The lens, a fifth-generation manual focus lens originally derived from a CCTV lens, resonates well with enthusiasts looking for an option with a wide aperture and an extremely low price point.
The 70mm equivalent (on a 2x crop sensor digital) is excellent for everyday photography, portraits, street photography, travel, events, and experimental photography.
With its short telephoto configuration, the Risespray HD MC 35mm f/1.6, mounted on a 2x crop sensor MFT digital, is equally adept as a portrait lens with natural and flattering compression for separation between subjects and background (I don't do portraits, though).
The lens, with its lively blue livery (also available in red, gold, and silver body finishes), is a 4 elements in 4 groups all-metal and glass built, with maybe an ED element in some versions, 8 straight blades (while others may have 12 rounded petals), a clickless aperture ring with an aperture range from f/1.6 to f/16, a minimum focusing distance of 0.45 meters, takes 46mm filter, and, depending on the generation, weighs from 113 to 140 grams.
The Risespray HD MC 35mm f/1.6 was shipped with both a plastic rear and an ala-classic screw-in metal front cap, in an impeccably packed mint-colored box, snugly wrapped in a plastic sleeve in a box with exact-fit sponge liners, and accompanied by a vinyl pouch, a lens cleaning lint, and an instruction leaflet (in a different language, though). What seems like a perfect setup is slightly marred, however, by the lens mount not being a tight fit; it plays slightly when mounted on the camera.
Just as well, for still photographers, a clickless aperture ring on an experimental night shoot like this may actually be more of an inconvenience rather than an asset.
The lens might not be the best in its class; in fact, it is far from it. However, when it comes to delivering vibrant images with saturated colors, the lens wins hands down. And along with its wide f/1.6 maximum aperture, sharp center focus, a nostalgia of a classic, and a slightly quirky manual shooting experience.
The images here were shot with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5, a mirrorless digital camera released in 2012. The camera has a 16MP Live MOS MFT (Micro Four Thirds) sensor, a 3-inch articulating touchscreen, a 1,440k-dot electronic viewfinder, ISO sensitivity from 160 to 12,800, 6 fps continuous shooting, and 1080p 60p video. The G5 is noted as having a very fast AF and improved low-light performance, a noted option for entry-level DSLRs.
