TTartisan celebrates Year of the Ox with a bright-red version of its M-mount 50mm F0.95 prime lens

Darryl Carey reviewed it, and found it to be excellent. He uses Leica M and L gear extensively.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

FoxShutter

@ Strangefinder
And who is it ? Can’t recall this name. Annie Leibovitz I know for instance. If you mean some sort of a reviewer, that writes reviews instead of making real photographs or working as a FT Pro , than don’t bother.

Jan 23, 2021permalink

NZ-based photographer. I think he’s a sports/auto photographer who works a lot in TW. Less well-known than Annie Liebovitz and Hunter S. Thompson, although perhaps his profile is higher than theirs in Asia. Anyway, he liked it. Just as Sigma now exceeds Leica and Zeiss when they wish to, there’s no reason to believe that some Chinese enterprises won’t also attain this level - especially given the extensive industrial base and skill levels they hold thanks to the betrayal of Western workers.

Jan 24, 2021permalink

DarnGoodPhotos

Looks cool. If you like it, go for it.

Jan 20, 2021permalink

Discombobulated

laughable

Jan 20, 2021permalink

mxx

I'll wait for the Year of the Terrorist edition, a camouflaged one.

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

Beaubolieu

Ahem... Year of the Patriot Edition

Jan 20, 2021permalink

Catpaws

For the "Year of the ox". we made a lens that will prompt any ox to come right at you for a very close shot (probably your best and last one).

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

GRUBERND

Only if you wave the camera around violently.

Today you learn: bulls are colorblind to red. They react to the movement of the cape - the color red is only for the spectators.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Cattle can differentiate between long wavelengths of light (red) and short (blue) or medium (green) wavelengths.

i.e. they see red, orange, yellow and brown as shades of grey, but they probably see blue and green much as we do.

But yes, it is correct that bulls are attracted by the movement of the cape, and that the colour is for the benefit of spectators.

Cattle are easily attracted by any kind of movement within their normally static environment. If you walk into a field of cows (not recommended) there's a strong chance that they'll trot towards you.

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

Catpaws

Thanks for the explanation. I like to learn.

Jan 20, 2021permalink

Gazeomon

Paying a $130 premium to enjoy a Mickey Mouse coloured lens that looks like a Pavians genital glued to a camera. I always dreamed of owning something like that. Best headline story DPreview came up with in a while.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Old Cameras

I’m guessing this lens blocks a good deal of the view forward through the optical finder, necessitating interpolation the entire bottom right quadrant of the scene. Does it even couple properly to the camera’s rangefinder? Is accurate focus and framing just a happy accident? I just don’t understand the appeal of a gimmicky lens like this on an expensive Leica; it corrupts some of the camera’s best attributes and makes it unwieldy and off balance in the bargain.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Archlich

Should inquire Leica about that. It was them who pioneered making increasingly ungainly lenses that block up a significant portion of the viewfinder for their supposed-to-be compact bodies. Focus has been challenging with the Noctilux like for ever.

They do corrupt lots of the M attributes, throwing the combo off balance, but hey at least those are uber expensive (even more so than the bodies) right?

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

Hubertus Bigend

The lens has rangefinder coupling, which is also adjustable (cf. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-50mm-0-95/ ).

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

Kurgo

You'd never want to focus any fast lens using the rangefinder only anyway, so it's not really an issue.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Old Cameras

Kurgo
Mounting an oversized lens on a Leica rangefinder that significantly blocks the optical view and necessitates use of live view for reliable focus anyway sure seems like the very definition of a pointless exercise.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

One reviewer of a different lens from this brand stated that they liked having one in their stable since the could fine-tune the lens to their rangefinder - which allowed them to keep working when they would otherwise have had to wait for adjustments from Leica.

Also, at this point, the M format is a de facto open-standard for mirrourless systems, as much or more as it is for rangefinders.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Lobbamobba

Just came to see a bunch of non-photographers all upset about a company making something fun. Was not disappointed.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

umggc

Well done!

Jan 20, 2021permalink

https://www.diyphotography.net/this-250mm-f-4-9-lens-is-the-worlds-sharpest-and-has-interchangeable-camera-mounts/

Upset? I hardly think anyone got upset. For what?

And yes, it is more fun than black. But ugly, in my opinion. Your may vary.

BTW - here is a more fun red lens:

Jan 20, 2021permalink

I’d be interested in your impressions of the lens in use.

Yeah, the blatant racism is pretty predictable these days, as people try to delude themselves that the avalanching totalitarian infrastructure in our own Western nations is somehow different to that of China. And the many "only Leica is allowed!" opinions, oblivious to Leica’s own two-way collaborations with Chinese industry.

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Strange - what are you talking about?

Jan 22, 2021permalink

Flashback

We don't like change, lol. . .

Jan 19, 2021permalink

GIALLO63

tacky imitation

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Horrible. Totally horrible. OK - the lens in itself looks good, but on the camera it looks awful.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

354essar

Does the shade of red match this https://www.dpreview.com/news/6229994197/leica-unveils-limited-run-of-100-red-leica-m-typ-262-bodies ?

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Maybe. But it is quite important that the shades really look good together.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

MikeRan

Red Lenses

Nothing new:
https://g.co/kgs/mvEbJt

Jan 19, 2021permalink

whitelens

I think they should sell different coloured covers so you could dress up your lenses differently depending on the occasion and your mood ;-)

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Stefan Hundhammer

They should cover the outer lens tube with an LCD (or, better, yet, OLED) so you can use downloadable backgrounds.

In the next iteration, make them animated live backgrounds. ;-)

Jan 19, 2021permalink

gameshoes3003

How about... A mood lens?

Jan 19, 2021permalink

art99

Great. Now it's getting really hard to decide on which color to choose. Why don't they come up with a tri-color version for those who who are undecided ? Better yet, come out with a Red Green Blue version.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Stefan Hundhammer

That would put Italian or French users at an unfair advantage. What if UK users want their Union Jack on it? ;-)

Jan 19, 2021permalink

sand the high points and send a copy to lenny kravitz .....

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Mines on it’s way it’s great. Hurry up, only 499 of them left

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Karroly

Unfortunately, this is true.
This is not the Year of the Hoax...

Jan 18, 2021permalink

ProfHankD

A lens to match your red dot?

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Stefan Hundhammer

No, a dot to match your red lens. ;-)

Jan 19, 2021permalink

or a lens to obscure your red dot...

Jan 19, 2021permalink

ProfHankD

I suppose it does look a bit like a large cancerous growth from the red dot....

What's more strange is that 2021 is the year of the White Metal Ox, and the lucky colors are dominated by white, gray, and silver, perhaps with yellow, green, or blue -- but not red. So, one could argue that the silver version is actually more year-appropriate. ;-)

Jan 19, 2021permalink

shirazigs

Nice lenses!!! I was tired of seeing only black and white color lenses...
Who was the genius guy that thinks lenses can have other colors like red? I want to appreciate his contribution to the photography world.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Henning W

deleted

Jan 18, 2021*permalink

CaPi

Red nosed ;-)
Fun idea - I would have thought going for platinum or something like that would be the more pedestrian alternative.
Can't all be designing for the sales, can we ;)

Jan 18, 2021permalink

SafariBob

Love it.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

themountainphotographer

Buy the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 for £350 - if you must!

Jan 18, 2021permalink

No! It’s not got aperture clicks and now second best. And it’s not red.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

EdisonW

How about buy a vintage lens with an adaptor like a Super Takumar or Canon nFD which have FAR superior optics and don't support the CCP while you're at it?!

Jan 18, 2021permalink

got my konica hexanon 57mm 1.2 [slr mount ] and i love it on fuji and olympus as a portrait tele

Jan 18, 2021permalink

tangbunna

vintage lenses are building up fungus.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

keep your feet crotch and legacy lenses dry and clean and fungus will not colonize your surfaces.....

none at all have fungus

Jan 19, 2021permalink

V Ahrlenz

I think shooting an ad for this lens would be fun.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

T-Tart-isan wins a prize for making one of the world's most beautiful cameras look ugly.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016/11/15/leica-50mm-f2-apo-lens-now-in-dazzling-red-anodized-finish/

2nd place to leica

Jan 19, 2021permalink

One thing that would be a good idea, although I've never come across anyone selling them, is different coloured lens caps and body caps.

In my bag I have a 24-105mm and a 16-35mm, both very similar in appearance and dimensions. I'm always grabbing the wrong one, so if I had different coloured caps it would make it much easier to grab the right one!

Not much chance of mistaking the Tarty-san or Leica for anything else though.

Jan 19, 2021*permalink

Lan

Dear [insert company name of the day], you are not Leica, you do not have the cachet to get away with charging a premium for something like this.

TTartisans, coming soon to a remainder bin near you :)

Jan 18, 2021permalink

too low key ... grow a set ttartisan!

Jan 18, 2021permalink

BrentSchumer

2021: Leica advances the state of photography by creating a special edition where the red dot lights up if the camera is on.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

This is for people who find their veiling flare is not warm enough.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

D logH

That's fun. I hope they put out a special edition for the next 12 years.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

(unknown member)

I do like red.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Michiel953

No accounting for taste I guess...

Jan 18, 2021permalink

or lack of it.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Entoman. No surprise. Mine is on the way from China by dhl as we speak. Ggrrrrr!

Jan 18, 2021permalink

lnsmr

This is definitely designed for all my Leica carrying friends who covered the red dot with black tape.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

"Year of the Ox"?

Year of the bling-wearing twerp more like it.

What next - a flashing red & blue light on top?

Jan 18, 2021permalink

Michiel953

That would be obvious and in-your-face.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

themountainphotographer

Year of the Ox! That means it's a load of Bullocks.

Jan 18, 2021permalink

I’ve already got my jay tsujimura Leica jewellery on my MA, sterling silver shark head shutter release and shark fin hot shoe attachment, Luigi colourful leather handmade Italian leather case, so this lens is going to finish the combo off nicely. On the shelf next to my lizard skin and gold RB67 cameras I think

Jan 18, 2021permalink

BigSensor - "On the shelf" is probably the best place to keep them.

Not the sort of things to take outdoors and scare the public with...

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Ento cameras don't need to be boring black boxes :-) I remember when the hasselblad 503cm or cx? Came in red yellow green or blue leather, a chance to make an impression and underline your style

Jan 19, 2021permalink

BigSensor - I'm glad you enjoy your colourful gear!

Not for me though - as I wildlife photographer I prefer black or camo.

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Entoman. Yes that is your thing. Got a 200-600mm couple of months ago with lockdown all I can do is point it at neighbours through the window :-)

Jan 19, 2021permalink

BigSensor - Yeah, lockdown is a real pain, but it's amazing what you can do if you broaden your horizons and try new subjects. I have to stay within a 5 mile radius of my home, but I'm still taking thousands of photos.

Normally I use my 100mm macro for 90% of my photos, but I haven't found much use for it recently. So now it's forest scenes with my 24-105mm, seascapes with my 16-35mm, birds in flight with my 100-400mm...

What are you aiming to shoot with your big red job?

Jan 19, 2021permalink

Entoman. Yes I’m a bit more built up than you are, no Forest or River within five miles for me, there’s a zoo I got the lens for, love flamingoes but it’s thoroughly shut at the moment. Spend most of my time shooting models on purpleport and that’s problematic of course

Jan 20, 2021permalink

BigSensor - Ah, now I've sussed your secret plan. The big red lens is there to provoke curiosity and smiles from your models. They sure as hell will have seen nothing like it before :-)

Jan 20, 2021permalink