I like the way you review camera lenses. Straight-to-the-point and not talking too much about your own experience, that's what I like on a camera lens reviewer. You did a great job, man! P.S. Can I have some RAW image from this review? I am interested to retouch it on RawTherapee on Linux.
I just got it second hand for USD 200, it's pretty sharp at f1.2,,, It performs much better than I expected. It works very well with my A7. I love it. (the apsc Kamlan 50 1.1 is a piece of junk though)
Less contrast, more veiling flare, not too corrected...qualities I like! I'd love to see what it can do for b&w portraiture of the unclinical kind. If its internal build is up to scratch it could be a winner. Thanks for the review.
I'd love an autofocus variant, I like using fast lenses during wedding receptions without flash, I could do with manual if all i were doing was stills, but the dance floor is where you really need autofocus
I bought the cropped sensor format version of this lens that has FL of 50mm and F/1.1 or so labeled. It came significantly cheaper than the price you mention here (About 25% of price of this one). LOVE it. Mine gives very sharp image, fully open, on Sony A6000 and no noticeable or distracting CA. Not sure but seems the cheaper one does better!
Thanks! Looks like it is a lot sharper than the new Canon 50mm f1.2 L USM lens which is twice the price but has AF. Would be interesting to shoot the Canon L ISM with adapter on the A7R2 and your new test board.
so... The Rokinon AF 50mm f/1.4 FE is in the same price range and give you the autofocus feature, The Karlam is a worth buy instead of the Rokinon/Samyang?
I personally find focusing f1.2 or even f1.4 to be very difficult. Not impossible but it requires a lot of small micro adjustments which are just not practical unless you are shooting fixed subjects.
Michael Moore at 1.2, it looks pretty weak. Good at f4... but then why? I had a Canon 50 1.2 and focus usually lost. I went through 5- or 6- 50mm lenses, both converted Rokkors and Contax, as well as Zeiss and all Canon. The winner at the time was the 50mm F2 makro planar, which is been replaced in my bag by the 50mm 1.4 milvus. Back to your point, I usually shoot at f2
It is perhaps no bid surprise he used the Sony for it. Its ability to auto-zoom in the EVF makes manual focussing alot easier. Anyway: I won't be getting this lens. The f/1,2 performance is questionable - and that's basically all it has over the competition and the reason for its weight and size. The distortion is disappointing for a prime lens, the Bokeh is not to my taste. Another chinese "learning to build a good lens" project in my opinion.
The trick is to use you max magnification when focusing and this is even more efficient and easier with EVF cameras such as mirrorless Sony. I love my Sony A6000, specially for letting me focus so accurately with manual lens and I used to struggle when focusing with Canon DSLRs even with LiveView and mag. In Sony, turning On that Zebra and Focus Peaking features also helps but doesn't replace the accuracy of max magnification.
Sam Sen yes if I'm focusing anything less than f2 I use live view and zoom however my point is for photography where speed is important like street photography without autofocus it's near impossible to use f1.2
I personally like your review about these new manual lens. Could you do some comparison about KAMLAN 55M F1.2 VS mitakon 50 f 0.95, & KAMLAN 55M F1.2 vs Fuji 56 f1.2 & mitakon 50 f 0.95 with boost adapter vs Mitakon 35mm f0.95 on apsc that will equal 50mm。
@Christopher Frost, Hey, Can you test the Sigma 30 1.4 DC DN lens for Sony E mount (APSC) lens. Dxomark says its the sharpest lens for the E mount APSC system, not too expensive either.
@@ziyuzhou2643 shipping ... Not that is expensive shipping but most people would rather pay more money locally so it arrives faster then to have it ship from China which takes 1 month or few weeks ... While locally it'll take a few days or next day
Hey - this is not directly related to this video but I need some advice and I'd appreciate your help as your videos are always so concise. I currently have a Canon 550d with a kit lens and a nifty fifty, and I'm pretty happy with it, but I want a portable camera I can take with me cycling. I have narrowed it down to either buying an a6000, or a Canon G7x II, or selling the 550d and Lenses and buying an a6300. Which would you suggest? Thanks, and as I said before, I love the videos as they are so well produced and helpful!
between kamlan 55mm f/1.2 and kamlan 50mm f/1.1 which one is better ? are there any AF adapters out there for FF E-Mount ? I saw both of the video and really impressed by both lens
Hi Cristopher, i need your help i have the a7ii and i want to get the photodiox pronto pro adapter to use this lens with autofocus, the thing is i can't decide between this lens or the 7artisans 50 1.1 or the canon fd 55 1.2 which one you recommend me ? Sharper one? Cheers!
Had to double take on the first sample shot as I thought I recognised where it was, which was then confirmed by the other shots! You based in Pembrokeshire? Great review 👍
The image quality will be the same, notwithstanding the difference in sensor resolution. If your camera is less than 42mp, the image will look 'sharper' with less purple fringing. But a sensor with a higher resolution will be more challenging for the lens
+Christopher Frost Photography Thanks Christopher ! I have a Canon 80D so now I'm really pleased to hear you say this. I still like my chances with this one. Now to check the price on Amazon today. Thanks as always and God bless :)
I have just bought a manual canon lens with a cheap dumb adapter for my nx camera, It works perfectly. Because I want to be able to use the same lens on a Sony camera in the future. It is impossible to use a nx mount lens on any new camera in the future.
www.ebay.com/itm/K-F-Concept-Canon-EOS-EF-Lens-to-Samsung-NX-mount-adapter-ring-NX1100-NX3000-CA-/272718469812 britishop has fast deliveries for a foreign ebay shop. I do not know how British they are.
Fun. It looks like an Helios lens copy... Ergonomics, general design and Bokeeh are very similar to the famous soviet/Russian lenses. This early production lens is loaned, it is good to know, but it would be better to test real retail production lenses to have a definitive and solid review. On my personal experience, my dad used to be a car journalist for long years, and test cars loaned by press services where always better tuned and checked than mass production cars...
Only you can get a Helios for a hell of a lot less. I think it's way, way over priced. I think people would be crazy to buy this over a decent 50 1.4. 1.2 is more of a gimmick to bump the price.
![Argentum Adventures - Official Intro | Roll4Adventure [2025]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PrMJ_DXGpPc/mqdefault.jpg)
The corner contrast is quite amazing at f/1.2!
Shang-Hsien Yang yes,it's pretty good,,,I own this lens
stunning beach, kayak and beach landscape shots
Man, I wish these lenses had AF confirmation and exif data like Zeiss does on their manual lenses
I like the way you review camera lenses. Straight-to-the-point and not talking too much about your own experience, that's what I like on a camera lens reviewer. You did a great job, man!
P.S. Can I have some RAW image from this review? I am interested to retouch it on RawTherapee on Linux.
I don't touch anything you or Dustin doesn't clear first.
Great review Chris 👍
I just got it second hand for USD 200, it's pretty sharp at f1.2,,, It performs much better than I expected. It works very well with my A7. I love it. (the apsc Kamlan 50 1.1 is a piece of junk though)
Less contrast, more veiling flare, not too corrected...qualities I like! I'd love to see what it can do for b&w portraiture of the unclinical kind.
If its internal build is up to scratch it could be a winner. Thanks for the review.
I'd love an autofocus variant, I like using fast lenses during wedding receptions without flash, I could do with manual if all i were doing was stills, but the dance floor is where you really need autofocus
I bought the cropped sensor format version of this lens that has FL of 50mm and F/1.1 or so labeled. It came significantly cheaper than the price you mention here (About 25% of price of this one). LOVE it. Mine gives very sharp image, fully open, on Sony A6000 and no noticeable or distracting CA. Not sure but seems the cheaper one does better!
Sam Sen I own both Kamlan 55 and 50. The full frame 55mm f1.2 is much sharper.
They took some design queues from the Pentax Takumar line.
Thanks! Looks like it is a lot sharper than the new Canon 50mm f1.2 L USM lens which is twice the price but has AF. Would be interesting to shoot the Canon L ISM with adapter on the A7R2 and your new test board.
so... The Rokinon AF 50mm f/1.4 FE is in the same price range and give you the autofocus feature, The Karlam is a worth buy instead of the Rokinon/Samyang?
I personally find focusing f1.2 or even f1.4 to be very difficult. Not impossible but it requires a lot of small micro adjustments which are just not practical unless you are shooting fixed subjects.
Michael Moore at 1.2, it looks pretty weak. Good at f4... but then why?
I had a Canon 50 1.2 and focus usually lost. I went through 5- or 6- 50mm lenses, both converted Rokkors and Contax, as well as Zeiss and all Canon. The winner at the time was the 50mm F2 makro planar, which is been replaced in my bag by the 50mm 1.4 milvus. Back to your point, I usually shoot at f2
My Voightlander 1.1 is a nightmare to focus on full frame, but on aps-c it's so much easier. I don't go below f2 on full frame.
It is perhaps no bid surprise he used the Sony for it. Its ability to auto-zoom in the EVF makes manual focussing alot easier.
Anyway: I won't be getting this lens. The f/1,2 performance is questionable - and that's basically all it has over the competition and the reason for its weight and size. The distortion is disappointing for a prime lens, the Bokeh is not to my taste. Another chinese "learning to build a good lens" project in my opinion.
The trick is to use you max magnification when focusing and this is even more efficient and easier with EVF cameras such as mirrorless Sony. I love my Sony A6000, specially for letting me focus so accurately with manual lens and I used to struggle when focusing with Canon DSLRs even with LiveView and mag. In Sony, turning On that Zebra and Focus Peaking features also helps but doesn't replace the accuracy of max magnification.
Sam Sen yes if I'm focusing anything less than f2 I use live view and zoom however my point is for photography where speed is important like street photography without autofocus it's near impossible to use f1.2
Any plans on testen the Kamlan 85mm f/1.4?
I personally like your review about these new manual lens. Could you do some comparison about KAMLAN 55M F1.2 VS mitakon 50 f 0.95, & KAMLAN 55M F1.2 vs Fuji 56 f1.2 & mitakon 50 f 0.95 with boost adapter vs Mitakon 35mm f0.95 on apsc that will equal 50mm。
Always waiting for that Lens Flare test! [especially the one's in daylight]
The flare-ier = The merrier! :]
Hey chris, where did you get your test poster to check color/sharpness? I'd like to get one so I can get to know my old lenses more
-Jake
Are you going to review the Sony E-mount POWUZOOUUM kit lens?
Great video, any macro lens you want to look at maybe some video vintage ones ?
@Christopher Frost, Hey, Can you test the Sigma 30 1.4 DC DN lens for Sony E mount (APSC) lens. Dxomark says its the sharpest lens for the E mount APSC system, not too expensive either.
$600? Only a few more hundred for a Sigma or Tamron. This thing should be $400 tops.
definitly man.
Agreed
Actually，in China，they do pricing this lens about $339... I don't understand why the price is so much higher overseas，it's not a sensible price
@@ziyuzhou2643 shipping ... Not that is expensive shipping but most people would rather pay more money locally so it arrives faster then to have it ship from China which takes 1 month or few weeks ... While locally it'll take a few days or next day
A seller, "Sain Store," is using some of your screenshots in its Amazon listing of this lens.
They have my permission
It looks like the Voigtlander 35 1.2!
Hey - this is not directly related to this video but I need some advice and I'd appreciate your help as your videos are always so concise.
I currently have a Canon 550d with a kit lens and a nifty fifty, and I'm pretty happy with it, but I want a portable camera I can take with me cycling.
I have narrowed it down to either buying an a6000, or a Canon G7x II, or selling the 550d and Lenses and buying an a6300. Which would you suggest?
Thanks, and as I said before, I love the videos as they are so well produced and helpful!
Why not using an M42 or FD 1.2/1.4 or whatever Lens, that is a lot cheaper or even better, when You already use a manual lens?
Awesome video as always!
Will never have this lens though xD.
chris, plz review the mitakon 50 0.95 pro version
between kamlan 55mm f/1.2 and kamlan 50mm f/1.1 which one is better ? are there any AF adapters out there for FF E-Mount ? I saw both of the video and really impressed by both lens
The 55mm f/1.2 is far sharper
I wonder how this would weigh up against the (vintage) Porst 55 F1.2 which can be picked up on E-Bay for less than £200.
Thumbs up, nevertheless.
I would go for an old Canon FD 55 1.2 instead. Half the price and lovely bokeh! Focusing is a bit tricky though...
Great reviews! I'm curious how is this lens compared to MEIKE 50mm f/1.7. Do you have a chance to testing that?
No, I haven't tested that one yet
Hi Cristopher, i need your help i have the a7ii and i want to get the photodiox pronto pro adapter to use this lens with autofocus, the thing is i can't decide between this lens or the 7artisans 50 1.1 or the canon fd 55 1.2 which one you recommend me ? Sharper one? Cheers!
No idea I'm afraid - I haven't tested any FD lenses before
Although I imagine the FD lens is probably a bit sharper than the 7artisans lens, which is really quite soft
@@christopherfrost thanks! But between the kamlan vs and the 7artisans which one ? And why? Cheers!!
@@MrXucurro The Kamlan lens is sharper, the 7Artisans lens smaller (and slightly brighter) - take a look at my reviews
@@christopherfrost thanks! Your reviews are the best!
Had to double take on the first sample shot as I thought I recognised where it was, which was then confirmed by the other shots! You based in Pembrokeshire? Great review 👍
That is St David's :-) I live in Ceredigion, though
Sorry only just spotted this reply. Yeah I love St Davids, in fact I was there yesterday!
this or Rokinon 50mm f/1.4???
Personally I'd prefer the Rokinon (aka 'Samyang')
Good review but most interesting is the title of the book, The Case for Christ, by Strobel, ready to buy it! Thanks
It's a great book :-)
извините, а как же APS-C?
excuse me, but what about APS-C?
Christopher is there any chance you will be able to get a Canon version to test it ? I'd like to get this but not until I see your review.
The image quality will be the same, notwithstanding the difference in sensor resolution. If your camera is less than 42mp, the image will look 'sharper' with less purple fringing. But a sensor with a higher resolution will be more challenging for the lens
+Christopher Frost Photography
Thanks Christopher ! I have a Canon 80D so now I'm really pleased to hear you say this. I still like my chances with this one. Now to check the price on Amazon today. Thanks as always and God bless :)
Kevin Clements I bought this lens yesterday. I was pretty sharp.
Great review!
does anyone know if this can be used in nikon film cameras ? it works like AI lens right ?
No NX Mount option?
The Samsung mount? I hate to break it to you, but it's dead!
I have just bought a manual canon lens with a cheap dumb adapter for my nx camera, It works perfectly. Because I want to be able to use the same lens on a Sony camera in the future. It is impossible to use a nx mount lens on any new camera in the future.
Björn thanks Björn. Could I ask what make / model and where did you purchase it?
www.ebay.com/itm/K-F-Concept-Canon-EOS-EF-Lens-to-Samsung-NX-mount-adapter-ring-NX1100-NX3000-CA-/272718469812 britishop has fast deliveries for a foreign ebay shop. I do not know how British they are.
Very nice quality out of that lens. It is quite impressive for a manual focus lens made by a minor third party.
It was so funny how your were talking normally and the the first time you said the. And you said "KAM-LAWN" lmaooo😂💀
4:47 Interesting book.
Anyone selling a second hand of this?
this lens are quite strong contender for selling portraits to people.
According to Apple, 56mm focal length is "Tele".
According to them 326 ppi is (or was) the maximum the human eye can see...
Very nice lens, maybe the most cheapest lens for cinema use.
Just pick up an old Canon FD 55 1.2 or Nikon 55 1.2. Smaller, with similar weaknesses and strengths, and cheaper.
seeing this for 300 on ebay... tempting. :)
Nice but Pentax is left out.
Write an email to Kamlan, and see what they say
Nothing beats my nifty fifty!
Fun. It looks like an Helios lens copy...
Ergonomics, general design and Bokeeh are very similar to the famous soviet/Russian lenses.
This early production lens is loaned, it is good to know, but it would be better to test real retail production lenses to have a definitive and solid review.
On my personal experience, my dad used to be a car journalist for long years, and test cars loaned by press services where always better tuned and checked than mass production cars...
Only you can get a Helios for a hell of a lot less. I think it's way, way over priced. I think people would be crazy to buy this over a decent 50 1.4. 1.2 is more of a gimmick to bump the price.
WARNING! your pictures are used on the Kamlan Amazon page: www.amazon.com/dp/B074WK2C2D
Rachid Bennis It's okay - I gave them permission
I'm glad to hear that!
Thank you for all the useful reviews
Keep up the good work!
super on the ball this subscriber! Great job looking out for chris!
Nicholas Heah let's look out for each other and build a better world where photographers will RULE OVER THE NON-PHOTOGRAPHER SLAVES 😈
That escalated quickly ;-)
it's from Taiwan actually, not china
This lens looks like the russian tair 11-A facebook.com/tair11a/ i hope you take a look on it its quite impressive
This lens is awful in my opinion.
I'd rather buy the cheaper and better Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM and have money for more gear.
Muzak.
doesn’t seem worth it
Buy a old Canon FD 50 1.2! It´s better!
Horrible colors and lens.
first ?