~derf / hardware / photography

Photography Hardware

In Use

Google Pixel 7a

I would've preferred a combination of regular and tele lens as in the Pixel 4, but the markup of getting a Pixel 7 oder Pixel 7 Pro just for that was way too hefty. I don't use its fisheye lens nearly as often as I would use a tele lens, but it's still nice to have.

Canon EOS M50

  • Mirrorless digital camera
  • Mount: EF-M
  • Sensor diameter: 22.1 × 14.9 mm CMOS (APS-C – about 1.6x smaller than a 35mm-equivalent full frame sensor, so crop factor 1.6)
  • Sensor resolution: 6000 × 4000 px (24 Mpx)
  • Cost: 444 € in March 2021 (Mediamarkt, including the EF-M 15-45mm lens)

It's smol and capable. I really like it.

Canon zoom lens EF-M 15-45mm 1:3.5-6.3 IS STM

  • Aperture: f:3.5 (15mm) - f:6.3 (45mm) to f:22 - f:40
  • Iris: 7 blades
  • Focal length: 15mm to 45mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.25m
  • Mount: EF-M (APS-C)
  • Filter thread: 49mm
  • Cost: – (kit lens, bundled with EOS M50)

Not too bright, but definitely good for everyday shooting, and pleasantly compact. Features built-in image stabilization (“IS”) and a silent stepper motor for focusing (“STM”).

Specs @ canon.de · Review by Ken Rockwell

Canon lens EF-M 22mm 1:2 STM

  • Aperture: f:2 to f:22
  • Iris: 7 blades
  • Focal length: 22mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.15m
  • Mont: EF-M (APS-C)
  • Filter thread: 43mm
  • Cost: 130€ used in June 2026

Image quality: absolutely gorgeous, and even more so when considering how tiny it is (it's called a “pancake lens” for a reason).

Mechanics: Oof.

The auto-focus stepper motor and/or its drive are wimpy, and mine broke after a just a few days of using it and carrying the camera around in my purse. Now, it is occasionally losing steps, and it typically takes several attempts (and, sometimes, a switch to manual focus) before it works properly. Other times, it will not work at all when turning on the camera, or fail to focus.

Currently awaiting repairs.

Specs @ canon.de · Review by Ken Rockwell

Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II

  • Aperture: f:1.8 to f:22
  • Iris: 5 blades
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.45m
  • Mount: EF (full frame)
  • Filter thread: 52mm
  • Serial: 1815102579
  • Cost: 60€ used in March 2021 (via ebay)

Good for portraits and (not necessarily easy) event photography, e.g. at GPN 2024. Depending on the lighting, there can be quite a lot of chromatic aberration when the aperture is wide-open.

Specs @ canon.de · Review by Ken Rockwell.

Canon zoom lens EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III

  • Aperture: f:4 (75mm) - f:5.6 (300mm) to f:32 - f:45
  • Iris: 7 blades
  • Focal length: 75mm to 300mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 1.5m
  • Mount: EF (full frame)
  • Filter thread: 58mm
  • Cost: 80€ used in June 2026 (via ebay)

Canon zoom lens EF-S 55-250mm 1:4-5.6 IS STM

  • Aperture: f:4 (55mm) - f:5.6 (250mm) to f:22 - f:32
  • Iris: 7 blades
  • Focal length: 55mm to 250mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.85m
  • Mount: EF-S (APS-C)
  • Filter thread: 58mm
  • Cost: 245€ new in March 2021

My preferred lens for zoo visits, featuring built-in image stabilization (“IS”) and a silent stepper motor for focusing (“STM”). It's not too bright in the upper focal lengths, but as long as it is used outdoors and the sky isn't too dark, that isn't too much of a problem.

Specs @ canon.de · Review by Ken Rockwell

Super Carenar 1:2.8 f=135mm auto tele

  • Aperture: f:2.8 to f:16, full-stop clicks
  • Iris: 6 blades
  • Focal length: 135mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 1.8m
  • Mount: M42 (full frame)
  • Filter thread: 55mm
  • Serial: 246625E
  • Cost: 35€ used in Oct. 2025 (via Kleinanzeigen)

Makes for pretty good portraits if you've got the space.

Possibly related pentaxforums review: Super Carenar MC 135mm F2.8

Pentacon auto 1.8/50 multi coating

  • Aperture: f:1.8 to f:16, half-stop clicks
  • Iris: 6 blades
  • Focal length: 50mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.3m
  • Mount: M42 (full frame)
  • Filter thread: 49mm
  • Serial: ?
  • Cost: 40€ used in Oct. 2025 (via Kleinanzeigen)

Makes for pretty good portraits, especially when combined with a focal reducer so thit I actually have a nifty fifty and not an 80mm lens on my APS-C camera.

Seems to have originated as Oreston 1,8/50 in 1965, building upon the earlier Domiron 2/50. Apparently, lenses from this era may contain thoriated glass and thus be mildly radioactive (mostly alpha and possibly some beta rays) I haven't checked whether this holds for mine.

Probably related pentaxforums review: Pentacon auto multi coating 50mm F1.8

Pentacon 4/200

  • Aperture: f:4 to f:22, no clicks
  • Iris: 15 blades
  • Focal length: 200mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 2.5m
  • Mount: M42 (full frame)
  • Serial: 9611320
  • Cost: 35€ used in Oct. 2025 (via Kleinanzeigen)

This lens seems to have originated as an Orestegor 4/200, with first units built in the 1960ies. Judging from its looks and serial number, mine seems to have been built in the 1980ies.

The corresponding pentaxforums thread is probably Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegor / Pentacon 200mm F4. There also seems to be a successor that doesn't quite match mine: Pentacon Preset 200mm F4.

Pixco EF-EM Speed Booster Focal Reducer Adapter

  • Focal length multiplier: 0.7×
  • Mount (lens): EF (full frame)
  • Mount (body): EF-M (APS-C)

Introduces some interesting effects around bright spots, but apart from that, it seems to work fine so far. In any case, being able to use a 50mm full-frame lens as a 50mm lens on an APS-C sensor is great.

Vivitar 28mm 1:2.5 auto wide-angle

  • Aperture: f:2.5 to f:22, half-stop clicks
  • Iris: 6 blades
  • Focal length: 28mm
  • Minimum focus distance: 0.3m
  • Mount: M42 (full frame)
  • Filter thread: 67mm
  • Serial: 22639853
  • Cost: 30€ used in Oct. 2025 (via Kleinanzeigen)

Pentaxforums: Probably Vivitar / Panagor (Kiron 22xxxxx) 28mm F2.5.

Looks like there are quite a lot of variants of this lens out there. Mine is the M13 variant, apparently manufactured around 1980 by Kiron Corporation in Carson, USA.

Attic

Panasonic DMC-FZ82

Small sensor, lots of noise, but came with raw support and (thanks to its small sensor) up to 1200mm of 35mm-equivalent zoom on its built-in lens. It served me well from 2017 to 2021 – at that point, I started regularly visiting zoos and wildlife parks, so I wanted something with a somewhat bigger sensor and the option to switch lenses. The in-body image stabilizer is not exactly silent, but useful.

Google Pixel 4

I really liked the (about 50mm-equivalent) tele lens. It's a pity the Pixel 7a doen't include one.