When it comes to a 75mm focal length, it’s not exactly the most common out there. Most photographers are more familiar with 56mm, while 75mm sits in that in-between telephoto zone that can feel a little intimidating, especially if you’re shooting in tight urban spaces like I do. Space is a luxury here, and a longer focal length often means stepping back more than I’d like. Still, I was curious. And that curiosity led me to the TTArtisan 75mm f2, a surprisingly compact tele lens that might just deserve a spot in your camera bag.
X-M5 with TTArtisan 75mm f2X-M5 with TTArtisan 75mm f2
Intro
The TTArtisan 75mm f2 was first launched for Z-mount and E-mount back in September 2024, and it took almost a full year before the X-mount version arrived in August 2025. It’s now available in a total of four mounts, including L-mount, making it accessible to a wide range of photographers.
A quick shoutout to the awesome folks at TTArtisan for sending this lens my way to test, as always, my thoughts here are entirely my own.
Design and Build Quality
Design-wise, this lens follows the familiar TTArtisan aesthetic, very much in line with the 23mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8 II, and 56mm f1.8. But there’s one major difference: this time, there is an aperture ring.
That’s right, an actual clicky aperture ring on an autofocus lens. It’s something we rarely see from TTArtisan, and it’s a welcome addition, though I’ll admit, the clicks are a bit on the stiff side. It’s not the smoothest experience, but it works.
Build quality, as always with TTArtisan, doesn’t disappoint. The metal construction gives it a solid, premium feel. At 326 grams, it’s nicely balanced and not too heavy. The filter size is 62mm, making filters easy and affordable to find. Plus, it now comes with a square lens hood, which looks great and adds a bit of flair.
Image Quality
Let’s talk about performance. Wide open at f2, the TTArtisan 75mm delivers impressively sharp results. It’s not on the same razor-sharp level as the Viltrox 75mm f1.2, but for general use, it’s more than capable, and the images look fantastic.
Chromatic aberration is very well controlled, and vignetting is minimal enough to be a non-issue.
The bokeh is decent, not the creamiest out there, but it has character. The rendering feels a bit on the “hard” side, but for portraits and product shots, it still delivers pleasing separation and depth.
Autofocus runs on a Stepper Motor (STM), and it’s quick, accurate, and relatively quiet. Not lightning-fast, but definitely reliable. Eye tracking also performs quite well and stays sticky enough for most portrait situations.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
The minimum focus distance is 75cm, which feels fair for this focal length. For comparison:
So the TTArtisan sits comfortably in between. More importantly, image quality stays strong even when shooting near the minimum distance.
Price Point
Here’s where things get wild: it is priced at just USD 200. For context, the Viltrox 75mm f1.2 costs about USD 580, and the Samyang/Rokinon 75mm f1.8 sits at USD 449. That’s more than double (and almost triple) the price. So for $200, this TTArtisan feels like a steal, a budget-friendly telephoto lens that still performs well in all checkboxes.
Like other TTArtisan AF lenses, the rear lens cap includes a USB-C port for firmware updates, which is always a plus.
Rear lens cap with USB-C port
One thing to note, this lens does not have weather or dust sealing. But honestly, at this price point, that’s perfectly reasonable.
Who is this for?
At a 112mm full-frame equivalent, this lens is clearly made for portraits and product photography. It’s not the most versatile choice for street shooters, unless you like keeping a bit of distance between you and your subjects. In that case, this focal length might be perfect for candid, unobtrusive shots.
For travel photographers, it’s a great lens to pack “just in case.” It’s compact, not too heavy, and covers a nice tele range when you need it.
Conclusion
Alongside TTArtisan’s compact prime lineup: the 23mm f1.8, 35mm f1.8 II, and 56mm f1.8, this new 75mm f2 rounds out a very practical and affordable set of lenses for any prime shooter. For 200 USD, TTArtisan has nailed the balance between build quality, image performance, and price. I honestly can’t find a solid reason not to recommend it.
It’s compact, capable, and fun to use, the kind of lens that reminds you good gear doesn’t always have to come with a high-end price tag. TTArtisan has been on a roll, releasing lens after lens, and now I can’t help but wonder… what focal length will they surprise us with next?
X-E5 with TTArtisan 75mm f2X-E5 with TTArtisan 75mm f2
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
Fujifilm X-E5 is the newest camera in the X-E series and of course in the Fujifilm X series family as well. There was a saying that this series has been a lot of ups and downs with speculation about this series been axed. But it survived everytime and always been refining and Fujifilm always trying yo positioning it better.
Fuji X-E5
Intro
The X-E series has always been considered the little brother to the X-Pro line. Designed to be a more affordable option for photographers who love the rangefinder style but can’t justify the X-Pro’s price, the X-E models traditionally came with slightly lower specs and a plastic build.
Looking back at the Fujifilm X-E series, one thing that immediately stands out is how the design language has evolved. Earlier models carried a softer, curved body shape, but with the newer iterations, Fujifilm has shifted toward a sharper, more refined blocky look.
Interestingly, the X-E1, the very first in the lineup, was actually a bit larger and taller than the brand-new X-E5, yet it still managed to be much lighter thanks to the plastic built body.
The X-E4 was where Fujifilm took a bold leap into minimalism. Some photographers appreciated the stripped-back approach, while others felt it went a little too far. The X-E5 continues along that same minimal design path, but with a few thoughtful additions that make it feel like Fujifilm listened to the feedback.
The shutter, however, doesn’t feel heavy at all. In fact, it’s gentle and refined compared to earlier models, giving the camera a pleasing shooting experience.
A welcome return is the flip-up LCD display. I don’t take selfies often, but the flip-up screen is perfect for capturing low-angle shots.
What’s been brought back? The hand grip. While it’s not the chunkiest grip you’ll find, the small front and rear bumps do improve handling compared to the gripless X-E4. It’s still not perfect, many will likely want an additional grip accessory, but the difference is noticeable and very welcome.
What’s been added? From the front, you’ll now spot a focus mode selector, a control lever, and a function button, small but meaningful upgrades for usability. Around the back, the “Q” button has been moved into the same position as the X100VI, and Fujifilm has also added a rear command dial. These tweaks make the X-E5 feel more versatile without cluttering the minimalist design.
Focus Mode SelectorPlacement of the “Q” button is the same as X100VI
If you’ve shot with previous X-E cameras, one of the first things you’ll notice when picking up the X-E5 is the weight. At 445g, it’s the heaviest in the series (most predecessors hovered around 350g). But with that extra heft comes a sense of sturdiness, thanks to its solid aluminum build.
One of the most distinctive design touches on the X-E5 is the new film simulation dial built into the top plate window. Traditionally, that little window displayed film count, and now, it tells you which film simulation you’re using. A subtle but clever nod to the good film days, and of course, the Instax cameras.
Film simulation dial
The dial itself comes with 10 film simulation slots: 6 fixed presets and 4 that can be customized. (For comparison, the X-M5 offers 12 slots.) FS1 to FS3 can be assigned to any simulation you like, including your own recipes. The final slot, labeled “C” for Custom, lets you quickly change simulations on the fly using the front command dial.
Sensor and Processor
The X-E5 is equipped with the familiar 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor alongside the powerful X-Processor 5. It is the same combination found in Fujifilm’s X-H2, X-T5, X-T50, and even the X100VI.
40 megapixels might feel like overkill if your main goal is to share photos on social media, but having that level of resolution opens up plenty of creative possibilities, from large prints to detailed cropping. It’s a thoughtful move by Fujifilm, and one that photographers will no doubt appreciate.
40 megapixels image quality is superior. Pairing the right lenses help to optimize the best image quality Fujifilm offers. If you pair up with the Fujifilm older generation of lenses or other third party lenses, you might notice some levels of softness if you are the picky one.
For those who have experienced the X-Processor 5, you already know the kind of performance it delivers. This is the very same processor powering the flagship GFX100 II, and it brings that same level of speed and refinement into the X series. When paired with Fujifilm’s latest generation of lenses, the results are nothing short of outstanding, showcasing some of the best performance Fujifilm has to offer.
That said, the eye-AF tracking performs well by Fujifilm’s current standards. It sticks onto the subject most of the time, though every now and then it might wander off a little. When I put it side by side with my X-T5, the focusing feels slightly slower (both running on default settings). But honestly, it’s not a deal breaker for me.
Similar to all other latest series of X-Series camera bodies, it is equipped with 7 stops of compensation. In short, the IBIS in this camera works impressively well.
When it comes to battery, I am prepared and expecting that NP-W126S to be the battery model and we all know how small the battery capacity this model can be.
According to CIPA rating, it is about 300 shots. But based on my usage with everything in default, I managed to squeeze about 480 shots. And that including transferring 50 shots from the camera to the phone. This result of mine shared similarity with the X-T50.
In my opinion, the number of shots seems to be good enough for a 2-3 days travel occasion and probably a good one day coverage for photowalks. If you think the battery is not good enough, I will suggest getting another 1 to 2 spare batteries as the battery is quite pocketable and compact. Alternatively, standby a PD powerbank to charge via the USB-C to extend the juice whenever needed.
Feedback
Like all the rest of the X-E series that come before it, it does not equipped with Dial Lock Release like the X-T5. This lock is so beneficial because it can prevent accidental dial changes. I encountered this when my camera is place inside the bag and probably some movement has pushes the dial without noticing.
Wish to have a dial lock on the shuttle speed dialFuji X-E5 with XF23mm f2.8
There hasn’t been any upgrade to the Electronic View Finder (EVF) or the rear LCD display and they are still at 2.36 million dots and 1.04 million dots respectively. I do wish Fujifilm had pushed a little further in this area, especially to better justify the price increase.
This new generation comes in at a noticeably higher price than the previous one. The body alone is priced at 1599 USD, and in Singapore, it’s going for 2099 SGD. To put things in perspective, the last model was launched at 1449 SGD back in 2021.
Even after adjusting for inflation, which would bring that number closer to 1700 SGD, the new price still sits quite a bit higher. Whether that premium is worth paying really depends on what photographers feel they’re getting out of it.
When it comes to the Fujifilm X-E5 and X100VI, the comparisons never seem to end. Which one is better? Why choose this over that? Which camera really gives you the most value? The debates go on, often shaped by personal preference and bias. That’s completely fair, and I respect that.
From my perspective, both cameras serve different purposes and are designed to meet the unique needs of each photographer and shooting experiences. There’s really no right or wrong choice here. What matters most is understanding your own shooting style and priorities. Once you’re clear about what you need, picking the right camera becomes a much simpler decision. It might sound straightforward, but in reality, finding the right one often takes a bit more time and consideration.
The X-E5 has a little trick up its sleeve, a classic display mode in the electronic viewfinder. It’s an interesting addition that feels like a nod to nostalgia for senior generations users, while also giving younger generations a taste of the past.
Who is this for?
If you are interested in jumping into Fujifilm ecosystem and find that price of the X-E5 price is too steep, there are other models available, for instance, X-M5.
Fujifilm is always about the overall user experience from using the gear, to click the shutter and the final results in front of your eyes. Each camera user experience is different somehow and finding the right one is always a challenge.
If possible, give it a try in your nearest camera store or better recommendation is to rent it out for a week or two with a few lenses to try. The later one is a costly option, but probably a better one than rush buy.
Conclusion
The X-E series has always held a special charm for me. I still keep my X-E3 around, and while I regret missing the chance to pick up the X-E4 before Fujifilm suddenly discontinued it, I wasn’t willing to pay inflated resale prices. So when the X-E5 was announced, it was an easy decision. I knew I had to get it.
Thanks to the ripple effect from the viral X100V video, Fujifilm cameras have been attracting attention well beyond the photography community. And naturally, the X-E5 has also found its way into the spotlight.
Yes, the X-E5 is the most expensive model in the X-E lineup so far, but in my opinion, it’s also the best one yet. I absolutely enjoy the shooting experience this rangefinder-style body offers—it’s a completely different vibe compared to my X-T5. As I’ve said before, every camera has its own purpose, crafted to meet the specific needs and styles of different photographers. The X-E5 is no exception, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
Fuji X-E5 with XF23mm f.28 kit lens
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
If you’re familiar with TTArtisan, you’ll know they’re more than just a lens manufacturer; they also create a range of camera accessories. TTArtisan has consistently explored ways to make photography more enjoyable, adaptable, and practical through thoughtful accessory design.
M01 Camera FlashLeft to right: Single Color LED, M01 Camera Flash, Full color RGB LEDLeft to right: Single Color LED, M01 Camera Flash, Full color RGB LED
This time, they’re launching not one but two new accessories: the M01 and the J01. One serves as the primary accessory, while the other is designed to complement it.
Before I proceed further, I would like to thank the good people at TTArtisan for sending this beauty to me. Having said that,my thoughts and experiences shared in this post remain completely unbiased.
M01 Let’s talk about the M01 camera flash. Like the other two light accessories TTArtisan released earlier, it comes packaged in a film canister-style case, which is a nice touch. It’s a bit larger than the previous ones, but still small enough to fit in your pocket. Unlike those earlier lights, though, this isn’t an LED or multi-LED light; it’s a proper xenon flash. However, it doesn’t have a magnetic mount this time, which is a bit of a letdown, but understandable because of the hot shoe.
Single Color LED, M01 Camera Flash, Full color RGB LED
The M01 is super lightweight, coming in at just 35 grams. It’s made of plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap. There’s just one button that controls both power and flash intensity—simple and straightforward. The flash has a Guide Number (GN) of 12, and a color temperature of 5600K with a margin of about ±200K. You get four power levels: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and full power (1/1), with recycle times of continuous, 2, 3, and 4 seconds, respectively. Given its compactness, I am impressed with the recycling times.
Using the M01 is easy. Just slide it into the hot shoe of any compatible camera (whether it’s Fuji, Nikon, Canon, Sony, OM System, Leica, or Ricoh) turn both the camera and flash on, enable flash in the settings (if needed), and you’re good to go.
X-M5 with M01 Camera FlashX-M5 with M01 Camera Flash
Since it’s a manual flash and not TTL (Through-The-Lens), getting the right exposure might take a bit of trial and error. That said, it is rated for around 800 flashes per charge, which is pretty solid. In my testing, even at the lowest power (1/8), it was strong enough for close-up shots, so 800 flashes should be more than enough for casual use. Oh yes, the maximum sync speed is at 1/250s.
If you want another way to trigger the flash, that’s where the J01 comes in.
J01
This is a new kind of accessory from TTArtisan, a lightweight plastic flash trigger designed specifically for the M01. It weighs 18 grams, about half the weight of the M01.
Left: J01 Wireless Trigger – Front Right: J01 Wireless Trigger – Back
The good news is that it can trigger multiple M01 flashes at once, not just one M01. As for controls, it has two buttons. One for the power on/off switch and the other for testing the flash.
Like the M01, the wireless trigger works with most cameras that have a standard hot shoe mount.
What’s great is that there’s no need to pair it manually with the M01. Just turn on both devices, and they’ll connect automatically. Keep in mind, though, that the recommended working range is up to 3 meters for reliable performance.
X-M5 with J01 Wireless TriggerX-M5 with J01 Wireless Trigger
Others
Both accessories have a USB-C port for charging, which is super convenient! The M01 has a 350mAh battery, while the J01 has a 200mAh battery. This makes sense, considering the size of the J01.
M01 Camera FlashM01 Camera FlashM01 Camera Flash
Price Point
M01 is priced at 29 USD, and J01 is priced at 10 USD.
Conclusion
Both the M01 and J01 are simple, easy to use, and compact enough to carry in your pocket. They’re probably one of the most affordable ways to start exploring the art of flash photography.
X-M5 with Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 and M01 Camera Flash
X-M5 with Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 and M01 Camera Flash
With their attractive price point, I can’t help but think how well they pair with cameras that lack a built-in flash, like the upcoming Ricoh GR IV (not the Fuji X-Half), without putting a dent in your wallet. They also make great gifts for photographer friends.
X-M5 with TTArtisan 23mm f1.8 and M01 Camera Flash & J01 Wireless Trigger
X-M5 with Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 and M01 Camera Flash & J01 Wireless Trigger
X-M5 with TTArtisan 23mm f1.8 and M01 Camera Flash
So far, I’ve really liked what TTArtisan has been putting out, and I can’t help but wonder what exciting accessory they’ll come up with next.
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two years since I last got my hands on a tilt lens. Back then, as I packed it away after testing, I remember thinking, ‘This might actually be the last time I see a new tilt lens come out.’ It felt like that chapter was quietly closing, and I wasn’t sure if anyone would try something new with this quirky, beautiful niche again.
A tilt lens isn’t quite the same as a tilt-shift lens, but they are definitely in the same quirky, niche family. When TTArtisan dropped the 50mm f1.4 Tilt back in 2023, it caught me by surprise—in the best way. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was just a one-off experiment or if they were quietly working on something new to follow it up. Part of me hoped it wasn’t the end of the road for creative tilt lenses.
If you are familiar with its sibling, this TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 Tilt has the same design language and sturdy metal construction build quality. You will still get to see 2 extra knobs (one silver and one black) which you don’t see it on a typical lens. These two knobs are the main key roles for the tilt function.
The black knob is to control the tilt mechanism with a tilt angle of ± 8°. It’s where is the tilt effect comes in.
The silver knob is the rotation lock knob which allows the rotation mechanism to rotate the lens 360° with 15° rotation per step. This helps to orient to which focus plane where the tilt effect will be.
Typically how I use them is that I will adjusted the black knob first, then I used the silver knob to adjust to the my desired focus plane. All this is with the focus peaking, to visualize and easily notice where my plane of focus is.
At 341 grams, I have feel the weight on my hand. It comes with a sizable 52mm filter size which is smaller than it’s sibling.
The aperture ring is clickless which means I have look at the aperture value when I am changing. This is something I missed the most as I am quite rely on the click when change aperture value.
At f1.4, image quality feels quite soft—there’s a noticeable lack of contrast and sharpness in both normal and tilt modes. In tilt mode especially, the extreme shallow depth of field makes the shots pretty much unusable, at least in my opinion.
Considering where lens design is these days, the amount of vignetting and chromatic aberration wide open feels like a bit of a throwback—and not in a good way. It’s the kind of look that might work for a specific aesthetic, but definitely not something I’d rely on for consistent results.
That said, once you stop it down to around f2.8, things begin to turn around. The contrast improves, sharpness gets noticeably better, and the overall rendering feels more dependable. Even tilt mode starts to feel a bit more manageable at smaller apertures, though it still requires a lot of care to get the most out of it.
One thing I really did enjoy, though, was the way it renders sunstars. Compared to many other manual lenses I’ve used, the sunrays feel a bit more refined and clean right at the source of light. They do taper off and lose some of that definition toward the tail end, but overall, it’s a nice touch—especially if you’re someone who enjoys shooting into the light.
The focus throw from minimum focus distance to infinity is about 160°, which gives you plenty of room for precise focusing. I have to say, the focus ring feels great in use—it has just the right amount of resistance, making it both smooth and reassuring to operate.
One thing to note: the front element does extend outward when focusing at the minimum distance and retracts as you move toward infinity. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s something to be aware of, especially when working up close.
Also, like many manual lenses I’ve tested, the infinity mark isn’t perfectly accurate. Whether you’re shooting normally or using tilt mode, focusing all the way to the infinity stop usually results in slightly soft or missed focus. To get a truly sharp image at infinity, you’ll need to dial it back just a bit before the marking.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
It’s MFD is 35cm which makes it similar to most 35mm APS-C lenses offered. Unfortunately or fortunately, the image quality isn’t any better or worse at wide-open. At least the characteristics remains the same.
It is priced at 169 USD. If you are comparing with the same “manual 35mm f1.4” category, we have the TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 at 73 USD and the Artralab 35mm f1.4 at 419 USD. On the other hand, 7Artisans just launched the autofocus 35mm f1.4 at the same 169 USD.
Is the TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 Tilt considered expensive? That really depends on the individual. If you want certain shots that only this lens can achieve, I think you will get them eventually.
Others
This lens comes with various mounts such as E-mount, Z-mount, RF-mount, M43-mount, and of course the X-mount. If you are from the Z-mount and RF-mount, this lens is awesome, given that there isn’t any similar kind of lens available in the market.
Like other manual lenses, this lens can also experience a shift in white balance as you change the aperture values. However, this can be resolved in post if you are taking in raw format.
It is a niche lens, and there are not a lot of choices in the market. In terms of versatility, this 50mm focal length (in full frame equivalent) is a better focal length and easier to adapt to those photographers who are attempting to use it in both the normal mode and the tilt mode. I am glad that TTArtisan isn’t slowing down and they are trying to explore more lens options for all kind of photographers to choose and I hope they don’t stop it here.
This is definitely a niche lens, and there aren’t many options like it out there. That said, the 50mm focal length (full-frame equivalent) makes it one of the more versatile choices as it is a better focal length and easier to work with for photographers who want to use both the normal and tilt functions. I really appreciate that TTArtisan is continuing to push into this space, exploring creative lens designs for more choices for the photographers. I just hope they keep going and don’t stop here.
Fuji X-M5 with TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 Tilt
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
After the release of the TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 and the recent TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II, I always believed that TTArtisan would eventually complete the f1.8 trinity, and that day has finally come.
TTArtisan 23mm f1.8
TTArtisan has consistently launched new lenses without any leaks or teasers, and this release is no different. I appreciate this straightforward approach to marketing—just announce it and launch the product.
TTArtisan 23mm f1.8
Intro
23mm, or 35mm in full-frame equivalent ,is one of my favorite focal lengths and this focal length is always with me wherever I go for a holiday.
I was so excited when TTArtisan contacted me and informed me about this lens, and they managed to send the lens to me one day before my holiday trip to Guangzhou. Just nice for me to bring it along and shoot.
Before I begin, I’d like to express my gratitude to the good people at TTArtisan for sending me this lens. I truly appreciate their ongoing support. That said, their involvement has no impact on my review—this is entirely based on my personal experience with the lens.
The design language of this lens is consistent with its siblings, featuring the same high-quality metal build and minimalist aesthetic. That said, it lacks an aperture ring, with only the manual focus ring available.
The manual focus ring rotates smoothly, without any resistance or tactile feedback. Photographers who rely on feedback for precise manual focusing may find this lens less suitable for their needs.
Visually, the lens is slightly taller than the 35mm f1.8 II but a bit shorter than the 56mm f1.8. It weighs 210 grams, placing it in between its siblings in terms of weight.
TTArtisan 23mm f1.8
The lens comes with the same distinctive squarish petal hood as the TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II, offering a refreshing departure from the typical round petal hoods. It also shares the same 52mm filter thread size with its siblings, allowing photographers to interchange filters across all three lenses.
TTArtisan 23mm f1.8 with lens hoodTTArtisan 23mm f1.8 with lens hood
Image Quality
For those who pixel-peep, the image quality is slightly soft in the center when shot wide open, with the corners being a bit softer. However, I find the results to be quite decent and more than acceptable for a budget lens. It retains a respectable level of sharpness and contrast.
The lens does exhibit noticeable vignetting when wide open, but chromatic aberration is minimal. Regarding the sun-star effect, the rays are clean and accompanied by some distinctive flares. If you’re not a fan of lens flare characteristics, you may want to avoid this. Additionally, there’s some soft blooming when a strong light source is directed towards the lens, but I actually enjoy this effect. During my holiday, I found that I preferred shooting at f2.8, as it offers a nice balance of sharpness, contrast, and depth of field.
With a maximum aperture of f1.8, it doesn’t offer the same level of subject separation as lenses with f1.2 or f1.4 apertures. However, the separation between the focused subject and the background is more than sufficient for my needs. As for background rendering, I find it quite pleasing, producing smooth, non-distracting bokeh.
When it comes to focusing, I have close to zero focusing issues. The Stepper Motor (STM) performs quite decent and fast enough. I do encounter once or twice focusing issues at night, but it is acceptable as it recovers and focus locked onto the subject on the second attempt.
A 30cm minimum focusing distance feels somewhat distant for a 35mm (full-frame equivalent) focal length. For comparison, the XF23mm f1.4 has a 20cm focus distance, the XF23mm f2 is 22cm, and the Sigma 23mm f1.4 is 25cm. While this isn’t a direct comparison to the TTArtisan 23mm f1.8, it’s understandable given that it’s a budget lens.
USD 127 is really an attractive price point and affordable for photographers of all groups. Budget-friendly for newcomers and professionals who want to go out for a holiday.
Like all TTArtisan autofocus lenses, the rear cap is a dock for the lens for future firmware updates. Another to note is that this lens does not come with any form of weather and dust resistance. I think this is acceptable given the price point.
This is one of the two focal lengths I frequently recommend to beginners. Its versatility provides excellent adaptability, allowing newcomers to experiment with various styles of photography. Additionally, it covers a broad range of genres, making it an ideal choice for anyone just starting out.
Oh yes, this lens matches the X-M5 well. The combination of the camera and the lens gives a well-balanced weight for handling. If you are a new X-M5 user, consider this lens your arsenal.
I spent 10 days on this lens during my holiday, and with each passing day, I grew more fond of it. During these 10 days, I took over 1,000 shots with this lens—and only this lens. Although I brought one prime and one zoom lens, I hardly used them.
My only complaint is the absence of an aperture ring, but its lightweight design and good image quality make up for that. Traveling light is always my priority on holidays, and the reason is simple: I’m no longer as young as I once was, and carrying heavier lenses with my camera for extended periods can cause shoulder pain.
TTArtisan has made a solid entry into the budget lens market. This is an excellent, affordable prime lens that offers great value without breaking the bank. The image quality is good enough for everyday use, with satisfactory autofocus performance. At this price point, there’s no direct competition for this focal length (just yet).
I’ve been anticipating this lens since the release of the TTArtisan 56mm f1.8, and it’s finally here. It provides newcomers with a versatile trio of prime lenses to begin their collection.
The new year has just started, and TTArtisan has already laid the foundation for this lens category. I’m curious to see what they have in store for 2025. Could they be gearing up for “Pro” prime lenses, or are they possibly eyeing the mid-range market? What are your thoughts?
Fuji X-M5 with TTArtisan 23mm f1.8Fuji X-M5 with TTArtisan 23mm f1.8
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
In the blink of an eye, a year has gone by, and the TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 has just celebrated its first anniversary. Unexpectedly shortly after its first anniversary, TTArtisan released a new autofocus lens, without any teasers or hints beforehand. They simply announced it out of the blue. The new lens is none other than the successor to the TTArtisan 35mm f1.8, marking the second iteration of this affordable lens.
TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II
Before I continue, I’d like to thank the generous people at TTArtisan for sending me this lens for review. Please note that they had no influence over the review I’ve provided here.
TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II
Design and Build Quality
If you have the first-generation lens, you will notice how incredibly short version II has become. It is now even more compact with a height of 49mm as opposed to 65mm in version I.
TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II
Similarly to the weight, it has reduced to 177 grams (according to my kitchen weighing scale), from 199 grams. The good thing is that TTArtisan maintained the same metal-built quality for this lens. Handling is good and I cannot find any complaint about this lens.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/1700″ . ISO 320 . Classic ChromeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/28000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/1100″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome
What I like about this lens is the minimalistic, simple, clean design, and it’s cute (due to the compactness of it). This also means that this lens does not come with an aperture ring. Oh yes, it is still the same 52mm filter thread size.
Image Quality
I have a positive impression of the Mark I, and its successor maintains that same level of quality. The images captured at wide-open are impressive, showing decent sharpness (not clinically sharp though) and a good contrast.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/350″ . ISO 320 . Classic ChromeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/20000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome
Chromatic aberration is surprisingly well-managed (at least it’s not noticeable in my photos). While some vignetting is present, it’s not overly pronounced.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f16 . 1/125″ . ISO 500 . Classic Chrome
For sun star lovers, I think this is only one of rare lenses that I actually like its sun star result. The lines are well defined to my liking. Do note of the flares if you want to avoid, but I like how the flare creates and introduces to my images.
Focusing
With Stepper Motor (STM), the focusing speed is fast but not instantaneously snappy in most situations. This is within my expectation since this is not in the same category as the XF33mm f1.4.
In rare situations, I do encounter some focus pulling when I focus from MFD to infinity and vice versa. This can be happens on the good light condition as well. Also, focusing on MFD can be a little challenging when shooting indoor with average lighting availability around the subject. The focus will still succeed after a few tries. Apart from these phenomenons, everything is just fine.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 3200 . Classic ChromeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/25000″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f8 . 1/125″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome
For videographers or photographers who intended to use this lens for videography purposes, the focus breathing is seems to be significantly far between the MFD and infinity. However, this is not a deal breaker for me.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/1800″ . ISO 320 . Classic NegativeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/125″ . ISO 160 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f8 . 1/340″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome
Update: On 17 December 2024, TTArtisan released a firmware update (FUJI-X AF 35mm F1.8 Mark II V1.0.1). While they did not mention what are the changes made, the focusing speed seems to have a good improvement over what I mentioned earlier, especially on the focus pulling.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
If you compare the MFD with other lenses with similar focal lengths, you will notice that 40cm may not be a good MFD. But I have to praise the engineers that they have reduced from 60cm to 40cm and that is a 33% decrease in MFD.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/1250″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome
Nonetheless, the image quality isn’t compromised much at MFD. The sharpness and contrast are slightly reduced but not affecting the overall much.
Price Point
Another pleasant surprise from TTArtisan is that the new lens is priced at just 125 USD, slightly cheaper than its predecessor, which was already a great deal at 149 USD.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/7500″ . ISO 320 . Classic NegativeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/12800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/750″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome
This could be the most affordable autofocus lens available for the X-mount system. For comparison, the XC 35mm f2 costs 199 USD, the Viltrox 33mm f1.4 is priced at 238 USD, the Meike 33mm f1.4 is 229 USD, and the Sirui 33mm f1.2 is 280 USD.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f5.6 . 1/340″ . ISO 320 . Classic ChromeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/12800″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f8 . 1/1900″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome
While I understand that for an additional 100 USD, I could get a brighter, higher-quality lens, the TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II is ideal for photographers who need to stretch their budget as far as possible.
Others
There is one phenomenon that switching on the camera with this lens is slower (at least when I compared it with the Mark I). TTArtisan is aware of this and they are looking into fixing it.
Left: TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II Right: TTArtisan 35mm f1.8Left: TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II with petal hood Right: TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 with square hoodLeft: TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II with square hood Right: TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 with petal hood
If you are a TTArtisan user, you should be aware that TTArtisan autofocus lenses come with a rear lens cap that includes USB-C port for future firmware upgrades. This lens is no exemption.
Who is this for?
If you’re new to photography and have chosen Fujifilm as your camera, trying out a prime lens could be a great way to start, and I think this lens is definitely worth considering. At 125 USD, there’s little reason not to give it a try. The 50mm focal length (full-frame equivalent) is highly versatile and suits a wide range of photography styles.
Fuji X-T5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 125 . Classic ChromeLeft: Fuji X-T5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f5 . 1/10″ . ISO 125 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-T5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f5 . 1/3″ . ISO 125 . Classic Chrome
For professionals looking for a compact and budget-friendly lens for everyday use, this could be a solid choice.
Fuji X-T5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/150″ . ISO 125 . Classic ChromeLeft: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 320 . Classic Chrome Right: Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/80″ . ISO 400 . Classic Chrome
For those already using the first-generation lens, there’s no immediate need to upgrade unless the improvements genuinely meet your needs and contribute to your photographic growth and vision. If you are a new X-M5 user, you may consider pairing up this lens as the combination of the camera and the lens gives a well-balanced weight in terms of camera handling.
Fuji X-M5 . TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II @ 35mm . f1.8 . 1/45″ . ISO 3200 . Classic Chrome
Conclusion
No doubt the Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is a direct competition to TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 II with performance, specifications and price very close to each other especially image quality. Given that almost everything is comparable (Viltrox has the upper hand for MFD at 30cm), I prefer TTArtisan than Viltrox because of the metal-built body. The handling feels better with metal-built quality.
Fuji X-M5 with TTArtisan 35mm f1.8
I was caught by surprised how fast TTArtisan update their lens. TTArtisan do listen to the photographers’ feedbacks about the first generation lens, they improved it and then giving us a better one. Although this lens is not a perfect by any means, it is still a worthy upgrade from it successor. Will there be Mark III next year? I don’t know but we will see.
Fuji X-M5 with TTArtisan 35mm f1.8
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
The TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 is my most anticipated lens since it is in the land of rumors. Why? Because TTArtisan is good at keeping very competitive pricing for their autofocus lenses without sacrificing much on the image quality. And this lens could be one that can give XF50mm f2 a run for its money.
TTArtisan 56mm f1.8
Intro
TTArtisan 56mm f1.8
Both TTArtisan 27mm f2.8 and TTArtisan 35mm f1.8 are announced in 2022 and 2023 respectively. And today in 2024, it is TTArtisan’s first autofocus lens announcement and the third autofocus lens in the company’s portfolio.
I have been testing this gem for close to a month now and it is probably one of the longest times I have spent time testing.
To be honest, it has been a long time since I am so excited about testing a lens.
Before I proceed further, I would like to thank TTArtisan for sending this lens to me. I appreciate and am thankful for their support. Having said that, the review is truly my own opinion and TTArtisan has no influence on it.
Design and Build Quality
First off, the TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 shares a lot of similarities with the TTArtisan 35mm f1.8. It has the same design language, the same good metal built quality, and the same filter size (@ 52mm) too.
Since it’s the same design language, this also means that it only comes with a manual focus ring and lacks one of my favorite elements of a lens: an aperture ring. The manual focus ring comes with a smooth rotating experience and doesn’t feel any small “friction” for precision control.
It weighs 237 grams, 258 grams with it’s square hood and 275 grams with it’s squarehood and docking lens cap. Yes, it does come with a square hood! Sweet gesture!
Image Quality
I feel that the image quality set a higher benchmark for what we usually expect for this price point (later on this). At wide-open, it is not the sharpest, a little soft (depending on the photographer’s preference), and does not have the best contrast, but it is very usable. Or at least, it exceeds my expectations in this department.
Vignetting is there but not as heavy as I thought it could be compared with the TTArtisan 35mm f1.8. Chromatic aberration is barely noticeable in my eyes. That’s to say, you still can see it if you pixel peep. Nevertheless, I think the engineers in the TTArtisan do well in engineering this.
As for sun star effect, it is okay but it does come with some characteristic flares. Please be mindful if you do not like the characteristics of lens flares.
At f1.8, I do not expect to have a great separation between the subject with background/foreground but decent enough to blur the unwanted subject. Bokeh balls are fine as I do not see any onion or cat eye like bokeh. I seldom talk about bokeh but this one seems to be very pleasing to my eyes so I thought I should share it with every reader.
It comes with a Stepper Motor (STM) which performs pretty snappy in most situations. I do experience some back-focusing or off-focus shots. But that happens very rarely and it might happen due to my error.
The focusing speed between MFD and infinity is considerably fast under good lightning conditions but it isn’t really slow or struggling under low light conditions either. I could say it is not disappointing.
When comes to lens breathing, it is pretty far. While it does not affect me but I think it might likely impacts videographers.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
The MFD is 50cm and I think it isn’t as close as other mid-range lenses like the XF50mm f2 (at 39cm) and Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 (at 45cm). But the MFD is the same as the XF56mm f1.2 WR.
TTArtisan is famous for its affordability and strikes a perfect balance between price and image quality. This 56mm f1.8 is the same too. At 158 USD, this is probably one of the cheapest autofocus portrait lens one can ask for.
Similar to TTArtisan’s other autofocus lenses, this 56mm comes with a dock for future firmware updates and it does function as a rear lens cap as well.
Also, this lens does not come with any form of weather and dust resistance.
Who is this for?
TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 is obviously targeting a certain genre of photographers and that is portrait photographers. To be more specific, beginners or photographers who are unsure if they want to shoot portraits with this focal length but do not want to break their piggy banks. And it can be a good gift to your photography friends.
But I would like to extend this lens to other street photographers, journalists, documentary and travel photographers.
If you are using the XF50mm f2, I will suggest keeping what you have and continuing to use it. A small difference in the aperture value does not make a huge difference in the shooting experience and the end results.
Conclusion
TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 is by far one of my favorite budget autofocus lenses I have tested thus far. It is lightweight, has decent image quality and acceptable autofocus speed. Plus with this attractive price point, I can’t find any reason not to own it.
If you are fine without the aperture ring and lack of weather resistance, I highly recommend owning this lens first if you are interested in looking for a portrait lens.
TTArtisan has released two f1.8 lenses to complement each other. I wonder if will there be a “23mm f1.8” or similar focal length lens to complete the Trinity lenses in the affordable price range?
Oh yes. According to TTArtisan, this lens will be made available from 19 April 2024, 6pm (UTC/GMT +8).
TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 and TTArtisan 35mm f1.8
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
There are several manual ultrawide lenses in the market, 1 autofocus one from Viltrox and Samyang, and Fujifilm has 3 ultrawide in their lens lineup. Having said that, Fujifilm photographers do not lack any ultrawide lens options, and then TTArtisan added another lens to this category. But can it stand out from the others?
TTArtisan 10mm f2
Intro
TTArtisan has been around in the market for quite some time. If you are a fan of TTArtisan, you will realize that TTArtisan has not tapped into the world of ultrawide focal length. The widest focal length they have for the APS-C world is TTArtisan 17mm f1.4 (excludes the TTArtisan 7.5mm f2 fisheye lens). With this 10mm (15mm in full-frame equivalent), they are now officially on this bandwagon.
This is the second lens of the same focal length I have tested. The first one is Meike 10mm f2. But I will not compare them in detail here. More on this later.
TTArtisan 10mm f2
Before I proceed with the review, I would like to thank TTArtisan for sending this lens over and giving me ample amount of time to test this lens. Having said that, TTArtisan has no influence over my opinion. They read the review on the same day as all the readers.
Design and Build Quality
At first glance, it looks pretty compact for a f2 ultrawide lens. It also comes with TTArtisan manual lens design language. That’s to say, it is very recognizable. It weighs 332 grams and the weight is within my expectations for a manual, fully well-built metal-constructed lens. But I do agree that it seems to be heavy but I feel fine on hand.
As usual, it comes with a clicky aperture ring, which is very similar to most TTArtisan manual lenses. But it comes with a narrow aperture ring which is a little tricky for me to rotate with my big fingers.
At a closer look, it comes with a protruding lens but there is a built-in lens hood that helps to protect the front glass element and it comes witha rear metal bayonet too.
Image Quality
To my surprise, the image quality is pretty usable at wide-open. I am impressed by how much effort the engineers in TTArtisan have put in to improve the usability of the lens over the years. At f2, corner softness is there, and also a little lack of contrast. But it is fine if you do not pixel peep. Apart from that, slight heavy vignetting at the corners can be observed too but this is still acceptable for me since it is an ultra-wide lens.
Distortion is very minimal in my opinion. At least I think that the distortion control is pretty awesome here considering the price tag.
Chromatic aberration is very minimal and I am impressed and I think it is pretty well controlled. In my opinion, the sharpness and contrast at wide open is acceptable too.
The manual ring is smooth and has enough room for my forefinger and thumb to rotate approximately 110° from Minimum Focus Distance to Infinity. This gives an ample amount of travel distance to have better precision on the focusing.
For a ultra-wide lens, 25 cm MFD is not that close as I am expecting but it is good to have. After all, the main focus of using ultra-wide lens is not with close-up.
Just for some money sense, the XF8mm f3.5 is selling at 799.95 USD, Viltrox AF 13mm f1.4 is 459 USD, Rokinon 12mm f2 is 248 USD and the Meike 10mm f2 is 329 USD.
Others
This lens comes with 2 types of lens caps: the first one is the typical TPU lens cover and the second one is the more interesting one. I love how creative the TTArtisan lens design team gives to their lenses. They adapt the same concept from the TTArtisan 7.5mm f2 and implement it into this.
With the filter holder, photographers can screw in the type of filters they want. From ND filter, graduated ND filter, circular polarizer filter, etc, as long as you have the 72mm filters, you can fit it in. Oh yes. If you include the filter holder, the overall weight of the lens will go to 374 grams.
TTArtisan 10mm f2 with filter holder
I know there might be a concern about overall camera balancing after mounting a heavy lens. In my opinion, although it weighs over 300 grams, it still feels well-balanced when mounted with my X-T5 likely because it is a compact and shorter lens as compared to bigger ultrawide lenses in the market.
One minor thing to take note of, the color temperature changes as you change the aperture value. I have experienced this with most of the manual lenses and I think this is “common” among them. If you are talking with the raw format, I think there is nothing to worry about. For the straight-out-of-camera photographer, just be mindful.
TTArtisan 10mm f2 was announced in January 2024 while the Meike 10mm f2 was announced in July 2022. They are approximately 17 months apart and we can see the obvious difference between the two.
As for optical wise, I will leave it for other day to talk about it.
Meike 10mm f2 and TTArtisan 10mm f2Meike 10mm f2 and TTArtisan 10mm f2
Who is this for?
This lens is mainly for landscapes, architecture, cityscapes, and astrography photographers. On the other hand, I think whoever wants an ultrawide lens but does not intend to pay for expensive autofocus options, maybe you can consider keeping one. After all, it comes with an attractive price point. It is good to have one for the “just in case I need” scenario.
In my view, this is a great entry level lens. Despite its weight, it is still a compact lens to bring along and easy to keep inside my OneMo sling bag. I am also impressed with the image quality, with very usable wide-open shots. Not forgetting that TTArtisan keeps such an attractive price point, I cannot find any reason for not keeping one in my arsenal.
I hope TTArtisan will be the first Chinese third-party manufacturer ever to release an affordable ultrawide autofocus lens and this will become one step ahead of the competition. If this is true, it will shock the industry once again (like the TTArtisan 27mm f2.8) and also benefit many photographers.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing and Lightroom. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
TTArtisan has been very quiet about what is coming next in their product lineup. I also noticed a slowdown in the number of new lenses launched by the company. Also, after the launch of the TTArtisan 27mm f2.8, there was no teaser or hint of what was coming next in the autofocus lens lineup until recently in September 2023.
This is TTArtisan’s second autofocus lens for the Fuji X-mount and it is released almost a year after the launch of the TTArtisan 27mm f2.8. The 27mm lens from the manufacturer was a big hit back then. Everywhere was literally out of stock and the manufacturer is trying to fulfill the backlog orders for weeks or even months. 35mm is a very focal length and I am excited to see how popular this lens can be.
Before I proceed further, I would like to thank TTArtisan for sending this lens over to me. I appreciate and thankful for their support. Having said that, the review is truly my own opinions and TTArtisan has no influence to it.
Design and Build Quality
From the lens appearance, it is minimalistic and clean. This also means the lens does not come with an aperture ring like the TTArtisan 27mm f2.8, just a smooth rotation focus ring.
It’s lightweight, at 199 grams. In case someone wonders, it weighs 224 grams with the lens hood and 238 grams inclusive of the rear “lens cap”. The metal-built quality is very similar to other TTArtisan manual lenses that I have tested thus far. I have to say it is a pretty decent-built lens. It comes with a metal rear mount and the overall handling of the lens is good too.
One of the most exciting things, in my personal view, is the lens hood. This 50mm (in full frame equivalent) lens comes with a decent built square lens hood and the design of the lens hood is just simply beautiful. The hood complements the overall lens look and feel so well, I have had the hood permanently mounted onto the lens since then.
The filter size is pretty small, at 52mm only. Oh, by the way, it does not come with weather resistance.
Image Quality
Speaking of the image quality, I have to say it’s a huge improvement over my past experiences with the other TTArtisan lenses. Although it is not clinically sharp or corner-to-corner tad sharp, it is so much usable at wide-open. If you read some of my past opinions with the TTArtisan lenses, you will notice that I always find the usable aperture is usually 1-2 stops from the base aperture value. I am happy to use this lens at wide-open.
Vignetting is there at f1.8 and it seems to be a bit heavier than other lenses but it is not much of my concern as we can either post-process it or step down to f2.8 onwards for improvement.
With the help of the Stepper Motor (STM), the focus is pretty fast in most situations. The focusing speed is pretty good between MFD and infinity. Having said that, it is not as snappy as the XF33mm f1.4. To be fair, they are in different categories and focus groups.
During low light situations and under harsh sunlight environments, I do experience focus pulling or being unable to focus correctly. But it recovers after I point to another subject and then to the one I want. I hope there will be future firmware upgrades to address this issue.
In my opinion, focusing breathing is pretty far. I’m not sure if it impacts photographers but this likely impacts videographers.
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
The MFD is 60cm and, this is probably the biggest drawback for this lens. I think I have been spoiled by the MFD offered by other lenses and it set up my expectations for what a 35mm lens’ MFD should be.
So I asked the engineers from the TTArtisan and try to understand what was the decision behind this. And this is the answer from them:
“Considering that the 35 lens is mainly for humanistic photography and portrait photography and there will be less close-up shooting, and also considering the focusing speed and lens size, the minimum focusing distance has been compromised.”
Having said that, MFD at 60cm is totally fine for day-to-day casual street shots and even portrait shots. It only hinders me when I want to take a close-up food shot or a close-up shot of a small subject.
For comparison, the closest autofocus lens that I can think of is the XC 35mm f2. It is priced at 199 USD. While I am unsure if it has fully stopped production, I think if you can spend that extra 50 USD, then XC 35mm should be a better deal (but without the lens hood). After all, it is an XF 35mm f2 optic in a plastic body. On the other hand, 50 USD can get you some filters and accessories, or just save that 50 USD.
All in all, I have to say it depends on the individual photographer’s needs and wants.
Others
Speaking of firmware upgrades, this lens shares the same docking rear lens cap as the TTArtisan 27mm f2.8. It acts as both the lens cap and there is a USB-C port for future firmware updates. Similar to my suggestion on the 27mm, I will suggest photographer keep this unique rear lens cover at home.
There are many 35mm lenses in the market and we are not lacking in it. But because it comes at a very attractive price, I think it is very competitive in the 35mm continent.
In my opinion, this lens is suitable for those who do not have this focal length or are new to photography, you can take this opportunity and give it a try. Besides the X-mount, it comes with the Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount too.
In terms of genres, it’s a good street, portrait, cityscape, and landscape. Product shot is possible too but depending on the kind of product shot you are shooting, the limited MFD might be affecting you.
Also, this is probably another good gift option for any photographer friend that you want to give.
Conclusion
Although a little compromise on the MFD in return of the lens size and focusing speed, I was pretty satisfied with the overall performance such as the image quality and the focusing speed.
Also, TTArtisan launched the lens at the price of 149 USD. It is not easy to maintain the same starting selling price as the TTArtisan 27mm lens with the recent inflation around the world. Nonetheless, this lens is set to give young or budget photographers another option to choose from besides manual lenses but I will recommend everyone to give a try with this lens.
Now, TTArtisan also teases about another upcoming portrait lens, 56mm f1.8. Will it priced the same at 149 USD? I think if everything about this lens is great, could pricing it at 200 USD or 250 USD be a big hit? We shall wait for the good news to come.
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: 1. All the shots taken here are shot by me. 2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing. 3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment. 4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
If you like my works, please follow me on either one of the 2 Instagram accounts:
This is the second of the above-mentioned series. I have recently tested the Viltrox 27mm and much earlier with the TTArtisan variant and the Fuji variant. So in the name of fun, I am trying to compare the image quality among the 3.
From left to right: XF27mm, Viltrox 27mm, TTArtisan 27mm
Of course, this comparison is not scientific, nothing technical or chart board to take reference and compare. Photos are taken in my house.
The comparison is simple. Shoot at the respective lens’ Minimum Focus Distance (MFSD), at approximately 50cm and 100cm. Apertures range from wide-open, f2 (only applies to Viltrox), f4, and f5.6.
For a note, the MFD for the lenses are as of below: Viltrox 27mm – 28cm XF27mm – 34cm TTArtisan 27mm – 35cm
In my opinion, Viltrox seems to be the better one in overall performance out of the 3 and it also has a very usable MFD. Of course, better image quality comes with some sacrifice: weight and price. It is selling at a retail price of 549 USD as compared to XF27mm at 399 USD and TTArtisan 27mm at 159 USD. So which one will you get? Image quality over everything? or Striking a balance between image quality and weight? or Getting the best value?
Thank you for reading.
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