Simon's utak
Welcome to Simon's utak. This is a channel for lovers of cameras, lenses and camera gear. It should be of particular interest to amateur and professional photographers who enjoy using film era lenses on modern digital DSLR cameras.
My name is Simon, but why utak? Because in some languages utak means "brain". To me, the camera/lens is like a brain for artistic endeavours.
The content is based on my film and digital photography experience over four decades using a wide range of lenses - including Carl Zeiss Jena, Takumar, Yashica, Tomioka, Helios, Pentagon, Fujinon, Pentax, Leitz and Meyer-Optik Gorlitz.
My photos on Flickr have attracted over 12 million views, here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/albums.
If you'd like to donate to my channel, there's a link below.
Best PETRI fifties #2: Automatic 55mm f1.8. Beautiful vintage lens. Beautiful bokeh.
7Artisans 24mm f1.8 AF. My favourite wider-angle focal length: with an impressive new FF lens.
My 1st tilt lens - this is what I learned. Ft. Tilt TTARTISAN 35mm f1.4, with great bokeh!
NEEWER Z2PRO camera flash. What is it like to use? You don't need to be a pro to enjoy it!
Best PETRI fifties #3. 50mm f2. Is this old budget lens better than the swirly Helios 44-2?
Pentax DA 50mm f1.8. User reviews are so good I just had to test this "great value nifty fifty"!
TTARTISAN 35mm T2.1. New Cine Lens with a dual bokeh slider – lots of creative options!
Best PETRI fifties #4. C.C. Auto 50mm f1.7. Don’t judge this impressive old lens by its cover!
Best PETRI fifties #5. C.C. Auto 55mm f1.4. Does it really perform like the legendary Pancolar?
Petri + Kuribayashi fast fifties. Fascinating and sometimes amazing vintage lenses.
A beginners guide to using the clever Hohem iSteady M7 smartphone gimbal.
What is it really like to use an ultra-fast fifty lens? With the 50mm f0.95 from BRIGHTIN STAR.
CYCLOP 85mm f1.5. The one-eyed swirly bokeh monster lens, reviewed vs. Helios 40.
Takumar 35mm lenses. A guide to these classic vintage lenses, and 35mm f2.3 vs f2 comparison.
SIRUI 85mm f1.4. Look at the sharpness and beautiful bokeh from this new auto-focus portrait lens!
Is photography art? Does it matter? An illustrated history of debates for and against.
Thypoch Eureka 50mm f2. An inspired re-creation of the "Best British lens ever made"
Princes and Paupers: Classic lenses, copies & cheaper alternatives. 90% performance, 10% price.
RE Auto Topcor 58mm f1.4 and f1.8. Legendary vintage lenses reviewed and compared.
TTArtisan 75mm f1.5. A new king of bokeh, reviewed and compared with a Helios 40.
Super-Takumar 50mm f1.4. Is the famous 8 elements lens measurably better than the 7 elements lens?
Mitakon Speedmaster 20mm f0.95 - wide angle and ultra-fast!
Having fun with TTARTISAN’s new compact 250mm reflex mirror lens.
Photography with a f1.5 cine lens. What is it like to use a vintage "art" lens on digital cameras?
Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8 and f2. A review of two great bokeh vintage lenses.
Wow what a lens! Review of a top-rated concave glass classic: Carl Zeiss Ultron 50mm f1.8.
Leitz Elmar 5cm f3.5. A legendary vintage lens reviewed on digital cameras.
What makes this camera lens great? Tair 3S, 300mm telephoto Photosniper
Photography with a 500mm mirror lens. What is it like to use? With beautiful & bizarre photos.
Bokeh. A definitive guide to some of the most fascinating effects in photography.