Kamlan 50mm F1.1 in Hong Kong & Macau

On a trip to Hong Kong and Macau, I was able to shoot extensively with this lens and returned with a few images and my verdict.  Here are a few cats I shot with this lens while in Hong Kong.  The black cat was relatively easy to focus as it was not moving, the second was much harder but I still managed to shoot a few good images even at F1.1.

Here some people images from my trip.  All were shot hand held with available light at F1.1.  Focusing at  F1.1 can be difficult.

I like this lens, but not as much as the Zongyi 25mm.  It can achieve some great images when focus is spot on but it can be difficult to achieve at F1.1, especilly when your subject is moving.  Chromatic aberration can be bad with high contrast situation.  Sharpness is OK, but do not expect high level of sharpness across the frame even stopped down.  I think it is a great lens for portraits for Micro Four Third.  Even with these in mind I would still recommend this lens if sharpness is not critical and you don't mind focusing manually.  You will get quite a few slightly out of focus images!  It is a fun lens to use and I will carry on using it along with my Zhongyi 25mm lens.

Kamlan 50mm F1.1 on Micro Four Third User Experience

A couple of years ago I bought a Zhongyi Speedmater 25mm F0.95 and was very happy with it.  I wanted something similar in the 45mm focal length and could not justify the cost of the Panasonic 42.5mm F1.2.  Recently another Chinese lens maker, Kamlan, released a 50mm F1.1 lens.  It is again totally manual focus lens which I am happy with.  The cost is low enough not to be an issue if it turns out to be garbage.

Here is the lens in it box and packaging.  It is welled packed an it arrived in good condition.

It is a very small lens and it balances well with my Olympus OMD EM-10.  The aperture ring is click less but is not easy to turn.  The focus ring is smooth but take more effort to turn than I like and nothing as smooth as the Zhongyi 25mm.  I was able to shoot a few images on a short trip to London.  They were shot in RAW and processed in Lightroom only.  All were shot at F1.1.

I will say focus is difficult at F1.1.  The depth of field is very thin and there were quite a few slightly out of focus shots, but when focus is correct, they look half decent.  I will be returning from trip from Hong Kong soon with more images and my verdict of this lens.