Reviews – JAPB

August 31, 2025

July-August 2025 Update

As usual, the summer months are a productive time, and 28 new articles have been added, including 7 reviews/walk-arounds/galleries, 12 data sheets and 9 other articles.

August 11, 2025

Walk-around: Nikon series E 100 mm f/2.8

There are few other budget lenses that have as fearsome a reputation as the Nikon series E 100 mm f/2.8.
I took the lens on a cruise to Visby (Sweden) to find out if that reputation is all hype.

July 25, 2025

Are faster lenses sharper at medium apertures?

If you’ve hung out with photographers, you are sure to have heard their opinions on whether brighter lenses are also sharper at medium apertures (f/5.6–f/8).
This rather lengthy post digs into this question using not only logic, but also a bunch of test shots.

July 14, 2025

Gallery: Nikkor Ai-s 50 mm f/1.2

I was traveling to Tallinn (Estonia) with some fellow camera enthusiasts. For one evening and one morning I focused on taking pictures with the Nikkor Ai-s 50 mm f/1.2. Here are the results.

July 11, 2025

Review: Nikkor Ai-s 50 mm f/1.2

The Nikkor Ai-s 50 mm f/1.2 was introduced in 1981 and discontinued only in 2020. This review tries to drill down into what made this lens have such a marvellously long run.

July 10, 2025

Walk-around: Pentacon auto 100 mm f/2.8

The Pentacon 100/2.8 is the final iteration of the venerable MOG Orestor 100/2.8. I took my sample for a spin through some Helsinki parks.

July 7, 2025

Walk-around: Vivitar 35 mm f/1.9

The Vivitar 35 mm f/1.9 is a 1970s fast moderate wideangle manufactured by Komine and sold by Vivitar. This walk-around gathers imagery from several times and places.

Cover image of gallery for Nikkor Ai-s 35 mm f/1.4

July 6, 2025

Gallery: Nikkor Ai-s 35 mm f/1.4

I was traveling to Tallinn (Estonia) with some fellow camera enthusiasts. For most of one day, the Nikkor Ai-s 35 mm f/1.4 was stuck to my camera. Feel free to view the results.

July 4, 2025

Walk-around: Yashica ML 50 mm f/1.4 (C/Y)

The Yashica ML 50 mm f/1.4 followed me for a few days on the family’s summer trip to Pärnu (Estonia) and the southernmost coast of Estonia. Check the walk-around here.

June 28, 2025

May-June 2025 Update

This update briefly lists 2 walk-arounds, 4 galleries, 10 data sheets and 6 articles. These were all added to JAPB during May and June of 2025

June 28, 2025

Gallery: Kaleinar-5H 100 mm f/2.8

This gallery of images with the 100 mm f/2.8 Kaleinar-5H lens on a Sony ⍺7R2 is the result of several strolls in Helsinki’s eastern suburbs. Feel free to take a peek…

June 28, 2025

Gallery: Olympus OM 50 mm f/1.4

This gallery of images with the 50 mm f/1.4 Olympus OM lens on a Sony ⍺7R2 is the result of an afternoon stroll in a Hamburg suburb (Germany). Feel free to take a peek

June 27, 2025

Gallery: Olympus OM 35 mm f/2

This gallery of images with the 35 mm f/2 Olympus OM lens on a Sony ⍺7R2 is the result of an afternoon and evening in Hamburg, Germany. Feel free to take a peek

May 20, 2025

Gallery: Promura-Gekkor (Auto) MC 35 mm f/1.8 (Canon FD)

This is a Gallery of images with the Promura-Gekkor (Auto) MC 35 mm f/1.8 on a Sony ⍺7R2. Feel free to take a peek

May 19, 2025

Walk-arounds, Galleries and Data sheets

This post details an update to JAPB’s previous policy regarding the types of articles we aim to publish about lenses.

In short we’re introducing a new type of article (the gallery) as well as officially admitting that we feel our time and energy is best used …

May 15, 2025

Walk-around: Topcon RE.Auto-TOPCOR 100 mm f/2.8

The Topcon RE.Auto-TOPCOR 100 mm f/2.8 is a classic Sonnar formula portrait lens and was introduced in 1965 (although its lineage goes all the way to 1957).
In this Walk-around I take the lens to a sunny day in Tallinn, to find out whether it’s a keeper.

May 2, 2025

Walk-around: Konica Hexanon AR 40 mm f/1.8

The Konica Hexanon AR 40 mm f/1.8 is a 1980s kit pancake lens. And it’s cheap as chips. But is it any good?
I went on a spring Sunday walk with only this lens to work with.

April 30, 2025

March-April 2025 Update

This update briefly lists all the new articles/pages added to JAPB during March and April of 2025

March 12, 2025

Walk-around: Chinon Auto Zoom 28-50 mm f/3.5–4.5

This Chinon 28-50 is a compact 1980s wide-angle to standard zoom. The focal length range is (IMO) perfect for an urban walk-around.
Knowing I would have two hours to kill in Tallinn (Estonia), I mounted this lens to see what its weaknesses are.

February 28, 2025

January–February 2025 Update

1-2/2025 has to offer: two new lens mounts, five company profiles, 25 new data sheets, one cold winter walk-around and a deep-dive into the development of a lens over 50+ years. Enjoy.

January 12, 2025

Walk-around: Topcon RE.Topcor 35 mm f/2.8

Introduced in 1963, the Topcon RE 35 mm f/2.8 was the only 35 mm lens in the entire Topcon ‘pro’ line. How did it manage to defend its turf so well?

December 31, 2024

October-December 2024 Update

This update briefly lists all the 20 new articles/pages added to JAPB during October, November and December of 2024.

September 30, 2024

July–September 2024 Update

This update briefly lists all the new articles/pages added to JAPB during July, August and September of 2024, including two West German lens mounts and 25 new lens data sheets.

June 30, 2024

April–June 2024 Update

This update briefly lists all the new articles/pages added to JAPB during April, May and June of 2024 including an article that summarises all 7 Mamiya 35 mm lens mounts.

JAPB is a website centred on photography and photo gear, with a special interest in using old lenses on modern cameras.

We (currently, I) are not trying to push you to buying new, expensive gear. Instead, our approach is the opposite (in all aspects). Instead we want to help you made informed decisions, and if we can be said to ‘push’ anything, that would be relatively cheap, old gear.

JAPB is non-profit, in fact this is a loss generator. Some day that might change, but we’ll make sure that does not happen at the expense of the audience.

You can read more here.