zanxion72's reviews

  • Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great value for money, great performance, sharp, lightweight
    Too soft when used wide open.

    I have bought this lens after being a bit disappointed with my 18-105 on my D90. Found this at a local shop and have it on my D90 all the time. It is a bit of trouble having to take care for framing in a different way since there's no zoom, but the quality of the photos taken pays back.
    It is a bit soft at 1.8, but after 2.8 it is a great performer.
    I have heard many complaining about its plastic construction, but I find it having an advantage over weight when compared to others.
    Highly recommended.

    reviewed March 8th, 2013 (purchased for $90)

  • Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AIS Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    One of the sharpest lenses ever made, fast enough, wide with low distortion
    Mustache barrel distortion, noticeable if you shoot brick walls

    One of the best wide lenses ever made. It has a high IQ right from 2.8 and across the frame. This has always been a sought after lens because of its high IQ all over the frame. Most 24mm or wider lenses smear the image at the edges of the lens. This one does not.

    reviewed February 23rd, 2015 (purchased for $145)

  • Nikon 28mm f/2.8 AIS Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great performer, sharp all over, minimal distortion, wide enough
    A bit soft at the edges at 2.8

    35mm at full frame has always been of my taste. It is wide enough to get a lot in your frame, but not too wide to distort it.
    The only complain with this one would be the a bit soft edges at 2.8. Other than that is a never-ever-regret lens.

    reviewed February 23rd, 2015 (purchased for $80)

  • Nikon 28-80mm f/3.3-5.6G AF Nikkor

    8 out of 10 points and recommended
    Sharp all over, lightweight, easy to focus and zoom.
    It feels like an all plastic thing, but gets justified by the price.

    What could one say about that lens? Look at it and you will get the same feeling as when holding an all plastic camera in your hands. Use it and you will be amazed of what you have bought for a mere nothing. It reminds me of some old soviet lenses that I had bought for a mere nothing and got surprised by their performance.
    It is sharp all over. I am using it mostly for film photography and hence the slight vignetting at the lower end does not bother me much.
    It focuses fast and it is relatively silent. On my F100 auto focusing is almost instant and less noisy than my 50 1.8D.
    What I don't like about it is the lack of the aperture ring.

    All in all it is a great lens at an unbeatable price.

    reviewed October 4th, 2014 (purchased for $45)

  • Sony E 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ OSS SELP1650

    6 out of 10 points and recommended
    Compact
    Powered focus and zoom, distortions, flares like an old tessar.

    It is a nice pancake lens that came with my Sony Nex-3N. Although small and compact it fails to deliver what expects a user that has used higher end lenses and cameras.
    Too soft at the corners, too much distortion, the power focus and zoom fails to accurately get on what you'd like and in strong light and contrasty conditions it flares like an old tessar lens!
    It is going to be replaced. I have bought my Nex for use with M42 and M39 lenses anyway.

    reviewed December 24th, 2013

  • Nikon 40mm f/2.8G DX AF-S Micro Nikkor

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Great sharpness even from wide open, virtually unlimited range of focus.
    It gets really close for 1:1 macro, but that's o.k.

    First, the 50mm 1.8 D had replaced my 18-105 on my Nikon D90. I was very pleased with it, being fast, sharp, and providing me with better image quality than my 18-105. Then I had tried the 35mm G and this. I was amazed with both of them. The 35mm was a wide enough lens, but for head portraits you had the weird effect of an almost 50mm lens with the distortions of a 35mm lens.
    Then I came to the 40mm. It is great! Very sharp, silent, produces contrasty photos with lots of detail, and I can get close to my subject closer than any other lens I have.
    All this at a price nobody could resist.

    An excellent lens!

    reviewed July 13th, 2013 (purchased for $180)