Check Out This Lens! TT Artisan 50mm f2 - Super SHARP and Super CHEAP!

If you're looking for a fantastic 50mm manual focus lens, check out this video!
Incredibly sharp, with fantastic colour rendition and delicious background blur, this is a versatile and very capable optic that you shouldn't miss!
An f2 50mm really is all the lens your need. Fast enough to give loads of lovely background blur and to work well in low light, but not fast enough to show the optical flaws that faster lenses can, they really are the sweet spot for 50mm lenses.
I've had loads of fun shooting this lens - find out how I got on, and check out the images in the video!
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Thanks for watching!
You can buy this lens here:
Independent: www.pergear.co...
Sony :
US: www.amazon.com...
UK: www.amazon.co....
Fuji:
US: www.amazon.com...
UK: www.amazon.co....

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

I have the Meike version on my X-E1. I think it's the same lens, certainly the same build and optical formula. I too have found it to be very sharp, and great for portraits at a 75mm short tele on my crop sensor

[@zenography7923]

It does get a bit longer on aps-c - a very nice short tele!

[@andreiput9492]

a vintage alternative i use is the Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar f2.8 50mm M39 mount originally for Braun Paxette. It has become my go-to 50mm. incredibly sharp pancake lens from the 1950's. It is tessar with 5 elements not 4 and colour is superb. try to find one. You need an adaptor specifically for paxette m39 because the flange is different to "regular" m39 alternatives.

[@zenography7923]

You know what, I think I might have one, I bought it for a fiver three or four years ago, never used it but I'll give it another look now!

[@ricardolazzari8010]

Hi Nigel, please note that the lens markings are not printed, but laser-etched, making them permanent. I have to praise TTArtisan for their choice, particularly at this price point.

[@jendriktimm5566]

I own the TTartisan 35mm f/1.4. This one is also very sharp. Not exactly at f/1.4 but when stopped down a little.

[@zenography7923]

I've heard that's a nice one, haven't used it myself though. Thanks for looking in!

[@jamescaldwell5]

Maybe I somehow missed it, but I don’t think you mentioned just how affordable this lens is. Seems like an incredible bargain. Seems like its impressive sharpness fades in the corners, but for many styles of photography that is not a problem. At well under $100us, I’ll have to pick one up.

[@jameswburke]

I'm glad to read this - I've got the 7 Artisans 35mm f2 winging its way to me and I expect it to perform the same. I like setting the aperture on the lens old style.

[@zenography7923]

I know what you mean - it's nice to keep things tactile!

[@jameswburke]

I've now given my 35mm f2 a thorough testing on my A6000 (APS-C) body. I've left it on f5.6 or f8 and Intelligent Auto for quick, point & shoot shots. It has produced remarkable quality photos, every bit as good as those from my A7iii. As this is an APS-C body, the lens becomes a 52.5mm equivalent.

[@CharlesDunkley]

I think this might be my next lens. My only 50mm lens I have for my Fujifilm is the Industar 50-2 50mm F/3.5 so this little F2 lens looks like the perfect addition. Eventually I'll get one of the Fujinon 50mm lenses but for now, as I explore that focal length more this TT Artisans looks the right fit.

[@zenography7923]

I don't think you'll regret it!

[@EricJones1969]

I am impressed that USSR lenses are used not only among Russia 🤝 I-50-2 is a very good small lens. I've also bought this for my DSLR.

[@RamisDad]

Bought one for my a7c and am loving it. Review is generally spot on, great value for a fun little lens

[@zenography7923]

It's a nice little lens, enjoy!

[@perin99]

Good video as always. I think that it looks a bit like an industar 50 from side on but I like the images that it makes.

[@zenography7923]

It does make nice images, a great little optic. Thanks for watching.

[@50shadesofNV]

Great video, I got this lens for the Fuji X. I think it would be interesting to see you compare to, or point to a similar version of the vintage lens to the modem ones you are testing

[@philmtx3fr]

I agree with Neil. Even if it s cheap , with it s relatively poor aperture and manual focus it enters in direct competition with some vintage lenses (or less vintage) of great manufacturers so should be great to compare it with them (and I am sure you get plenty of them :) : olympus , Nikon, canon …) by photo side by side as well as for FF than for APS-C as it can also a good short telephoto equivalent to 75 f 2.8 . Thx in advance if you have this capability .

[@zenography7923]

I'll bear that in mind for future reviews, thanks for the suggestion.

[@iskandartaib]

1:30 - I think all of these TTArtisan and 7Artisans lenses are all designed with mirrorless (and rangefinder) cameras in mind - note that none of them are made for SLR/DSLR mounts, not even the M42 mount or the T mount. You won't be able to fit them to a SLR or DSLR with any sort of adapter that doesn't have glass in them because the flange-to-image-plane distance is shorter than what you'd find in a DSLR (there's the mirror box to consider). The reason you need a long adapter to put a SLR/DSLR lens on a mirrorless camera is to take care of the difference in flange-to-image plane distance. I suppose, when it comes to DSLR vs. mirrorless arguments, that's one extra thing to consider - a mirrorless camera design simplifies lens design considerations. As with rangefinder cameras, you can put the rear lens element as close as is needed to the sensor/film.

[@rodgercarey3480]

Thank you have you tried setting it up for ZONE FOCUSING?

[@wazgnuks]

Hi, thanks for the great content. Your reviews are exactly what I was looking for. You give a great impression for how it actually feels to shoot a lense or camera, which is far more interesting for me than the pure techtalk I used to see here on YT. Please keep on doing so. Btw - is there any cance you review the other TTArtisan/7Artisans lenses? - Or compare them with vintage glass? Thanks & stay healthy

[@zenography7923]

I'm promised some more TT/7Artisans lenses soon!

[@arcanics1971]

I'm pleasantly surprised at this review. I wondered if it was a bit low quality when I saw the price, so it's nice to hear it's so nice. Also good that there's both FF and APS-C versions. A bit of vignette never bothers me.

[@zenography7923]

It's nice, modern optics with a vintage feel. Thanks for watching.

[@robinj.9329]

Yeah! The advertised prices are in the mid two digits. Looks like it's worth a try.

[@saymyname218]

Great and concise review.... I have actually just purchased one from Japan ... I look forward to trying it out .

[@zenography7923]

It's a very nice little lens - enjoy!

[@nicusorapostol]

Thank You for your videos

[@zenography7923]

Glad you like them!

[@Magnetron692]

Hello Nigel, another underrated lens I can recommend is the Leica PA-Curtagon 4.0/35 mm. It's a shift lens and thus tremendously useful. I'm very happy with it. Please check it out, too. And the Pentax SMC Shift 3.5/28 mm - you need to stop it down at least to 8.0 but then it gives fantastic results! Best wishes and have a nice weekend. Ralf

[@zenography7923]

Thanks for the tip Ralf, I'll check out those lenses - always on the look out for an undiscovered gem!

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Very good review, something to keep in mind for my little Fuji Xe1

[@zenography7923]

Glad it was useful, thanks.

[@jeghedderhenrik]

i recommend the tiny sony fe 28 f2, it often for sale secondhand. its tiny, aluminium, darn fast and silent auto focus,and very sharp at f 2. i know thos is about a nifty fifty, but i could not find other ways to point you to a lens for a future video

[@zenography7923]

Thanks H=for the suggestion Henrik, I'll keep that sony in mind. Thanks for watching.

[@anulearntech]

I think the lens has a bit too small image circle and filter size for a full frame 50mm F2 lens. They could have made it a bit larger. Infact i think it's due to this reason why at the very extreme corners, the image quality drops very much which is very good a few pixels before that.

[@smooth111012]

Would this be a good portrait lens?

I cannot decide between this or the 50mm f1.2

[@Magnetron692]

Hi Nigel, thanks a lot for this review! At the aperture of 2.0 is this lens as good as a 1.4 lens stopped down to 2.0 (for instance the A-IS Nikkor 1.4/50 mm or the Olympus OM Zuiko 1.4/50 mm which I have both)? Best wishes, Ralf

[@zenography7923]

This one really impressed me, a very nice piece of glass. Hope all's well with you Ralf!

[@sclogse1]

I would ask the obvious question. What type of sensor is this lens for? Micro 4 thirds? Full frame? I ask because if it's full frame, then with a Fuji mount, you'll lose a lot of the vignetting. By the way, I watched (amazing they still do them) a couple recent reviews of the (what, seven year old?) Fuji 16-50mm 3.5 OIS lens (always get version II) yesterday, and both reviews found no chromatic aberration. That's really something for this very sharp weighs nothing kit lens that focuses close with OIS and is so cheap.

[@matthewneleigh567]

A favorite retailer of mine is showing it as available for Canon EF-M and RF, Fuji X, Leica L, Micro 4/3, Nikon Z, and Sony E.

[@zenography7923]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it's available in all the popular mirrorless mounts, full frame, aps-c, and micro four thirds from nikon, canon, sony, fujifilm, and panasonic.Lack of chromatic aberration is impressive from the fujifilm lens too.

[@scottthomas6631]

I am looking to purchase my first film camera - i am a complete newbee . Any recommendations budget around £100.

[@dedskin1]

Do you know why TT artisan F2 is only on Mirrorless ? far as i know it is , because it is easier to make fast lens with shorter flange distance , the longer the flange the harder to make fast lens , Stanley Kubrick famously had to modify his camera to have flange distance of couple millimeters , to have 0.9F lens , for that movie .

[@duncanrae7504]

Now if they made it in M42 mount ,I'd deffo get one .

[@zenography7923]

Oh, now that would be nice!

[@duncanrae7504]

@@zenography7923 The most simple of lens mounts to make I would have thought ., but maybe awkward to reach infinity if used with an M42 adapter to mirrorless ?

[@philhodgkinson1460]

Any thoughts on doing review on Dr ding clone of Leica Noctilux 50mm f1. 1 Nigel??

[@zenography7923]

I'd love to!

[@TrieuCa-nn7xr]

Fujifim xt30 ii ?

[@GeorgeK356]

Another 50mm f2 lens - this time a Chinese, or at least an Eastern Bloc lens. I have a 25mm f1.8 lens, from the same stable as this one, and can vouch for the quality. I've posted before - these Chinese manual lenses are really something else - for someone on a budget, who wants to experience the quality of a manual, non zoom, non kit lens, this is the way to go. Do I want one? No, I have enough 50mm vintage lenses to satisfy my needs/wants - but a great video and review - I particularly love the colours of those beach huts.

[@zenography7923]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, I had fun shooting this lens - a case of everything you need and nothing you don't. Thanks for looking in.

[@fintonmainz7845]

I think this is really a crop sensor lens.

[@alexanderpowerman7825]

Это действительно очень достойный объектив. Изображение, которое он даёт, выглядит дороже, чем он стоит. Но, это изображение слишком правильное, ему не хватает уникальности, которая есть у старинных объективов.

[@robinj.9329]

Wait a minute. Isn't that a "Digital Image Capture Device"????? I NEVER call them cameras. A genuine "camera" is something entirely different. Something for the Artist or Craftsman. Question; I rarely shoot "wide open". As point of fact, for most of my near 60 years as a Photographer, I'm always tending to us the smallest aperture possible to get proper exposure! I like my images VERY SHARP, with lots of fine detail. How many real "Professionals" (i.e. the guys making a living with their skill, talent and tools of the trade) ever really need to shoot wide open? In my experience, except for some very specialized work, it's not often needed.

[@SheikhDjibouti]

Cool story 😅😂🤣

[@zenography7923]

Agreed, one doesn't really need to shoot wide open for much of the time, but wide open performance can give a good measure of a lens's overall performance.

[@aomanchutube]

I've been watching your videos like mad this month. I love the way you present the lenses. It's making the choice hard and easy all in one. Soo many lenses to choose from!

[@zenography7923]

Awesome! Thank you! Glad you're enjoying the channel.

[@rutlegs]

I've had several TT Artisan lenses and have been very happy with them. Given the very low cost, they're quite amazing.

[@zenography7923]

They really are!

[@scrptwic]

I've always known Sigma made cameras as well as lenses in fact I have 2 Sigma lenses I use on my Pentax cameras and I know Sigma uses a funky sensor but never saw one thanks for the review now I have a better idea the difference

[@mikelikavec4329]

Please consider looking at the Panasonic gm5 if you can find one. Enjoy your channel a great deal. Thanks. Mike

[@atomaalatonal]

that piano music gave me a hard chill. what an asmr trip :D

[@blood_n_guts_murphy]

If you could only have one lens and the choice was am manual Olympus 50mm f1.4 or Super Takumar 50mm f1.4, which one would you pick?

[@zenography7923]

That's a hard choice - if it was the 8 element Tak I'd go for that, if not, then the Zuiko would win.

[@blood_n_guts_murphy]

@@zenography7923 i think you have convinced me to try an Olympus. 😉 But bought a lot recently, including yet another 55 1.8 Tak. OM will be next, most likely the 50 1.4 you like.

[@Rophe18]

I bought this lens from ur description link and i tried it its amazing indeed, also the viginette is great for my taste! Really nice bargain!

[@zenography7923]

It's a beautiful little lens - enjoy!

[@Photovintageguy]

Would say this has a kind zeiss lens a brown tan tint. Similar to zeiss, but obviously not as nice. zeiss the micro contrast 3D pop, and the tint seems a little more classy or something.

[@zenography7923]

I guess every lens has a visual signature, but which is best is I suppose subjective. Thanks for watching.

[@Photovintageguy]

@@zenography7923 for the price its nice. The size is cool also, it would be good for travel. It’s unfair to compare to lens that are much more expensive.

[@Photovintageguy]

@@zenography7923 have you seen the colors and rendition of the kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIrRqWRoetx2ptE Voigtlander 21mm F1.4 Nokton but that’s a $900 lens.

[@Xinrui24]

Good quality lens and good quality review

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@jiucheng3080]

Love the mini size

[@zenography7923]

Yes, it's really compact, pretty light too!