Lens Reviews Archives

June 29, 2020

Nikon Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 Longnose Lens Review – The Forgotten Favorite

https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/nikon-nikkor-50mm-f-1.8-lens-review-2-of-7.jpg?fit=1800%2C1013&ssl=1 1800 1013 Hemant Chatterji Hemant Chatterji https://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IMG-20191118-WA0026-01.jpeg?fit=62%2C96&ssl=1 June 29, 2020 June 28, 2020

A brief review of the Nikon Nikkor 50mm F/1.8 Longnose standard prime lens. With sample photos, history, and specifications.

Hemant Chatterji
7

May 13, 2020

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

https://i0.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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cheyenne-morrison.jpg?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1 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
38

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
22

April 10, 2020

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

https://i0.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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-square.jpg?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1 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://i0.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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-square.jpg?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1 March 26, 2020 June 14, 2021

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
13

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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg?fit=96%2C64&ssl=1 February 20, 2020 June 14, 2021

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

Josh Solomon
16

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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg?fit=96%2C64&ssl=1 February 10, 2020 June 14, 2021

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
29

January 9, 2020

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

https://i0.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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/james-square.jpg?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1 January 9, 2020 June 14, 2021

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
15

October 29, 2019

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

https://i0.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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg?fit=96%2C64&ssl=1 October 29, 2019 June 14, 2021

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
13

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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/jeb-inge-photo-1.jpg?fit=96%2C78&ssl=1 July 29, 2019 June 14, 2021

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

Jeb Inge
11

July 8, 2019

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

https://i0.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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/kodak-ektachrome-samples-josh-9-of-9.jpg?fit=96%2C64&ssl=1 July 8, 2019 June 14, 2021

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
13

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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/jeb-inge-photo-1.jpg?fit=96%2C78&ssl=1 April 11, 2019 June 14, 2021

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
21

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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cheyenne-morrison.jpg?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1 April 2, 2019 June 14, 2021

“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
18

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://i0.wp.com/casualphotophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cheyenne-morrison.jpg?fit=96%2C96&ssl=1 March 10, 2019 June 14, 2021

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
56