Photography by Ewen Bell
Photography by Ewen Bell





L-Mount on The Blog

Ewen's resources and guides for L-Mount gear.




L-Mount on The Blog

   

I spend a lots of time working with L-Mount equipment so I've brought together this page for reviews and content that features gear from LUMIX, Sigma and Leica.

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Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 - Long Term Review

This is a hard lens to leave at home. It delivers quality and sharpness for landscapes and the night sky, plus has a neat party trick with rear pocket for ND filters. Worthy companion to any full-frame mirrorless camera. (Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN)


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Good Gear



EF to L-Mount Adaptor by Fotodiox

This is an alternative to the Sigma MC21 that lets you mount Canon EF lenses onto your new Lumix S-series bodies such as the S1R and S1H. The short version of this review is that they work just fine for AF lenses and represents excellent value.



SIGMA 60-600mm Field Review

I spent a few weeks in The Outback with the new SIGMA 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS SPORT L-Mount. The name is a mouthful, and the lens is a handful. This super telephoto represents the latest in AF and OS technology from Sigma, packaged into a superbly flexible and optically impressive full-frame wildlife lens. Available for both L-Mount and E-Mount.



S-E100 F2.8 Macro for L-Mount

The S-E100 F2.8 Macro lens for L-Mount has just been released by LUMIX, and it’s very different to anything I’ve used on a mirrorless system before. It’s a super compact lens for super small subjects, but delivers super-sized performance and in particular the Autofocus is on a whole other level.



Viltrox EF-L Pro - Quick Review

For extra stability and good compatibility, this EF-L adaptor plays nicely with the latest LUMIX bodies and older EF lenses.



LUMIX S9 Review

Welcome to the LUMIX S9, the new full-frame mirrorless made by stuffing the inner workings of an S5II into a tiny little camera body. Panasonic didn’t skimp on features, and even added a few new ones. Let’s take a quick look at why the new LUMIX S9 is such a great addition to the L-mount collection, and why I think it’s a tonne of fun.



Sigma 14mm F1.4 Field Review

This is my new favourite lens for the Arctic. It’s not just for stars, and not just auroras. It’s also a creative lens choice when you want to do something a little bit different with landscape photography.



Leica Summicron-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH

Another great fast 50mm prime for the L-mount, this time with a seriously impressive build quality that we have come to expect from Leica.



New Life for EF Lenses

Not only does the AF system on the LUMIX S5II deliver amazing results for native L-mount lenses, but the performance of EF lenses is exceptional to the point of giving Canon owners a legitimate upgrade path at an affordable price.



Sigma 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN ART

I’ve had a chance to shoot with the new Sigma 28-105mm F2.8 DG DN Art over recent weeks, and explore the light and shadows on Melbourne's streets. This is not a one-size-fits-all lens, but a very professional mid-range zoom that delivers a bright and contrasty image.



Slow It Down

Walking with a macro is nice, but only works if you adjust your pace to suit the task. Macro photography is process of exploration. Slow it down. Slow. It. Down.



The Best 35mm Lens for My LUMIX

If you appreciate the value of a 35mm prime lens, you’ll also appreciate that there are a good many 35mm designs to choose from now. Here are my favourite two 35mm lenses from Panasonic and Sigma, both for full-frame L-Mount bodies, and why they appeal to such wildly different photographic styles.



Butterflies in Bhutan

I'm going to miss Bhutan when I head home, but this time for the most tiny of reasons. The butterflies. Having a few days to step into their miniature world of scaly wings and hairy heads has been an absolute joy.



Leica SL2-S

The SL2-S is a very modern yet practical 24MP camera that enjoys a touch of Leica flare. As my first chance to shoot with a Leica body in over a decade, this one left a very positive impression.



Custom Setup for the LUMIX S9

Download my custom setup for the LUMIX S9, along with a very full range of custom configurations directly available through the mode dial. Updated in October 2024 for Firmware V1.2.



Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD

I travelled in the Himalayas for a few months in late 2023 with this lovely lens. If you're interested in more than just tech specs, and what it's like to work with this lens for an extended time then you've come to the right place.



Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 Di III VXD A062

I took this lens to Nepal and Bhutan for a few months in late 2023. If you're interested in more than just tech specs, and what it's like to work with this lens for an extended time then you've come to the right place.



Panning for Gold in Kathmandu

Panning is a simple way to kill an afternoon and make yourself exhausted. The concept is pretty simple: you use a slow shutter speed like 1/30 of a second to separate a moving object from a chaotic background. Hundreds of your shots will be useless. A rare few will be perfection. Those are the ones you show your friends.



Tamron Got It Covered

The Tamron 20-40mm F2.8 and 35-150mm F2-2.8 narrow the gap between primes and zoom. I didn't think I'd like these new lenses from Tamron so much, but the fact is every time I took them out to shoot I ended up with a tonne of great images. That’s a little bit annoying for a prime lens snob like myself.




Captured on the LUMIX S5 with 24mm and 50mm LUMIX S F1.8 prime lenses.



Photo Essays





The North

Sometimes the dark and heavy skies of an Arctic winter can bring inspiration. Mostly we chase the sunlight and auroras when heading to Tromso, but this year I started collecting frames under the most challenging of skies. Those moments when the weather changes, when snowflakes fall in the sunshine or a blizzard moves into a fjord, are my favourite. Transition and scale.



Easy Annapurnas

This series of images was captured while travelling on a Be Your Best Tours 'slow travel' adventure in Nepal. I love being in the Annapurnas. I love the views of snow capped peaks that greet you from every direction. I love the local dal bhat for lunch. I love the sunny skies and tree blossoms.



35mm Nepal

This series is taken by my wife, Shellie Froidevaux. We recently ran a walking tour in Nepal, and this was our first time shooting with the LUMIX S5. We had a variety of primes lenses, plus the 20-60mm kit lens. Shellie gravitates towards the 35mm anyway, and to make life simple she spent most of the trip with the 35mm in hand. Every so often I would grab it for some video :) This series of images was heavily styled in editing, leaning into the dusty and sun-soaked vibe of Nepal.



Kathmandu in Spring

Kathmandu Valley is a great place to be in Spring. It hasn't got too hot yet, the forest is blooming with flowers and the birdlife is amazing. This journey was a research trip for Be Your Best Tours, and the images below were captured on the new LUMIX S5. Enjoy!



Momos and Monks

In the Lower Mustang on the edge of the Annapurnas is a small gompa, and home to roughly 90 novice monks. These are young boys who travel far from home to learn about Buddhism plus a broader education. Mostly they eat rice and chillies, but every so often they have a special treat of freshly steamed momos. Days like this are very good days indeed.



Lunch in Malekhu

Overlooking the river banks of the Trishuli River in Nepal are rows of lunch stops, from Mugling to Malekhu. They appeal to truck drivers and local travellers, but rarely get a look in with us foreigners. For me they're a real treat, with freshly caught river fish on the menu and all the dishes prepared in a traditional style using a clay oven. The small fish are deep fried in batter, and the big ones are cooked in a tomato curry. Highly recommended!