Lens Tests – www.Sailpower.de

7. March 2023

Nikons Z World

To Z or not to Z … . The Z-series of Nikon cameras is the change from lens-reflex to mirrorless design in the Nikon camera ecosystem. Its this design change that Sony made years ago and where other camera manufacturers found their niche to survive against the big DSLR duopoly (Canon/Nikon). Since in a shrinking market the profits slowly are...

Fotografie/Lens Tests/Nikon/Workflow

5. June 2020

Wide – Wider – Irix11?

Wide and wider – there is always the search for the best wide angle lens. This topic is as old as my full photography career – and I believe others are also again and again looking for the perfect wide angle. I started at the end of the 80s with a low budget 24mm Sigma lens for my Contax film...

Lens Tests/Near Infrared/Review

29. December 2019

L-Plates – the power of precision

There are lots of different L-Plate manufacturers out there but only few create L-Plates designed for specific cameras/lenses. The real advantage of having L-Plates that were designed to work for a specific piece of gear is that these plates just can be seated on the body/lens as if they where designed by the lens/camera-body manufacturer. In fact the lens plate...

Lens Tests/Nikon/Review

31. December 2018

Tilt and shift photography – visual creativity unleashed

Tilt and Shift Photography – Visual Creativity Unleashed Since winter is the time for some contemplation – and since I thought a lot about these PC/TS lenses: here a short report about my work and ideas with this lens concept. If you are constantly searching for new ways to visualize – than the Tilt/Shift lenses (or “Perspective Control” – PC...

Lens Tests/Nikon/Review/Workflow

8. February 2018

Urban Night Lights

Testing some new techniques right now to generate better … or stronger bokeh effects. Have been looking for some elevated positions in Berlin to do this. These shots have been mainly done with some old Nikkor lenses but I also have the Sigma Art 1.4 series of lenses on my list to do more tests. So far happy with the...

Fotografie/Lens Tests

16. December 2017

Bokeh Inspiration

Winter is usual a time where we have lots of artificial light. A good time to look for ways to compose with bokeh. Some tests with the 28 f2.0 – taking the low perspective is usually rewarding after the rain.

Lens Tests/Night Photography

17. December 2016

400mm at its best – shooting the background-blur-king

The mother of all lenses: the Nikkor AFS 400mm f2.8G VR ED This is one of the lenses that most serious sports photogs have in use regularly. Its THE bread&butter lens of the soccer/football/car racing and swimming/athletics sports photographers. This is a really heavy lens (4.62 kg) and even if you come from a 300mm f2.8 lens design, the size...

Lens Tests/Regatta Fotografie/Review

25. April 2016

Wannsee Pokal 16 im Hagelschauer

Wannsee Pokal 16 in Hagelschauern – Klasse Saisonstart mit dem Wannsee Pokal (FD, 420er, Finn, 29er) des VSaW/PYC mit über 80 startenden Boote. Außerdem erster ernst zu nehmender Test für die 400mm Optik. Ein großer Teil der recht kernigen Hagelschauerzellen schrammte an der Südgrenze von Berlin entlang, aber eine schob sich perfekt über die Havel und brachte tolle Szenen im...

Lens Tests/Regatta Fotografie/Segeln

19. April 2016

Nikkor 400mm f2.8 bits

Some more shots from the 400mm lens. Bokeh is clearly where the lens extra shines :) – as expected and wanted but it also delivers sharpness and acuity. I am not so sure right now about the converters – the TCs seem to need more AF-calibration attention. Here some shots from the last weeks trying to get used to all...

Lens Tests/Review

19. February 2016

Nikon AFS 400mm f2.8G VR Testing

Update: some nice bokeh shots with this lens (had half an hour yesterday with wonderful sun light to do some tests – its easy to send every for/background into a creamy bokeh fog with a 400mm f2.8 system. However the lens isnt a dedicated macro device – hence it will be important to see how the lens performs in the...