TTArtisan releases $235 50mm F1.4 ASPH lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras

This Lens is optically really nice for the asking price - but i am wondering, due to price reduction (vs. the Leica M Mount Version perhaps) whileas that Lens Barrel became much longer, and the Lens Design into general more ugly.

The M-Mount Version does look so much better, for real.

TT Artisan 50/1.4 ASPH vs Leica Summilux 50/1.4 ASPH, posted before:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQSTP2wEPk

Good Light.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Johan Borg

The mirrroless version is simpler to make since it doesn't need a rangefinder coupling. It also has to be longer in order to reuse the same design on lens mounts with shorter flange distance.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

I thought about the Rangefinder coupling before, but not about the flange distance. Somehow, it does look missplaced on anything, but Leica M is perfect from the Lens design. :)

Aug 10, 2021permalink

pembers357

I agree - the M-Mount version ( a stunning lens for the price) looks great on a rangefinder. I suspect it would look a little strange on a Z-mount camera with an M-Z adapter....possibly even a little stranger than this native Z-Mount version. I think that, unless I really needed the M Mount version for use on a rangefinder too, I'd go with this native Z-mount version and enjoy a slightly cleaner look and cheaper price, largely because of the absence of a rangefinder coupling I suspect.

Aug 18, 2021permalink

Phil Flash

You know what we need? More 50mm lenses!

Aug 9, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

With the cost of legacy lenses increasing and and no need for an adapter there is a growing desire for this. Also mechanical focus and no click (not on this one) aperture ring are very useful for video shooters. The Voigtlander models with the collar that allows a choice of detents or continuously variable are great.

Aug 9, 2021*permalink

Yxa

The green tint, is it from the optics or from the Sony camera?

Aug 9, 2021permalink

JoeTuner

It might be a post-production thing even.

Aug 10, 2021permalink

Fotoni

This lens tries to be a cheap legacy style lens for modern camera mounts? Otherwise it makes little sense to spend over a grand to a camera body and then gimp it with a cheap soft flary lens.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

If you really need a very bright lens, you want the quality at brightest aperture.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

reviewers actually are impressed by this lens considering the price.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Djehuty

What you mean by it tries to be a cheap legacy style lens, it is cheap and legacy styled, have you even used legacy lenses? They are soft as people's egos.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Platinumkid

Phew! Finally someone is making something about the severe shortage of 50mm lenses in the world...

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Samuel Lucifer

They may not be the best lenses optically especially towards the corners, but they certainly do have some charm to them. I might even get one.

Aug 9, 2021*permalink

seems pretty sharp stopped down to me
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-50mm-1-4/

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Roland Karlsson

What image are you referring to? The sharp ones, I mean?

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Cerridwen

Excellent images here. This is a nice optic (from the samples) in terms of rendering and subject isolation. A bargain at this price - we are spoiled in this age of photography.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

it really is a great lens for the price.
Many people overlook the options for mirrorless (mostly Sony) from Voigtländer, Laowa, TTArtisan because they have no AF lenses. But MF is so easy and precise today with IBIS, focus peaking/magnification all in the EVF (especially because those lenses have real helicoids).

Aug 9, 2021permalink

mick232

But only for static subjects

Aug 9, 2021permalink

woof woof

You can shoot moving subjects by using hyperfocal, Merklinger or zone technique or by prefocusing at a distance.

OK these techniques don't work for every scenario but for some uses they're good options and arguably for some instances better options than AF.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

JoeTuner

mick232 I have shot tennis with my TTArtisan manual lens at f1.2. If you get used to it, it's not impossible to shoot moving subjects with manual focus. Of course you will miss more shots than you would otherwise, but most people buy these lenses for portraits anyways, so it doesn't matter that much there.

Aug 10, 2021permalink

New Day Rising

@mick232 At the risk of sounding cliched, people managed to shoot moving subjects with manual focus for a long time. Of course the hit rate is lower, but high burst speeds and not having the cost and limitations of film more than make up for that.

Aug 10, 2021permalink

mick232

I never said it's impossible. The question is how easy it is, despite new tools like peaking.

Aug 10, 2021permalink

much easier than one might think coming from an OVF and bad focus by wire implementation. That IMO is the main reason why people overlook those new lenses -- many have never used a helicoid lens and think manual focus is impossible judging from the experience they had with focus by wire.

The truth is that it was never easier to manual focus and its a lot of fun, definetly a process i recommend because you feel direct control over DoF which may help your creativity.

Aug 11, 2021permalink

ms18

I think typical TTArtisan lens samples are filter applied. What do you think? I don't think it's not the right way to provide samples.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

PhotoFactor

I don't think it's not a bad idea to use double negatives in comments.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

pff... do you care about what you can achieve with a lens or how well the camera body gets WB/exposure right?
check out this review of the M-mount version if you want an unbiased opinion:
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-50mm-1-4/

Aug 9, 2021*permalink

herrMartin

after seeing the full-size samples on Flickr... this lens has the most beautiful rendering of all 50 mm lenses. not clinical sharp .... you don't need a black mist filter on it anymore. for more arty portraiture, this might be the lens

Aug 9, 2021permalink

GarysInSoCal

Oh paleeeeeze... the completely bland and milktoast focal length of 50mm... bore me to tears. BUT... if they can produce F1.8 versions of 85, 105, or 135... NOW you're talkin about somethin worth buyin... ;)

Aug 9, 2021*permalink

G Dickson

The gallery is a cut above the usual dpreview snapshots!

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Passereau

Yes but when i see a JPG of only 1,2MB this is clearly a retouched image but it is not said anwhere... This is NOT what the lens gives.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Non-follower

This makes a great combo with the 7Artisan 28 F1.4, a great wide fast lens.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

PankajDubey

I like all the B&W non attributed ones - who is the photographer for those ?
Good to see the Z mount included in lens options.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Greg OH

I'd take a Nikon AF-D on an adapter if I wanted a MF 50/1.4.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Ruy Penalva

Let it to learn to do lenses.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Buzz Lightyear

It learned lenses before it let to....

Aug 14, 2021permalink

Banana Chips™

one of the reasons this is relatively cheap is because it doesn't have floating element (compared to the Leica Summilux ASPH and which can result in uneven optical performance depending on what is on focus.

I will probably try the M-mount at some point, but I tried their 90/1.25 and it's not a good lens at all: not sharp at ANY aperture and very flare-prone and the RF focussing mechanism is a joke.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

I think Mitakon will launch a more reasonable 90mm 1.5. There is a picture of it on Philip Reeve's website. Perhaps that might perform better.
The TTArtisan is not that bad for its specific use case: studio shots. Nobody can do street photography with that bulk, nor focus comfortably handheld. Most of its flaws are not a big issue for interior portraits. It is anyways at the optical limits of the smaller mount and longer flange distance. Could even be calibration issues, as is the case with all these Leica mount lenses.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Alan1414

I have the 35mm f0.95 for Fuji and it also has poor quality at all diaphragm apertures. I bought it to have a 0.95 but, at that diaphragm it is unusable.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

JT26

Cracking gallery chaps. Looks fantastic

Aug 8, 2021permalink

wats0n

I just got my first TTartsian 50 1.2 lens I can testify to the fact these lenses make a tough argument for spending thousands more on manufacturers fast / exotic offerings - unless of course you need AF.

Aug 8, 2021*permalink

NoSasaeng

Or you need a sharp lens that doesn't flare like hell

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Jan Brittenson

It looks rather flat and flare-prone. Is it uncoated?

Aug 8, 2021permalink

JT26

It will flare, almost certainly, but use it creatively and you’ll love it. I have 7artisans 50mm 1.05 and optically, centrally at leat is stellar m, flares easily but it looks fantastic

Aug 8, 2021permalink

CekariYH

Would have been nice to know what camera/s was used for the sample images and also at what aperture.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Johan Borg

Several of these photos were taken with the M mount version of the lens for this review and camera+aperture are noted there:
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-50mm-1-4/

Aug 8, 2021permalink

CekariYH

Thanks @Johan Borg, learned a lot of this lens and I like it... might be one in my bag later on :-)

Aug 8, 2021permalink

CekariYH

Eh... no hood? Why?

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Space the final frontier

Looks like a very nice lens!

Aug 8, 2021permalink

deep7

That is a lovely, imaginative gallery!

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Akpinxit

how can one judge lens performance , which is claimed to be designed for 60MP sensor , by sample images of 2.5 ?
forget about it's been only manual , mounted on high performance AF bodies ...

Aug 8, 2021permalink

lnsmr

To be fair, 2.5MP already shows the lens to be pretty soft.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

JT26

Likely story that it’ll be extremely sharp in the centre and never quite perfectly sharp in the corners but getting there. And you don’t need autofocus to make a good picture

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Tonio Loewald

The review linked by Johan Borg, above, shows full size drops from an A7rII. The lens seems to be pretty sharp in the center at f2.8 and to the corners by f5.6. Not shabby at all for a $235 lens.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

Look at the MTF charts. Pretty good performance even wide open in both center and mid-frame.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Photodog2

I don't know about this particular lens but I have two TTArtisan lenses that I am quite happy with. The fact that I only spent $73 for one (35/1.4) and $67 for a like new, used version of the other (50/1.2) helped lower my expectations. So perhaps it was easy to exceed my lowered expectations. I've spent more for old SLR lenses to adapt, that weren't as good. These are native mount; I like the images they produce; they have tight but smooth components; the handling is good. No quirks that I've seen like others of the relatively new 3rd party manual focus lenses from Chinese brands.

Aug 8, 2021*permalink

Photodog2

I should have written "unlike others".

Aug 8, 2021permalink

If its the same Lens optically, like this into 2020 released TT Artisan 50mm F1.4 ASPH, then it's not literally 100 $ cheaper, but the same optical quality. (build quality looks better on the Leica M Mount version, though)

Pro
If its the same optical formula, like the M-Mount version, that could be the best bang for your buck

Contra
build quality not the same like the M Mount version
Leica Lens design doesn't suit Canon RF/Nikon Z & Sony E Mount so well
manual focus only (good for me - but turn off for some people)

A good Review, with 1:1 Comparsion, Leica Summilux 50mm F1.4 ASPH vs TTArtisan 50mm F1.4 ASPH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQSTP2wEPk

Now, if TT Artisan would only release their 35mm F1.4 M Mount as E-Mount version, for also 235 USD, would be perfect...

Good Light.

Aug 8, 2021*permalink

noegd

From the drawings published on their website, it looks like both versions share the same optical formula indeed.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Reza S Moghadam

At first I read:
"APSH" lens for full-frame and I was really confused.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Sylverphoto

Is the lens sharp wide open? I don't hink so. Waste of money.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Shirozina

Yea it’s sharp in the center wide open. If you want sharp edges wide open you need to spend a lot more money (obviously)

Aug 8, 2021permalink

wats0n

Its a waste of money spending thousands of dollars on what amounts to be a chunk of computer engineered glass. What TTartsian is demonstrating is how incredibly overpriced glass is.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

Yes. It is sharp. Look at MTF chart. We can't judge corner sharpness from portraits. There are no brick wall shots here, but they will eventually appear in reviews and will likely be fairly sharp.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Sylverphoto

When looking at the MTF I have doubts.
It is sharp in the middle on the edge no so much
It is flares like hell
According to TTartisan it can resolve 60MP but I don't believe it. It looks like milk bottle bottom to me when looking at the MTF at 30l/mm and when compared to other lenses.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Shirozina

I own the M version and an A7rIV but I guess armchair judgments based on MTF curves are the definitive evaluation so yeah - waste of money….

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Sylverphoto

@Shirozina are you happy with this lens and your A7rIV? How does it perfom then?

Aug 9, 2021permalink

I don't know how you all are reading the MTF chart, but it's actually quite decent. At f/5.6 it's very good and wide open it's ok but exceptionally even across most of the frame -- not your classic old fast fifty "great in the center, lousy off axis" MTF chart. Take a look at the 1977 Pop Photo tests of 32 normal lenses: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/5326310543/ -- this lens isn't awesome, but MTF resolution isn't really the weak point

Aug 9, 2021permalink

GinoSVK

Although nothing says to us about the actual lens, I love that apocalypse-like photo (7/35).

Aug 8, 2021permalink

Those first three example photos are terrible examples! There are strange reflections in the 1st and 3rd and the 2nd has heavy flare. Ignoring those shots, it looks pretty good for a sub-$300 FF lens. The online store link has the usual MTF chart, which shows around 60% contrast for 30 lp/mm until the corners -- worse in the center but more even across the field than most fast 50s, including the (even cheaper) Sony FE 50mm f/1.8. Higher contrast than most old fast fifties, but poorer bokeh.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

andrewD2

Re: unusual reflections.
The photographer has used a prism near the lens for creative effect.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

andrewD2: Ok... but really not a good way to demo a lens!

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Djehuty

Well its sub 300.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

Hank doesn't have seen the Link i've posted twice from the TTArtisan 50/1.4 ASPH vs. the Comparsion to the Leica Summilux 50mm F1.4 ASPH...and no, that cheapskate Sony 50/1.8 AF Lens can't compete with either of these lenses in terms of bokeh and build quality.

Good Light.

Aug 11, 2021permalink

marc petzold: That's for the Leica M version, which is more expensive, but looks optically the same... or at least they apparently used the same MTF chart for both. That review also praises the center sharpness, which in fact is poorer than many old or new fast fifties (especially since the MTF chart here is the theoretical performance, while for most of the others I'm looking at measurements of actual lenses). It's the off-axis sharpness that the MTF charts show to be unusually good, which is honestly a little suspect in that there's no indication that they've tweaked the different versions for microlens/cover glass differences between brands. The flare performance is definitely not good.

Bottom line: Like the cheap Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, this looks darn good overall for the price as a new lens. I don't think it's particularly compelling if you already have a good fast fifty, but if you want a new manual fast fifty, it's a good option.

Aug 11, 2021permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQSTP2wEPk

ProfHank, both mentioned TT Artisan and Leica Summilux lenses are into another league, than your plain Sony, sorry to say.

Noone, nobody would either way use the Leica or the TTArtisan without a Lens Hood, for sure.

Just see the Video for yourself - the Leica is ~4700 EUR, the TTArtisan like ~185 (Aliexpress a few days ago) to ~245 EUR.

PS: And no, i'd never buy that cheapskate Sony 50/1.8 for my A7, no offense. YMMV. ;-) It's okay to have another Opinion, but don't compare that cheapskate Sony plasticky AF Lens with the TTArtisan.

You compare Apples vs. Oranges.

FYI, here's a Review, not so great:
https://opticallimits.com/sonyalphaff/980-sonyfe50f18

FYI, i'd take my manual focus Minolta MD III 50mm F1.4 always, anytime, over this cheapskate Sony 50/1.8 AF Lens. Because it matters, i love manual focusing, unlike you it seems..and it's rendering style, bokeh quality is different, way smooth, and a joy to use on my XD7.

Good Light.

Aug 11, 2021*permalink

Djehuty

The Sony 50 f1.8 is crap, the 85 f1.8 on the other hand is decent. Never buy the 50 f1.8, the third party options are better even if manual.

Aug 11, 2021permalink

marc petzold: The only thing I saw in that video that impressed me was the adjustment mechanism on the M-mount version. I'm a huge fan of manual focus, personally owning over 200 manual focus lenses including a few dozen fast fifties -- and I've actually done extensive formal testing of the optical performance of nearly all of them. (BTW, that Sony is one of the few AF lenses I have, and I agree with the Sony review that it's a "mixed bag" -- but I don't take off so much for slow AF.) Overall, I don't think I'd swap any of my old manual f/1.4 lenses for this TT Artisan, and certainly not my Minolta MC Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.4 (despite it only costing me something like $20).

As I said: This TT Artisan seems a very good deal for a new, FF, manual, $200 fast fifty. However, that flare is a deal-breaking defect for me. Maybe they'll fix it in the next revision?

Aug 11, 2021permalink

LakeSuperior1

Think they could try a little harder to make it look like a Leica??

Aug 8, 2021permalink

tkbslc

I feel like the AF Canon and Sony 50mm f1.8's for around the same price would be a better buy.

Aug 8, 2021*permalink

theBitterFig

Yeah. I really like my TTArtisans 35mm and 17mm on APS-C, but they were $70 and $120 respectively, and equivalent AF lenses are significantly more expensive. Meanwhile, losing less than a stop of maximum aperture to gain electronics at a cheaper price seems worth it.

Aug 9, 2021permalink

blåland

50mm with onion rings: no buy.

Aug 8, 2021permalink

juntoalmar

Then order it with french fries

Aug 8, 2021permalink

I've seen a lot worse onion ringing tbh, but getting almost none of it on a modern fast lens usually means paying a GM/L or CV APO-Lanthar premium, it's not like the average f1.8 prime is totally devoid of it (50mm or otherwise)...

Even the excellent Nikon 50/1.8 S has some traces of it...

Aug 8, 2021*permalink

DigitalAmnesia

What makes you think the Nikon 50 is excellent??? More like overengineered...

Aug 8, 2021permalink

It's not a controversial opinion, but I do think MILC AF 50s are all over the place as far as prices, complexity, and design choices go in general...

That's besides the point, if you want to see no onion rings whatsoever in the bokeh of a lens mounted on a modern high MP body then you're gonna have to pay for a more complex lens with pricier polishing techniques, or settle for something that doesn't resolve quite as well, or both.

Or y'know, just live with a little onion ring that you still have to zoom into to notice, I've got lenses on both sides of that equation. /shrug

Aug 8, 2021*permalink

https://m.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-z-50mm-f1point8-s-lens-review/3

" What makes you think the Nikon 50 is excellent??? More like overengineered... " -DigitalAmnesia

" Compared to Nikon's legacy F mount 50mm primes, the new Z 50mm F1.8 S belongs to a new generation of optics, and not only in terms of sharpness, but coma and LoCA too, both of which are exceptionally well-controlled. " -DPR

https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-50mm-f1-8s-review/4/

https://www.lenstip.com/577.11-Lens_review-Nikon_Nikkor_Z_50_mm_f_1.8_S_Summary.html

Yeah it's no $150 DSLR nifty fifty, but even something like a SY 45/1.8 is still worth the extra premium over those old 50s IMO, YMMV. I actually think the 50/1.8 is one of Nikon's better priced primes (one of the few that undercut Sony's at all, tho the Zony 55/1.8 is pretty overpriced).

Aug 8, 2021permalink