plus sample shots and a buyer’s guide.

James Tocchio
11

February 20, 2020

Rokkor, Nikkor, Takumar and Zuiko – The Stories Behind Japanese Lens Names

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/minolta-rokkor-1-of-1-2-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1 2560 1440 Josh Solomon Josh Solomon https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg February 20, 2020 February 22, 2020

What’s with those names? Josh briefly tells us the origins of lens brand names such as Nikkor, Zuiko, Rokkor, and Takumar.

Josh Solomon
14

February 10, 2020

Nikon Micro Nikkor 55mm F/3.5 Macro / Standard Lens Review

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/nikon-micro-nikkor-55-35-4-of-5-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1438&ssl=1 2560 1438 Josh Solomon Josh Solomon https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg February 10, 2020 February 10, 2020

Josh reviews a classic Nikon Nikkor lens, the Micro Nikkor 55mm F/3.5 macro lens. It’s a standard fifty and a macro lens in one!

Josh Solomon
23

January 9, 2020

Leitz 21mm F/4 Super Angulon R – Leica R Mount Lens Review

https://i1.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/leica-super-angulon-r-21mm-f4-review-1-of-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1 2560 1440 James Tocchio James Tocchio https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-square.jpg January 9, 2020 January 9, 2020

James spends six months with and then reviews an ultra wide angle lens for the Leica SLR system, the Leitz 21mm F/4 Super Angulon R.

James Tocchio
11

October 29, 2019

Nikon Series E 50mm F/1.8 Lens Review – Value Proposition

https://i1.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/nikon-series-E-50mm-1-of-5.jpg?fit=2800%2C1572&ssl=1 2800 1572 Josh Solomon Josh Solomon https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg October 29, 2019 October 29, 2019

Kit lenses are, for the most part, forgettable things. The hordes of slow wide-range zooms and 50mm f/1-point-whatever lenses have very few standouts among their ranks. They’re meant to be good-enough until the mediocrity becomes…

Josh Solomon
10

July 29, 2019

Nikon AF Nikkor 35-70mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens Review

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/nikon-AF-Nikkor-35-70mm-f-2.8-review-2-of-11.jpg?fit=2800%2C1575&ssl=1 2800 1575 Jeb Inge Jeb Inge https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/jeb-inge-photo-1.jpg July 29, 2019 July 29, 2019

Jeb examines the performance of one of the best zoom lens values available today.

Jeb Inge
5

July 8, 2019

Value Proposition – the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 Zoom Lens

https://i1.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/vivitar-series-1-70-210mm-prodcut-photos-1-of-7.jpg?fit=2800%2C1572&ssl=1 2800 1572 Josh Solomon Josh Solomon https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg July 8, 2019 July 8, 2019

Finding hidden gems is sort of what we do. Today we’re looking at a great value lens with few compromises; the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm zoom.

Josh Solomon
11

April 11, 2019

The AF Nikkor 24mm F/2.8D is Nikon’s Best Value Wide-Angle Lens

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/nikon-af-nikkor-24mm-f-2.8D-lens-review-6-of-6.jpg?fit=2000%2C1125&ssl=1 2000 1125 Jeb Inge Jeb Inge https://casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/jeb-inge-photo-1.jpg April 11, 2019 April 11, 2019

A little more than one year ago, while preparing to emigrate to Europe, I decided to put together a proper kit that could shoot nearly any type of photo. I settled on a Nikon F100…

Jeb Inge
15

April 2, 2019

Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon Wide Angle Lens History and Review

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/zeiss-flektogon-review-11-of-27.jpg?fit=2375%2C1336&ssl=1 2375 1336 Cheyenne Morrison Cheyenne Morrison https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e7ed78af70fd8ce76583422856499fb8?s=96&d=mm&r=g April 2, 2019 April 9, 2019

“After a few weeks with a Pentax 50mm lens, I had the feeling of suffocating. I realized that I needed a wide angle. As soon as I had my Zeiss Flektogon, the world looked very…

Cheyenne Morrison
11

March 10, 2019

A History of the Xenon Lens

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/xenon-lens-history-8-of-31.jpg?fit=2235%2C1257&ssl=1 2235 1257 Cheyenne Morrison Cheyenne Morrison https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e7ed78af70fd8ce76583422856499fb8?s=96&d=mm&r=g March 10, 2019 March 10, 2019

In the pantheon of fast Double-Gauss lenses from the 20th century, the Sonnar, Biotar, and Planar, are well known. But there’s also a lesser-known lens that is their equal; the Xenon. This lens was invented…

Cheyenne Morrison
31

February 13, 2019

Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2 – Lens Review

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/0-Rocío-Biotar-10-blades-1958-M42-2-biotar-58mm.jpg?fit=2400%2C1601&ssl=1 2400 1601 Cheyenne Morrison Cheyenne Morrison https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e7ed78af70fd8ce76583422856499fb8?s=96&d=mm&r=g February 13, 2019 February 14, 2019

Modern digital photographers looking for a more distinctive look have turned to classic manual focus lenses; and one of the most popular of these is the Soviet Helios 44-2, famed for its swirly bokeh. However,…

Cheyenne Morrison
19