Image by Christophe Anagnostopoulos

Christophe Anagnostopoulos posted the first review of the new Tokina 85mm f/1.8 FE lens:

A great option in the medium telephoto range, an ideal prime lens for ambient light images and videos, like portraits, landscapes and street shots, with excellent optical quality, smooth bokeh, fast and accurate autofocus, packed in a solid build and premium looking body, and all that, in a very competitive and affordable price which is going to establish it in the top ranks of the demanding mirrorless market.

Here is also a quick autofocus test video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4dfnZE8yYU

Tokina preorder at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon FR, Amazon IT, Amazon ES.

Sony still has the edge but the competition is definitely getting closer. Sony has to step up the game once more and maybe release new cameras with advanced AI autofocus system?

You can now preorder the new Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO APS-C E-mount lens at BHphoto and VenusOptics (worldwide shipment).

Opticallimits tested the X-mount version and concluded:

Not all Laowa lenses are excellent but some are and the Laowa 65mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is certainly among them. Canon, Fujifilm & the likes have reasons to get a little nervous by now. As of today, Laowa is still a niche player today but once they’ll be able to source the necessary parts for implementing AF and electronic coupling, they’ll be heading straight for the mainstream.

Also other reviewers like Christopher Frost, Micael Widell and Jonas Rask came to the same excellent conclusions!

Meike battery grip at Amazon US, Amazon DE and Amazon UK.

First hands-on video of the new Meike grip:

Marc Alhadeff tested the new Voigtländer 50mm FE lens and this is the sharpest lens he ever tested! He writes:

The Voigltänder 50mm F2 Apo Lanthar is an exceptional lens which redefines what sharpness is on A7RIV. It excels at close distance for portrait (very good color rendition and smooth background) and is excellent for distant subject like landscape or architecture with an incredible level of detail and an excellent contrast. Its small form factor and very good ergonomics make it a pleasure to use on day to day

The only other lens that can come close to this optical quality for a 50mm is the  Sony Planar T* 50mm F1.4 Zeiss  which share similar sharpness in the centre but is less consistent that the Voigtlander. However its F1.4 aperture & AF and smoother rendering will please more to the majority of photographers

If you looking for the best 50mm for portrait and street landscape  and you are ok with manual focus and F2 , this is the best lens you can get

Get the Voigtlander 50mm FE at BHphoto and WexUK.

Fuji cameras do have built-in simulation filters but we Alpha shooters have them not. But there is a way to have all those film styles with the new Nik collection 2.3 by DxO (available here). You can have a 30 days free trial here to test ALL the film simulations.

Here is a video showcasing how you can make your image look like a B&W Polaroid 672 shot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1cGN9lr-sU

Click here to try out Nikon collection 2.3 by DxO.

Marc Alhadeff now updated his graph displaying the lens sharpness performance on your Sony A7rIV. A total of 95 lenses are now ranked (previously they were 50 “Only”). The very best you can get are:

Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM at Bhphoto. Adorama. Amazon. Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Tamron 24mm  f/2.8 at Adorama, FocusCamera and BHphoto.
Sigma 35mm f/1.2 FE at Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon, Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Tamron 35mm  f/2.8 at Adorama, FocusCamera and BHphoto.
Zeiss 5omm f/1.4 lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto. Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Coigtlander 50mm f/2.0 at BHphoto.
Voigtlander 65mm f/2.0 FE at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Sigma 105mm f/1.4 at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Voigtlander 110mm f/2.5 FE at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama. Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Sigma 135mm f/1.8 at BHphoto, FocusCamera, and Adorama.
Sony FE 135mm f/1.8 GM at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama. Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Sony 400mm GM at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon, Amazon DE. Amazon UK.
Sony 600mm FE GM in USA at Amazon, BHphoto, Amazon DE. Amazon UK.

All the rest works shit…joking :)