The Phoblographer

The Olympus OMD EM5 III was one of the company’s weirdest decisions, and it still baffles me.

If there is anything that Olympus did, which I always found odd, it was the Olympus OMD EM5 III. As a guy who bought the original and adored it, it felt like a slap in the face to customers. We even thought so amongst ourselves as staff. It was akin to the downgrade that the Canon 50D and 60D got many years ago. I’m dating myself at that point. But either way, know that it felt like a slap in the face.

The Olympus OMD EM5 series of cameras were always the standard. They were a fantastic middle-ground for photographers. Then the EM1 came. And then the EM1X came. To justify the higher model, Olympus more or less dumbed down their standard. They said the battery life would be the same, but we found that to not be the case. Overall, it felt like the company gutted the camera line that put them on the map. In my eyes, it was one of the worst moves the company ever made.

The build also felt very plasticky. And this was most concerning to me. When I held it, it didn’t feel like the camera from the series I knew. They even still refused to give it a joystick. The rest of it felt like an afterthought. A slimmer battery that they claimed had equal battery life but proved to be otherwise was a final slap in the face. What’s more, the latest Micro Four Thirds sensors were never all that fantastic at high ISOs.

What can Olympus do instead? More specifically, what can OM Digital Solutions do? Here are a few ideas.

Forget About the Low-End Camera Consumer

I’ve been on at least 10 calls in the past two weeks discussing how low-end cameras make no sense anymore. Canon and Nikon sell tons of cheap DSLRs around holiday pricing. So does Sony with their APS-C cameras. I really don’t think Olympus will win that market with a battle to the bottom. It’s not sustainable. Instead, they should focus on high-end products. I’m not even sure they should focus on mid-tier products. It’s a tough fight against Fujifilm, Nikon, and Sony in the mid-tier.

Identify, Embrace, and Market Your Strengths

Besides their fantastic ergonomics, Olympus has always had many great strengths. Their Art Filters are arguably some of the best and the most fun. I mean, why even bother to shoot RAW when your JPEGs are this fantastic? Their cameras are small. Their lenses are lightweight. Their products are incredibly well built. OM Digital solutions can translate those strengths even more through marketing efforts. And without the big parent company, I hope that this happens.

Continue to Work on Yourself, Diversify, and Improve

Sometimes I feel Brett and I beat a dead horse when we talk about the return of the Pen F. But seriously, OM Digital Solutions needs to diversify a tad within the higher end market. Their special edition cameras are lovely. But the company also needs to keep striving for better. If you’re going to use the same sensor for almost a decade, then please work on things that no other manufacturer has.

I, and countless others, are passionate photographers. People pay good money for their passion products. And we’d like to know that we’re getting a quality product. This last statement is a blanket one for all manufacturers. And I’m not sure a single consumer would disagree with me.

The Leica M6 is already quite in high demand, but this purple variant takes it over the top.

The Leica M6 is probably one of the most famous cameras the company ever made. Heck, Leica even commissioned us to create a post about some of the best lenses for it. It’s quite honestly the perfect Leica film camera in so many ways. It’s got a lot of features that make it within reach of anyone who picks it up. But anytime you give it a facelift, you’re bound to drive the hype up. So we found this Purple Leica M6. Suddenly, I could’ve sworn that the Kool-aid guy crashed through my wall filled with purple Kool-Aid. He screamed “Oh yeah!” at me. But then I realized that none of that happened. Instead, I was listening to the sound of my own beating heart.

This variant of the Leica M6 sold by the reliable breguetcamera was custom done. It’s not clear if it was from the Leica A La Carte program. But there are also lots of folks who can reskin your Leica. The quality varies, of course. However, this one seems positively wonderful. Better yet, it even flexes a bit of patina. However, through and through, this has to be one of the cleanest Leica M6 cameras I’ve ever seen. The fact that it’s a Purple Leica M6 is just that wonderful glass of wine to end the day.

So technically speaking, this Purple Leica M6 is just like almost any other Leica M6. We’re not sure which viewfinder variant it is, though. But there’s a good reason why the camera is so beloved. Let’s list a bunch of them:

They’re super reliable and well built. I’ve personally shot with them in the rain a bunch of times, and they’ve done just fine.

They feel fantastic in your hands.

They have a working light meter that uses a modern battery. And when the light meter stops working, the camera just becomes a Leica M4.

It’s got a fully mechanical shutter, so it doesn’t need a battery to keep operating. This helps with reliability.

It boasts almost all the frame lines you’d need.

They’re quiet, but that shutter sound is still wonderful.

The Leica film loading system is by far the best non-automated system I’ve used.

1/1000th shutter is all you need, really. Just stop your lenses down in bright light.

It’s a camera that you can start out on and keep using until the end.

We reviewed the Leica M6 TTL a while back. And in my review, I said:

“I enjoy the Leica M6 TTL. It’s a beautiful camera that slings around me well and functions flawlessly. I’d be telling a lie if I said that I didn’t like sometimes wearing it like a piece of photographer’s jewelry. But it’s also fun to shoot with. Most photographers will only need the Leica M6. But if you want to make the commitment to shooting events and using film the way so many photographers are these days, then the Leica M6 TTL is probably the right choice for you.”

Can you tell I’m a fan? Quite honestly, I tell everyone to get a Leica M6 if they can. This Purple Leica M6 is seriously a beaut. If you know, you know. And I don’t really need to sell this camera anymore to you folks. Go check it out for yourself.

All images of this variant of the Leica M6 sold by the reliable breguetcamera were taken from the listing.

The Contax 90mm f2.8 is no slouch at all.

Lenses made for the Contax G series cameras are legendary. Zeiss did a fantastic job with them. When you combine that with the Leica M mount, you get what I’d like to call a unicorn lens. With today’s mirrorless cameras, the Leica M mount is one of the most versatile on the market. For that reason, we’re showcasing this beautiful Contax 90mm f2.8 lens. Made for the Contax G mount, it was converted to Leica M mount. What we can’t totally tell is if it’s rangefinder coupled. But the work was done by MS-Optics, who does a fantastic job. And if it isn’t coupled, then it’s fine for any other system still!

This recent listing from japonicamera has us wondering why it hasn’t been snatched up yet.

The Contax brand was more or less Zeiss. And at times, there are even reports that say that Contax was Cosina by also Zeiss. Regardless of where the glass came from, one thing is for certain: it was good. On the 35mm side of things, Contax made the world’s first full-frame digital camera. On the medium format side of the wall, the Contax 645 was dominant. Wedding photographers still use those lenses on Fujifilm GFX bodies. But on the Contax G side, the company made a major rangefinder system. What made it really stand out is that it boasted autofocus. Some even claim the Contax 45mm f2 lens to be one of the sharpest ever made. Of course, Contax needs no introduction for some of us, though.

Not too far behind that Contax 45mm f2 is the Contax 90mm f2.8. Do you shoot portraits? Then this lens is the enchanted diamond that your camera named Excalibur needs.

This lens was refitted by MS-Optics. They make some wonderful lenses, and they have a special affinity for Leica. They’re, in fact, incredibly popular amongst the Leica fan club. To top all that, the lens is super clean. There are almost no signs of use. You might complain about a little bit of dust inside the lens. But the likelihood that it will affect your images is minuscule.

To that end, folks may wonder how this lens will work on their camera. Well, if you’re a Sony a7r II user, then photographer Tommie Hansen has this image above listed under Creative Commons. As you can tell, it’s amazingly sharp. Though, to be fair, I’m not sure how it may perform on something like a Sony a7r IV. My guess? It will most likely do awesome. Zeiss and Contax didn’t exactly mess around with image quality.

In 2017, Phillip Reeve reviewed the Contax 90mm f2.8 G. He liked it but noticed some purple fringing wide open. It was gone by f4. And realistically, you can eliminate that with a click of a button in post-production. If you’re shooting with it on Fujifilm, you can just embrace the film simulation look. Back then, the lens could’ve been had for under $200. But of course, that’s not the case anymore. It’s highly lusted after.

A specific search on Flickr for portraits done with the Contax 90mmm f2.8 G shows a different story. Reeve calls the bokeh busy. But I think it’s beautiful. The photos are also very sharp. The colors are rich. Quite honestly, it looks like a toned-down Zeiss Milvus lens from a few years ago. And if that’s indeed the case, why would you complain? Those lenses are fantastic.

Go check out the listing and make an offer.

All products are from this recent listing from japonicamera.

The debate on whether to choose a 50mm vs 85mm lens for portraiture continues!

50mm vs. 85mm? That’s the question. And most often, it’s associated with portraiture. Both of these lenses have their advantages and disadvantages. And the question has to do with what you want to do with each lens. In most cases, both will do an outstanding job. Even modern lenses in these focal lengths don’t have much noticeable distortion. One can argue that it all has to do with the field of view, but that’s not really the case anymore. So we’re going to break down using them with two of our favorites.

For this comparison, which wasn’t done formally at all, we’re sticking to Canon. Canon arguably has some of the best lenses on the market right now. Both their 50mm and their 85mm lenses are at the top of their class. So we’re going to talk about why you’d choose one over the other.

Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM

Here are some photos that we’ve shot with a Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM over the years. Also, be sure to check out our full review.

Why a 50mm?

A modern, high-end 50mm lens will help you render anyone perfectly fine. You’re bound not to see any distortion that you’re going to hate. Further, you’re never going to get a bad shot with lenses like a 50mm. You don’t need to worry about noses being too big, etc. Instead, you generally just need to focus on posing people better from your angle. In the battle of 50mm vs. 85mm, a 50mm lens lets you have a wider perspective. And you, like me, could prefer that!

There used to be rules that you should only shoot folks with a 50mm from the upper quarter and wider. But that’s gone now. Modern 50mm lenses can produce results similar to an 85mm lens. If anything, I’d say the biggest differences are the focusing range. Said focusing range renders different effects. A 50mm lens will add less of the thinning effect to someone’s face. Arguably, it’s more authentic of a look that the human eye sees. At the same focusing distances, a 50mm lens will also have more of a scene in focus at comparable apertures as an 85mm lens.

Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM

Here are some photos that we’ve shot with a Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM over the years. Also, be sure to check out our full review.

Captured with the Canon EOS R

Why an 85mm?

So why choose an 85mm? Arguably, these days I’d say that it has to do with how much space you have to shoot and if you like flatness. When I say flatness, I’m talking about perspective. A 50mm lens will have no major distortion per se, but you’ll have the lens’s inherent look instead. With an 85mm lens, you’ll get something similar. So with the question of 50mm vs. 85mm lenses you can’t totally compare them in some cases.

The main thing here is that you can be further away from a subject and get a thinner depth of field here. So it’s essentially about the bokeh and how you use it to emphasize your subject. If you’re still asking yourself what to do for 50mm vs. 85mm lenses, then just consider the bokeh and your framing.

Lots of folks talk about the “cinematic look.” And if that’s what you’re going for, then the 50mm lens is arguably closer to that. The cinematic look is done using a 65mm focal length. 50mm is 15mm wider than that, while 85mm is 20mm longer than that. So if you truly want a cinematic look, go for a 50mm. If you want a more classic portrait shoot look, reach for an 85mm lens instead.

These camera bags are ready to hit the trails with you.

Getting into the great outdoors is always special, and there are always so many picture opportunities. But how do you decide what gear to take with you? Do you take wide-angle zooms or telephoto lenses? Perhaps you want to take primes and nothing else. Do you take a tripod or leave the space for something else? There’s a lot to decide. However, what if there were camera bags that let you take it all and keep you comfortable? Well, there are. Thankfully, you don’t have to make compromises when it comes to your gear. Not only will the bags in this roundup let you take it all and keep you comfortable, but they’ll also protect your equipment from the elements. Check out our favorite camera bags for hiking below.

Shimoda Explore 40 Backpack

“I think the Shimoda Explore 40 backpack is an incredible bag. If I shot more landscapes and decided to do more Urbex or adventure work, then it would be an essential item for me.”

Buy now: $279.95

Tenba Solstice 24L

“Despite a few flaws, the pros of this bag outweigh the cons. The overall design, build quality, ease of use, and configurable space make this a great bag for landscape photographers who like to take it all with them.”

Buy now: $198

Pro Tip: A lot of camera bags feature nicely padded straps. These certainly come in handy on long walks when comfort is the name of the game. Some camera bags come with waist and chest straps too. These straps help keep the bag nice and secure against your body. Not only will they stop the bag from swaying around, but they will also help distribute the weight of your bag too. Ultimately, this means the camera bags will be even more comfortable to wear for a long time. So, if you have a bag with these extra straps, put them to use.

Promaster Jasper Halfpack

“This is a camera bag for an outdoor photographer – a photographer that will spend all day outside with no flash. But instead, you’ll use a camera, lenses, filters, a tripod, etc. And at the top, you’ll hold snacks, a jacket, and other essentials. As you stick with it through the mud and rain, it will continue to stand up to the elements. Just load it up into your car when you’re ready to go home and keep the tripod on the bottom section.”

Buy now: $149.95

WANDRD FERNWEH

Brett Day – Gear Editor

“Overall, the WANDRD FERNWEH (after you have configured it to your liking) is easy to use and filled with a lot of small features that make it stand apart from other bags on the market. No matter how much you load into the bag, the well-padded shoulder straps, the waist support system that hugs you, and the chest strap which helps keep the bag from swinging around make this a wonderful bag to use. Throw in the compatibility with a hydration bladder, the quick access panel, and the other features like a key chain, the pocket on the waist belt that can hold your phone, the loops that can hold an ice axe, and straps that can hold skis, and it takes this bag over the edge.”

Buy now: $349.99

WANDRD PRVKE

In our review, we said:

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

“I took this bag out in the rain at one point. It shrugged off rain like it was nothing because of the design; it’s weather sealed. You can surely feel it on the outside. What’s even more surprising is how comfortable the bag is when around your back. It’s almost like a very firm pillow is between your back and your gear.

Buy now: $204

Dear fellow photographer! Have you ever dreamed about starting your own photography business?

I am going to confess today why most photography businesses fail. In fact, according to author Dane Sanders in his book “Fast Track Photographer,” 85% of new photography businesses fail in the first two years! Don’t get discouraged, though! You enjoy photography, or you would not be here reading this article. You also clearly want to get paid for your hard work, so I will let you in on the main reasons photography businesses fail and how you can avoid the same mistakes when starting yours. Here’s how to go about starting a photography business.

Create a Great Product That People Want to Buy

In any business, it is imperative to create a great product that people will want to buy. You might think your photography is supposed to be your art and that people should simply pay you to be creative. But honestly, no one cares about your art. Most people care about themselves and how they look in your art when it comes to the business of photography.

So, how do you make a good product, you ask? It starts with investing in yourself and your skills with a camera. One of the biggest mistakes any photographer makes in starting a photography business isn’t grasping the basics of operating a camera to create quality images. Thankfully, in 2021 you can learn the basics in several ways that can be quick, painless, and efficient for your budget!

“You might think your photography is supposed to be your ‘art’ and that people should simply pay you to be creative. But honestly, no one cares about your art.”

Some great ways to start are reading The Phoblographer, watching Youtube creators, or finding a class in your local area. You can also go to a university or technical school to learn about photography. Getting a degree in photography will teach you some of the technical ins and outs of shooting. However, you will not learn anything about running a photography business. Nor will a university teach much about selling your work.

Do Your Homework

Even as an adult, sometimes we have homework! This kind of homework is much different than what we did in school, though. Starting a photography business requires time and research to know how to effectively get your work to be seen.

Most photographers make the mistake of only posting their work on social media and their websites, hoping that people will knock down their door trying to book them. It is a good idea to have your work visible in as many places as possible. But a good way to start is to make a folder of your best images that you are proud of. Send these images out to everyone you know. Tell them you are starting a new photography business and would like to know if they are interested in hiring you if they know anyone who would. Word of mouth is one of your strongest assets to building contacts for your photography business. Many photographers are shy when starting their business and often worry they toot their own horns. They fear they will be looked at badly for spamming others. While it is not a good idea to spam people blindly, it is a great idea to believe in your work and share it. You never know who is going to hire you.

Starting a Photography Business as a Legal Entity

Having a legal photography business is very important when you start selling your photography. This involves choosing your business type between a Sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corp, or C-corp and making a business plan.

A lot of photographers make the mistake of not setting themselves up as legal business entities. You might think you can get away with photographing your cousin’s wedding for $500 on the weekends to pay off your expensive camera, but the IRS does not share the same idea. As a photography business, you must consider things like paying taxes, your overhead for your business, and whether the market in your area will support what you charge.

First and foremost, a great way to establish your photography as a legal busi...

Our Full-Frame Sony lens guide is the best you’ll find anywhere!

Sony users are truly blessed when it comes to the number of lenses they get to choose from. Sony has worked hard to build up its E Mount platform over the last few years. They have also worked diligently with third-party manufacturers like Zeiss, Rokinon, Tokina, Samyang, and Tamron. There are high-end lenses that will satisfy the hardiest of photographers. Then, there are much more affordable options, which make the E mount platform accessible. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to provide real-world reviews on all of these lenses. We do this so that you can make better purchasing decisions, and we aim to continue doing that. We’re happy to say that we’ve just completed a massive update to our Full Frame Sony lens guide. No fewer than 11 lenses have been added to it. Head past the break for more details.

Check Out Our Sony Lens Guide

Sony 24mm f2.8 G

We’ve added fourteen new reviews to our huge Full Frame Sony lens guide. You’ll find new reviews on the latest lenses from Tamron, Sigma, Samyang, Rokinon, Sony, and more. You’ll also notice that the entire design has been changed to better reflect our current website aesthetic. Our guide is now easier than ever to read. The table of contents makes it easier for you to get to the lens you’re most interested in.

Pro Tip: Be sure to look at all of the Sony camera reviews we have written. We have reviewed everything from the Sony a6000 all the way up to the shiny new Sony a1. All of the cameras get put through our real-world tests so you can know what to expect from them in real situations. Just head on over to our reviews index, or use the built-in Google search function to find the review you’re looking for.

We’re Here For You

Sony 35mm f1.4 GM

In all, there are now 69 lenses (up from 58) listed in the most comprehensive Sony lens guide you’ll find. If you’re looking for primes, zooms, or superzooms, you’ll find all our easy-to-read, real-world reviews in one location. We pride ourselves on providing completely original, totally unbiased reviews. We’ve been doing this for 11 years now, and our ethics and beliefs will never change.

For easy access to all our Full Frame Sony lens reviews, bookmark this guide. This way, you’ll be to quickly access it at a later date. We will continue to update the guide as we complete new reviews. If you own a Sony Mirrorless camera and want all the reviews for the latest and greatest Full Frame, Sony E Mount lenses at your fingertips, go and check it out.

These Olympus lenses are already affordable, now, they’re absolute bargains!

Are you in need of some new lenses for your Micro Four Thirds cameras? Do you want to stay on the right side of the bank manager (or spouse)? If so, you need to see the deals on these Olympus lenses. The sale includes some of Olympus’s most popular lenses for the M4/3 platform. You can pick up the excellent Olympus 25mm f1.8 for just $299. The 17mm f1.2 Pro can be yours for only $1,149, and the brilliant 8mm f1.8 Fisheye Pro is only $899.99. There are zooms on sale too. The Olympus 14-150mm f4-5.6 II is just $499! There are even more bargains listed in here too! See the rest after the break.

Be sure to head on over to our reviews index. There you’ll be able to find all of the real-world reviews we have conducted on Olympus lenses. You’ll also find all of our other lens, camera, bag, and accessory reviews. Looking for a specific item? Use the built-in Google search to find the lens review you’re looking for. Now, sit back and take a look at all of the excellent deals on Olympus lenses.

Olympus Lenses – Primes

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm F1.8 Fisheye PRO Lens $899.99 (Save $99.01)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 17mm F1.8 Lens $389 (Save $110)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 17mm F1.2 PRO Lens $1,149 (Save $150.99)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8 Lens $299 (Save $100)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 Lens $289 (Save $110)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm F1.2 PRO Lens $1,149 (Save $150.99)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm F1.8 $779 (Save $120)

Olympus Zooms

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 9-18mm F4.0-5.6 Lens $599 (Save $100)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens $224 (Save $75)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm F2.8 Pro Lens $849 (Save $150)

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 II Lens $499 (Save $100.01)

More Deals

We list multiple sales posts each and every week. Be sure to check them all out to see if there are any bargains you want. We list deals on everything from cameras to lenses and books to accessories. Take a look at the recent posts below to see many more deals. You just might find what you’re looking for:

Stock Up on Photography Accessories Before They Vanish

On Sale: Thought-Provoking Photography Books That Will Open Your Eyes

Save on New and Renewed Nikon Z Gear While You Can!

If you need weather-sealed photography gear for your adventures out in the wild, this guide will help you find what you’re looking for.

Weather sealing and weatherproofing are becoming more important in the camera industry now. In an age where smartphones generally carry IP ratings, items like cameras and lenses often fall short. This is starting to change, though. If you’re a photographer who loves being outside in all sorts of weather but you just aren’t sure what weather-sealed photography gear to buy, this guide is for you. So, sit back with your favorite beverage and find out what you need to look out for.

Cameras and lenses have come a long way over the last few years regarding weather sealing. All but the most affordable cameras generally have some weather sealing in them, and some incredibly affordable lenses are weather sealed. Still, not all weather sealing is created equally. You need to know what to look for before you spend your cash. The last thing you want to do is head out with photography gear that will ruin in the rain. This guide will help you figure out what you need to look for. Let’s break things down further below.

IP Ratings Are the Way Forward

Most cameras and lenses geared towards semi-pro and professional photographers have some degree of weather sealing in them these days. This is a fantastic quality for cameras and lenses. Weather sealing will allow you can to get out and shoot no matter what. If you pair a weather-sealed camera with a weather-sealed lens, you can shoot in the rain, the snow, gale-force winds with dust and debris flying about, and more. Going to the beach or the lake with your gear isn’t as stressful either.

Some manufacturers are now starting to do such a fine job with weather sealing that they are being awarded IP ratings. IP ratings or Ingress Protection Ratings are a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It rates the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against intrusion by dust and water. Both Leica and Olympus have embraced IP ratings, and we have put them to the test. The Leica SL2 (the first image above) was thoroughly soaked and still worked perfectly. The Olympus E-M1X. We covered it with gritty red dirt and then washed it off with a hose, and it was fine. Some Olympus lenses also have IP ratings. We believe that going forward, all manufacturers need to embrace IP ratings. Will cameras cost a little more because of this? Maybe, but you’ll have weather-sealed photography gear that lasts a lot longer.

Which Weather Sealed Camera Should You Buy?

Not all brands have taken on IP ratings yet. However, there are some brands out there that you can totally trust when it comes to build quality. Pentax cameras are about as robust as they come. This is great if you want to stick to DSLRs. Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus (now OM-Digital Solutions), Nikon, and Panasonic also offer cameras that will stand up to abuse. Again, though, some cameras are better sealed than others. The Canon EOS R5 has more weather-sealing than the EOS R6, for example.

What about Sony? Sony is starting to catch up when it comes to weather sealing. Still, it has taken them a long time to get their weather-sealing act in order. In fact, when writing this, there are just two Sony cameras we’d recommend for photographers who need weather sealing. Those cameras would be the Sony a7s III ($3,498) and the Sony a1 ($6,499). We’d still recommend other cameras over these ones, though, based on weather sealing alone. Still, these Sony bodies are much better than their previous weather-sealed cameras.

Only you can know just how much abuse you need your camera to take. Whether you need protection against the odd splash or heavy downpours, look at how many seals the cameras have. You can find this information on manufacturer websites. How thick or secure the port covers are. How thick the visible gaskets are. Look for temperature ratings on the manuf...

Following the trend that Leica’s been doing, the Zeiss 58mm f2 Biotar is an ode to the company’s past.

This has to be one of the more exciting things I’ve read in a while! Today, Zeiss is resurrecting a part of its past. The Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f2 is a beautiful lens from way back in the day. It boasted a smooth aperture, small size, and came in the unusual Exacta mount. Of course, the new Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f2 2021 differs from its ages-old predecessor, but it’s an incredibly exciting move and a major deviation away from the modern. The modern Zeiss lens has always been about absolute perfection. Lots of marketing is done involving their MTF charts and all. Admittedly, they’ve been pretty quiet for a while too. Long did I think that the German company did an Irish goodbye to the photo industry save the ZX1. But this new addition is very intriguing.

Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f2 2021 Specs

17 aperture blades

A unique aperture ring that only clicks depending on how fast you turn the ring.

Soap bubble style bokeh

All-metal exterior

Weather sealing throughout the unit

Sony FE, Leica L, and Canon RF mounts with lens and exposure communication

Manual focus

Black paint exterior on top of silver aluminum designed to look better with age. You can surely call this patina.

Two inches long

Vintage optical design and coatings

$8,000 USD price point

We talked about the original Jena Biotar a few times on this site. And on eBay the prices vary quite a bit.

This is a pretty exciting offering from Zeiss. For a while, I was sort of wondering about the company’s future in the photo world. They’re still a powerhouse in the cinema world. But in the photo world, they commanded respect, but couldn’t necessarily command the sales. Luckily, their products still hold their value on the second-hand market. So there’s surely still the appreciation for their products. But we’re excited to see how this one goes for Zeiss.

Editor’s Note: This is an April Fool’s Joke. Don’t take it that seriously.