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Review on πŸ“Έ Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone Lens for Nikon: Supreme Quality and Precision by Paul Barnes

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Old world craftsmanship.

The delivery was very quick and the packaging was secure. Two outer boxes before you even get to the lens box. When you open the lens box you will see a beautiful metal box containing your lens. Opening this metal box reveals a reinforced lens case that is durable and well-made to put in your backpack without worrying about lens damage. There is something to be said for a company that puts so much time, effort and detail into the packaging alone. That extra step lets you know the lens has to be excellent. This is a weatherproof lens that I think is better than some manufacturers' "L" lenses. You pick up this lens and it takes you back to the days of all-metal lenses, before things became plastic. Brought back many fond memories of my dad's Voightlander/Leica/Zeiss lenses when they still had old-school craftsmanship. Perhaps this will help some of you understand the build quality of this lens. If you own a pistol, this lens is made in Germany by Sig Sauer or H&K. This lens features uncompromising build quality inside and out. It feels solid and durable in hand. Because the lens is a fixed focal length lens with no internal motor to add weight, the weight is instead increased through better build materials. The glass is crystal clear, the case is made of high-quality materials. Yes, you are dealing with a 95mm front element, so Lee or Cokin filters should be a professional size 100x150mm. IRIX has thought of everything, giving you focus lock, a solid focus ring, a glow-in-the-dark dial, and even a noticeable click when you reach infinity focus. For someone like me who does a lot of night photography and astrophotography, you couldn't ask for a better lens. This lens is also great for capturing country and city landscapes. As I said, the lens is extremely stable and performs equally well in all climates. Now a sentence of wisdom from my father; "Your happy lens, camera bodies are like a girlfriend!" Many people will get tired of the camera body they have, but they won't get tired of the glass they own. And anyone who understands anything beyond basic photography knows the three most important elements of great photos; The right light, the right lens and camera body. When you buy quality of this standard you know this is a lens you will teach and pass on to your children and grandchildren.

Pros
  • Inspires confidence
Cons
  • Out of fashion