Journal — Lenses

  1. TTartisan 35mm f/1.4 APS-C

    The TTartisan 35mm f/1.4 APS-C. All-metal, smooth focus ring, native E-mount - no adapter required. I shot with it for two and a half months on a Sony A6400, walking Swedish city streets in November and December. Here's an honest account of what it's actually like to use.

    9 March 2026 3103 min read

  2. Yashinon DX 50mm 1.7

    The Auto Yashinon-DX 50mm f/1.7 came with a Yashica J-7 I bought for a $50 camera challenge. It's a 1960s Japanese lens most people have never heard of - obscure even among vintage glass enthusiasts. It also has some of the smoothest bokeh I've shot with at any price. Here's a closer look.

    17 November 2008 1061 min read

  3. MC Helios 44-3 58mm/f2

    The Helios 44-3 is a Soviet-era copy of a Carl Zeiss Biotar, built like a tank, and it produces some of the most distinctive bokeh you'll find at any price. Here's what it's actually like to shoot with.

    4 August 2008 2294 min read