italy74's reviews

  • Nikon 105mm f/2D AF DC Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great sharpness, bokeh and versatility
    None

    Surely the sharpest lens I have, it's able of a very fine detail even if it's not a macro lens. I'm enjoying also the DC feature for some kind of flou effect both on digital and film SLR. Definitely a must!

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $1,588)
  • Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Fast focusing also in low light
    None

    It's unbelievable how this lens is able to find light where there isn't and how precisely it focuses also in manual mode. Definitely a must where light is never enough.

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $1,755)
  • Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    Very versatile lens

    Just to clarify, this is not the sharpest of my lenses but does its work very well indeed. I appreciate so much its compactness and versatility for low light whole figure portraits. It's just a pity that Nikon doesn't supply the related hood

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $470)
  • Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 SP AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great sharpness and value for money
    As many other similar lenses, it doesn't keep F2.8 at closer distances

    Definitely a great lens for the money paid. Optically excellent, it "pays" only the barrel extension which isn't really a problem in macro shots, rather in close portraits, where a shallow depth of field could be required. Not its problem, though, since almost all macros (except the Nikkor 105 VR and Sigma 150 F2.8) behave the same way. An inner motor could make this lens much faster in focusing. For macro, it's better working in manual focus and not choosing wider apertures than F/8 unless you are a wizard. Despite its "plasticky" finish, optically is really great and well worths the money paid. Highly recommended!

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $580)
  • Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF SP AF

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Optically great
    None relevant

    As the Tamron 90 mm F2.8 Macro, this lens is really a jewel, especially seen its price. Extremely versatile and optically valid, it pays just a bit of plasticky finish compared to brand lenses. But would be better having a more expensive, perfectly finished lens which average to poor optical quality? As for the 90mm, which is another Tamron bestseller, I think they should add some kind of inner motor to make it even better. Of course, its sweet spot is around F8/F11 but even wide open is really good.

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $445)
  • Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Nikkor

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    The best wideangle I've ever had
    price

    It's definitely the best wideangle i've ever had. From finish to optical quality, it's real an outstanding lens for contrast and resistance to flare, and I enjoy it even more since I'm still shooting with film cameras. No distortions or any kind of flaws/issue on my copy. Its reputation is very well deserved.

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $2,470)
  • Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF VR AF-S Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Extremely fast focusing
    image quality still to be thoroughly tested

    Despite its many supporters, and its great overall behaviour, I'm still testing this lens because I find its sharpness not as good as I expected and this is of course a pain. I'm pointing especially moving shots which should be frozen at very fast times and they aren't. They still suffer of some kind of residual and unpleasant blur. Of course, its sweet spot is around F/8 and F/11 where it delivers outstandingly sharp images.

    reviewed April 23rd, 2007 (purchased for $2,630)
  • Carl Zeiss 100mm f/2 Makro-Planar T* 2/100

    10 out of 10 points and recommended
    The best lens I've ever owned, period.
    None, so far

    I'm not a pro yet I think to be the closest thing to a pro might be an amateur. If I don't work professionally with photography is just because I have already another safe job AND a home loan to pay.

    Everyone can talk about the goodness of lens build (nicely solid, sturdy) or the images it can take and the terrific sharpness / bokeh etc you get with such lens. Actually, it's all true and already at full aperture is more a problem of depth of field than any other problem (real or supposed). Image quality is extremely high from f/2 to f/5.6 where I think it tops.

    However, a couple of things I'd like to tell you are:
    1) if you aren't a MF kind, don't worry. Unless you're shooting someone coming close to you, its focus ring will help you to nail focus exactly where you want, both close or far from you. In my case, both with F6 / D700 and FM3A the green dot / eye confirmation has been enough. It's not that difficult, believe me, practise will help you to achieve extrahordinarily pleasing results.

    2) Of course I love the bokeh and the way it renders dim light and certain colours like shadows of green, rose, brown, and in general it's the first lens that truly gave me back skin tones and overall people look exactly as I remembered it. Clarity and trueness are definitely a quality I couldn't find in any of the many lenses owned so far. Besides, the level of detail (not only sheer sharpness, but the way it renders textures) it's just amazing, unbelievable, you have to try to understand for yourself.

    I count to get other ZF2 lenses (namely 25 and 35) asap and hope a 180 apo makro will come out soon as well, sooner or later, with the impressive 55 f/1.4 just revealed pre-Photokina.

    Highly recommended, definitely.

    reviewed September 13th, 2012 (purchased for $2,100)