After my last review of the Zonlai 50mm f1.4 lens with great results, I have been very exited to review an other exotic lens for my Fujifilm X cameras the Risespray 35mm f1.6. As most of you visitors of my blog in the meanwhile should know, I am addicted to the 35mm APS-C (50mm FF) focal length. To me this is the most universal focal length that is representing my comfort zone for Landscape, Street, Action and even Portrait Photography.
The big question will be, will the Risespray 35mm f1.6 beat my loved 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC lens.
Quick answer: “No!”
But first things first. The Risespray 35mm f1.6 lens remembers from the design, e.g. retro shape of the focus ring and small format, to the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MKI. The mechanical haptic of that lens is better than the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MKI lens but is not reaching the quality of the 7Atisans 35mm f1.4 APS-C. The aperture ring is click less and running smooth but damped very similar to the performance of the focus ring. To me a sign of a high quality mechanical build of this full metal housed lens. Also the fitting of the lens mount on the camera mount is firm.
This have been all the positive things. Now the dark side of this lens.
Optically the lens is, how do I say it in a friendly way, an under performer. Wide open, at f1.6 only a small portion of the center of the lens is producing a sharp image with some details. The image corners are less than soft. Many lenses are soft wide open, but most of the time the IQ is improving sustainable at f2.8 and higher. It’s sad to say so but closing the diaphragm does not improve a lot the IQ at the corners. They stay soft. At many f1.2 lenses like the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2, this is a kind of adorable character and works fine in portraits of humans or other objects. On the Risespray 35mm f1.6 lens, the field of acceptable IQ is so small, that it is difficult to find objects where the lens work’s ok.
Summarizing this all, the lens is not worth the money. Only hardcore lomo photographer will have some fun. Every smartphone has a better IQ.
Please let me know, do you like lomography?
If i pair it with micro 4/3 camerw through adapter, should not expect those corners. Correct?
Browsing for this lens which I bought at AliExpress (awaiting the delivery), I found your review.
Into ‘normal’ photography (DSLR, mirrorles) and several original Polaroid camera’s, it will be interesting to add a lomography touch to my photos with the Olympus E-M10 Mark II.
Looking forward to my experiment!
Thank you for your review and sample photos!
In fact, it is modified from a Chinese closed-circuit television camera lens which costs about $25 in China.