Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

For Nikon: https://www.amazon.ae/Large-Aperture-Manual-Portrait-Cameras/dp/B09R51S4SG
US$ 104.73

For Canon: https://www.amazon.ae/gp/product/B0B6P1G3VY
US$ 76.95

I don't know why the Nikon version is more expensive, but it is still cheap so I took the plunge and bought a copy. Great deal!

It is a full frame lens, but aside from the metering, there is no product specification or manufacturer marks on the lens body.

The lens is Manual Only and this one is tack on with the focus circle indicator of the Nikon D7200.
Remember to turn the lens control to manual mode when using this lens so that the camera do not run the mechanical focus and aperture mechanisms.

The box comes free with a UV filter, Lens Hood, Lens cap (front & back) Cleaning cloth & vinyl pouch (the inside was lined with thin felt and feels cheap over-all, but it works).

The lens itself seems to be of good built. Metal parts and substantial weight.
The front goes forward when adjusting focus and is spring loaded. The front piece can be pushed backwards and bounces back.

Verdict: Time will tell if this could last but as is, it is highly Recommended for those willing to play with manual controls.

Tested it on an APS-C D7200, shots below:

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mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I looked at your links and that lens is being sold by two different venders. I have found that Chinese manual focus lenses are often available at somewhat different prices depending on the vender. I have also often seen larger price differences between specific models depending on the mount. I am guessing it may be the result of venders charging what the market will bear since the pricing of Chinese lenses may not be as well regulated like those from more mainstream lens manufacturers.

I also noted that the brand name this lens is being sold under is different in each of the links and that the website www.lightdow.com which is I clearly saw on your box does not exist. I clicked on the brands and both companies are resellers of general merchandise. Good Chinese lenses are generally very inexpensive. My well reviewed TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 for Nikon Z has a terrific build and is very sharp, and only costs $98 on Amazon. I probably would not have spent my money for a virtually unknown lens like this with no reviews from respectable sources. The couple of short video reviews I saw did not impress me with the optical or build quality.

Your copy seems fairly sharp but it would have been helpful if you posted your images at full resolution using the "store original" feature.

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Thaz a common oversight, but nothing is lost in this instance where a FF lens gets "tested" on a crop body.

The hard data derived boils down to "My sample did not disintegrate during use".

Same as many other Hogsters, I use FF lenses of this "heritage" and havnt any complaints. And I use them on FF bodies. But I cannot imagine posting my initial snapshots as a meaningful review or test.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I completely agree. I was just curious how fine detail in his images would look at full resolution on my 28-in 4K monitor. Like most fast Chinese manual focus lenses, it probably vignettes significantly in the corners wide open on a full frame body, but on a crop body, the corners may look far better.

It is also hard to gauge sharpness into the corners, which again may be improved on a crop body. I've noticed that a lot of Chinese lenses tend to have significant amounts of field curvature issues, and sometimes the corners are actually sharper than parts of the image between the corners and the center.

However, in my experience, none of this may really matter much since the results when testing lenses and their use in real world situations very often differs significantly. As an example, one of my Voigtländers (Japanese of course, not Chinese) has field curvature issues halfway between between the center and corners with softness and and a kind of muddiness that is really only visible at short distances in low light indoors. When I shoot outside at longer distances, the problem disappears completely. I've read of other Voigtländers that have the same issue.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Although what you saying about diffrent vendors is valid, in this post I had to give a different vendor as while creating the post, I tested the link and it has died. The page was no longer available.
Never the less, on many ads, I do find consistency that equivalent 3rd party lenses for Nikons usually cost more than the ones for Canon.

I did post that the body has no brand marking so in essence it can be sold as another brand, which is really not that unusual. Samyang-Rokinon is another rebranding of the same stuff and the old Hyundai Accent was rebranded and sold as Dodge Brisa.
For buying another brand, I probably would have done the same if I saw a same priced but better known brand on sale. The lightdow was what was available at the time.
As for any gear test/review, including my own, I always take them as upinions.
If connected with sales, I consider any review as advertising and would not use it as grounds for good judgement.

The previously posted images do include a higher downloadable copy and is IMHO enought to make for a judgment call as many images do get cropped or posted at a small size. As requested, 2 original file is below, which included elements along the sides of the image within the plane of focus.

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joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Love 'em ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Outdoors do you use smaller apertures ?

I use several Voigtlanders which acoarst requires MF. I keep my MF single point focus target away from center. My most important detail is not likely to be dead center, and acoarst not in a corner. Its a compromise focus for curvature of field.

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Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Thanks

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

That is really an interesting suggestion. I actually just tried it indoors by moving my focus point to the left a few clicks and it very noticeably improved the field curvature issue across the plane. I will play with moving the focus point to other locations tomorrow. Thanks.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Most lens manufacturers use computer-assisted matrix models and the sharpness of the lenses may be as good or nearly as good as OEM lenses there could be other factors that promote OEM lenses above generic lenses. Things like multi-coatings to reduce flare, rare gasses used between elements to improve light transmission, nano -coatings, build materials, etc. What this means is that you can get a very sharp lens at a lower price but the trade-off is under certain conditions like when lens flare happens, the OEM lens will perform better.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

For me, the greatest take away from using OEM is the assurance it would function properly with what it was designed to work with and the aftermarket service should it not. The mechanical & technical elements like coating ,gases, glass etc. are features included to achieve what it was designed to do. Some of those features directly affect the output image quality of the lens leading to their desirability.

On the other hand, the lack-off, or a different approach by 3rd party manufacturers can also be desirable as a style or look we may be aiming for.

Regarding the specific lens at hand, most of the test images were shot towards the light and with high contrast meant to expose flaring & chromatic aberrations which in my opinion it did well. One thing I did find extremely pleasing is the star it produces.

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Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Yes, some of those aberrations are desirable. I guess that is why a lot of photographers have a Lens Baby in their inventory of lenses. I have one but don't use it often.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Having not tried a Lens Baby, I'm much interested in seeing your images from those lenses.