Why has the Maxxum been so important for the camera industry? Well, easy, it was the world’s first autofocus SLR. And as I wrote before it came with the brand new A-mount to allow this new feature. But it also had other great tech like a nice bright viewfinder (something many of us miss on today’s A-mount cameras) a life-sensing touch switch and a body quality that will last a lifetime.

I know most of you don’t shoot film in these days but I still do. Nice camera to hold and use from time to time. I bet that in 30 years from now I will shoot with my Maxxum while current digital A-mount camera electronics will be long dead!

-> The Maxxum 700 can be found used for around $300 on [shoplink 18439 ebay]eBay (Click here to see some auctions)[/shoplink].

We had a couple of test and image samples form the new Ziess lenses but almost all of them where done on Fuji X cameras. But finally ePhotozine (Click here) posted a full review made on the NEX-F3. They write: “Zeiss managed to produce a lens with optical characteristics worthy of the Zeiss reputation, that’s well designed and solidly built. Although this lens does carry a premium price, the additional cost isn’t so much that it will put this lens beyond the reach of everyone, especially those serious about using quality glass with their camera.”

Zeiss preorder links:
12mm f/2.8 at BHphoto, Adorama and Uniquephoto. In Europe at [shoplink 18497 ebay]CameraCenter UK[/shoplink] and FotoMundus.
32mm f/1.8 at BHphoto, Adorama and Uniquephoto. In Europe at [shoplink 18498 ebay]CameraCenter UK[/shoplink] and FotoMundus.

TheMartists (Click here) posted a full Lens Turbo Canon FD review. It’s a very well written test you have to read if you consider to buy it! Another test has been posted by Ney001 on Flickr. Overall it looks like the Lens Turbo cannot match the quality of the more expensive Speed Booster. But I hope we can see a direct comparison soon! P.S.: the original Metabones Speed Booster has been officially launched in Japan (DC.Watch).

It certainly isn’t fair, but most of the Chinese Stores sell the Lens Turbo with the “Speed Booster” title. SO if you search for [shoplink 18583 ebay]”Lens Turbo” on eBay (Click here) you get 9-10 results. If you search for [shoplink 18455 ebay]”Speed Booster” (Click here) you find zillions of adapters! So be aware that the official Meatbones Speed Boosters can be found here: http://www.metabones.com/buy-speed-booster

DxOmark (Click here) tested the new 20mm f/2.8 E-mount lens. They didn’t test the “older” 16mm pancake so we can’t know if the new 20mm lens is better. Obviously the lens can’t match the quality of other more expensive primes like the 35mm f/1.8.

I still think Sony should do a tiny bit faster and a tiny bit higher quality pancake. I know, it’s easier to be said than made :)

These new Zeiss Touit lenses look like a very great addition to the new E-mount lens range. SAR reader Rob had the pleasure to test these lenses on the Sony NEX-5n: “I just posted à long hands on review of the Carl zeiss touit 12mm on à Sony nex 5n. See http://transcontinenta.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/hands-on-review-van-de-carl-zeiss-touit-2-812mm/
I also did Many shots with the Sony nex 7 and the Same lens in the Dutch Keukenhof . See our flickr account for that with Many high res touit samples taken With the 32mm on à fujifilm XE-1 and à Sony nex 7.”

And there are plenty of new image samples and news to read: A new Zeiss Blog entry that talks about the lens design, 12mm Hands-on at Photographyblog and image samples at Photographyblog. 32mm Hands-on at Photographyblog and image samples at Photographyblog. Image samples also at Diglloyd. 12mm image samples at ThePhoBlographer.

Zeiss preorder links:
12mm f/2.8 at BHphoto, Adorama and Uniquephoto. In Europe at [shoplink 18497 ebay]CameraCenter UK[/shoplink] and FotoMundus.
32mm f/1.8 at BHphoto, Adorama and Uniquephoto. In Europe at [shoplink 18498 ebay]CameraCenter UK[/shoplink] and FotoMundus.

We have the first three “Lens Turbo” feedbacks from SAR readers ([shoplink 18455 ebay]eBay auctions here[/shoplink]):

1) SAR reader Gary (Click here) tested the Pentax to NEX Lens Turbo and you can see plenty of images on his blog. Some of his early findings:

– The build quality on the unit is fantastic,
– The field-of-view is actually a bit narrower than I expected,
– There is also a hint of vignetting wide open, and the adapter seems to add a slight green tint to the image, as well as a hint of distortion,
– it does seem to smudge and swirl the bokeh a bit.

2) Southerns: I’m returning my Lens Turbo. There is a large bluish dot in the center. Shot with a FS700 – http://youtu.be/zYB0lesJaxo I used the Samyang 14mm and Samyang 24mm. I also tested at the same time with the MTF adapter and that was ok. No filters were used at all. The camera was in the shade and I get the blue dot facing the opposite direction away from the sun too.

3) SAR reader Donny shared his Len Turbo image samples. Click on them to enlarge. The George Takai magazine, 2 Flower Shots, and Payphone were all shot with the Nex 5n plus, Lens Turbo Nikon-NEX adapter, and Nikkor 50 1.4 AIS.The rest were shot with the Samyang 35 1.4. All with an aperture of /f1.4 on lens (which becomes f/1.0 witht he Lens Turbi).

Current Lens Turbo auctions:

1) Hong Kong store Roxens sells the Pentax K to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18380 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink], Canon FD to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18420 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Nikon F to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18421 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Minolta MD to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18422 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] 2) Shanghai store Jinfinance has three adapters:  Pentax K to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18381 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink],  Canon FD to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18382 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink] and Nikon F to NEX adapter on [shoplink 18383 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].