TEST: Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2 and Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 @ f/2.8.

2026, Favourite, Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR, Fujifilm GFX 100SII, Inspiration, Print, Q&A, Teaching point, Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2, Within 200 feet of My House™

We’re testing for central sharpness, with both lenses at f/2.8, on a Fujifilm GFX100SII.

For the GF 45mm, this represents wide open performance.  The Thypoch 50mm is slightly stopped down, which gives it an advantage.

Looking at the images, the GF 45mm wins.  However, the result is much closer than I expected, even though I already knew the Thypoch performance is impressive.

With the Fuji lens, you also get autofocus, weather sealing, and less vignetting.  With the Thypoch, you get a maximum f/2 aperture (not shown here), and a much, much smaller and lighter lens.

For me, both lenses are keepers.

—Peter.

TEST: Thypoch Eureka 50mm + Fujifilm GFX100SII Vignetting @ f/2, f/4 and f/8.

2026, Favourite, Fujifilm GFX 100SII, Print, Q&A, Teaching point, Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4, Within 200 feet of My House™

This sequence was shot with the Thypoch Eureka 50mm f/2 lens on the Fujifilm GFX100SII, using the camera’s native (4:3) aspect ratio (i.e., whole sensor, uncropped).

Although the vignetting improves as we close down, the dark corners do not fully disappear.

I don’t find it to be too troublesome for most photos, as a slight crop (or even correcting the horizon), excludes much of the troublesome bits from the final image.  The rest of the vignetting can be largely corrected during post processing.

In dimly lit scenes, I find the that the vignetting/dark corners enhance the final image.

Considering how small the 50mm Eureka is, it is incredible how well it covers the GFX100SII medium format sensor.  I’m also impressed that its sharpness is maintained throughout the frame and there is only the slightest dip in the edges.

—Peter.

When Harry Met Beth.

2025, Beyond 200 feet of My House™, Favourite, Fujifilm GFX 100SII, Inspiration, Mitakon 65mm f/1.4, Print

I was trying to achieve a vintage look with this photo, and I believe I was at least partially successful as a result of 3 things:

(1) The way the image was processed (muted colours, less contrast),

(2) The moment caught, in which there are no pedestrians or passing vehicles (pretty rare in a metropolis like Toronto), and

(3) The fact that this stretch of Eglinton hasn’t – yet – been overtaken by towering buildings (the storefronts have more human-friendly proportions that don’t overshadow life on the street and that speak to a by-gone era.

—Peter.

 

Nikon Z9 – Bravo Nikon!

2025, Favourite, Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon Z9, Q&A, Teaching point

The Nikon Z9 is one of those rare cameras that I bought right at launch, so I’ve been using it for years now.  Today Nikon released yet another firmware update and, needless to say, I am really excited about it.

Every year it seems that there is some major upgrade to the Z9’s already mature firmware, giving us essentially a brand new camera with respect to its functionality.  I hadn’t expected another update so far along the product cycle, but voila! Nikon has given us an early Christmas present.

(For those keeping score, the only other two cameras I’ve ever, ahem, “clicked with” and kept for years were the Nikon D3 and the Leica M9.)

—Peter.