Mirror Mirror! TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex (Full Frame)

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Do you like the donut bokeh from the mirror (reflex) lens? Btw, most of the sample photos are SOOC JPG shot from Lumix S9 using Real Time LUT

[@mikrokosmfotos]

I used mine at an outdoor event shoot on the weekend, mounted on a Fuji X-Pro2 with a Zhong Yi focal reducer. It was very enjoyable to shoot (i shoot manual focus lenses quite a lot, so no issue there). There were some great shots amongst the hundreds I shot, so I'll be using it often ...

[@kokliangchew3609]

Waiting for TTartisan to produce the standard 500mm mirror lens with hopefully a f/5.6 or f/6.3. Used to play around with old MTO / Rubinar mirror lens decades ago when they were the only reasonable and decent mirror lens around. Big beast though.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes would be good to see something like that

[@psgc]

Would like to know which is better, nisi or ttartisan

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I don't have the nisi lens (they never contacted me for reviews), but I will do a bit of comparison between the TTArtisan and Kase in my upcoming Kase review.

[@akoskiss7320]

You really should contact NiSi. Their lens seems to be the same optically, but they claim it's sealed. The TTartisan does not have sealing, right? Also, NiSi is missing m42 mount as an option.

[@JeffBourke]

I would really like to try a reflector! So small and so cheap. People on YT complain far too much because they want to flex!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes agree. The price is so affordable and so compact, makes it really quite attractive

[@shang-hsienyang1284]

I am looking forward to a comparison between Kase, TTArtisan, and NiSi mirror lenses.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I will be doing a Kase review soon. And will do a bit of comparison with the TTArtisan. For Nisi, I don't have any contacts with them so unlikely I will review their lens, otherwise would be interesting to compare all three lenses

[@AndreBerg99]

Looks like my Minolta Rokkor 250/5.6 from the mid-70s… I loved that lens, many regrets that I sold it decades ago… will try this… thank you for this video!

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Let me know what you think if you got this lens

[@AndreBerg99]

In my memory the Rokkor was VERY good… still have thousands of slides from Afrika (Safaris) from the mid-80s. It had a filter thread inside the back, normally set with an UV. It came with NDs and and a Yellow. Good used Rokkors (without fungus) sell for up to 2.000,- €! I don‘t like the need for an M42-Adapter… native L-Mount would be great!

[@carlosandreviana9448]

Can you compare it with the NiSi?

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I don't have access to the NISI :(

[@scrptwic]

I bought a used 500mm 5.6 from a thrift store for $ 40.00 I occasionally use the lens as it has its limitations especially on moving subjects

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Oh what 500MM F/5.6 did you buy? Yeah lens like this are definitely not ideal for shooting action!

[@LWJCarroll]

Hi, did you get the L-mount adapter here in NZ? I have been checking online and no one has them here. Ttartisan NZ might have but greyed out now for the M42 one. Also which one? Some specify they maintain infinity focus and others no mention? I will need to get the adapter first. Apologies for all the questions, thanks Laurie NZ. 😊

[@LWJCarroll]

Richard I checked your “bubbles” review. Stop! Stop! Zoom in! Hehe and its the Plano M42-L/T adapter? I found this on eBay then the K&F Concept one with a photo of it on the Sigma fp, ie my camera. Please advise thanks. Laurie. NZ.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

hey Laurie, I got mine when I was in Hong Kong last year just after visiting TTArtisan's headquarter and picked up the bubble bokeh lens. Fun fact, even TTArtisan didn't have the adaptor in their HQ (that's why i have to buy it from Hong Kong) I don't think my adaptor is anything special it's just the one i found in the shop there. I've just picked up a K&F Concept m43 -> E mount adaptor from Auckland Camera Center and it seems ok! Maybe see if they have a m42 to L mount adaptor as they do stock quite a lot of adaptors too? Give them a call and you can tell me i send you there.

[@LWJCarroll]

@@TheRealRichardWong Cool, thanks Richard I will do so tomorrow. I am in Tokoroa so a courier charge is cheaper than petrol 😂

[@LWJCarroll]

@@TheRealRichardWong thanks Richard just off the phone to them and getting a special order for the K & F Concepts one. I found it on eBay which has a photo of this one attached to the Sigma fp camera. Regards. Laurie. Mentioned yourself btw.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@LWJCarroll awesome! Hope you are getting it very soon and enjoy the lens as well

[@FixnowVG]

This is a 400mm on a alpha6700? 👀

[@TheRealRichardWong]

375mm equivalent so yes almost

[@FixnowVG]

@@TheRealRichardWong Oh thanks. Reading information about this lens, on the TT page someone mentioned that it is a good idea to use a "speed booster adapter" to stay at 250 and not lose luminosity in APSc, there will be some video on their channel about these adapters. And he also mentioned that person who used it with a 2x teleconverter, which I found interesting, but he didn't specify which one. I don't know if there is an M42 teleconverter, or if he directly uses a Sony 2x teleconverter. Maybe you can resolve those doubts for me. In any case, I thank you very much for the information, I am really enjoying your channel. Greetings from Mexico. :D

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@@FixnowVG I won't recommend teleconverter as it's already does not have fast aperture so any teleconverter would make the effective aperture even smaller. Re speedbooster, yes you can use it if you want to have shorter focal length and faster aperture. But it maybe easier just get a shorter lens like the Kase 200mm f.5,6 which I'm reviewing right now.

[@dannygo4230]

Nice review. My first thought is why this M42 lens when you can easily get a 200mm f4 Takumar for example? It is quite a small lens considering the focal length, and the weight is from the premium built all high grade metal, very tight tolerance quality (yes it stands well with even with Leica lenses). It is one full stop brighter, and can be stopped down. The bokeh is really quite nice.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Many people just not comfortable or even consider buying a second hand lens. You could easily end up buying a bad copy if you are not careful or have the knowledge what to check. Also in smaller countries it may not be able to find one locally at all. So if there is a brand new one that you can easily buy, and the price is reasonable, why go through all the trouble and risk to find a second hand one? Especially new lens like this TTArtisan is also pretty compact as well. However I'm not saying there is no reason to buy a old lens, I think you listed a few good reasons. And I would love to do a side by side comparison between a old lens like the 200mm f4 Takumar and new lens and see what is the actual difference in terms of build quality, image quality...etc

[@dannygo4230]

@@TheRealRichardWong That would be wonderful to do a comparison. You actually reminded me of the Takumar 200 f4 lens that I got a while back, and my plan was to use it with a DSLR with a split/micro prism focusing screen. Canon make those screen for their EOS 1 body (I have them).... but not a fan. Sort of dropped the project, but I need to dig that lens up for my mirrorless. Focusing should be much easier.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yeah a split prism screen would definitely help! It's pretty much impossible with a normal screen, for me at least

[@dannygo4230]

@@TheRealRichardWong Actually with mine, the split image gets dark (one side or the other) at f4, you really have to center your eye. They work really well with f1.4 lens though. I recently just got an external monitor for my mirrorless, and it really help. I am now looking to use the monitor as part of workflow/use.

[@rodmehta5356]

I guess if the background is being perceived as too donutty (!), one could select the background in post and blur it some more.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

hey Rod, i feel if someone found the bokeh too "donutty" (sounds delicious!), probably means this lens is not suitable

[@uhu4677]

I wish there was a 500-1000mm mirror-lens specifically for MFT. It could be very small while delivering a very large focal length.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Since mirror lens is already a niche lens, I doubt someone would create a mirror-lens specifically for MFT. 500-100mm on MFT would be fun thought, however getting enough light might be a problem because of the long focal length and slow aperture.

[@uhu4677]

@@TheRealRichardWong That's totally right. Still I'd like to know how compact such a mirror tele could be. Maybe even f4 could be possible without getting to big.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Yes it's possible I guess

[@KwasnikPictures]

Wow a really interesting lens. That bokeh looks wild, kind of reminds me of that TikTok filter haha

[@TheRealRichardWong]

oh what Tik tok filter is it!!

[@DenBlendaman]

Well, I can say 1 thing about the lens. Picture quality aside... the knurling looks sick

[@TheRealRichardWong]

yes it does look really cool and feel nice too.

[@DenBlendaman]

@@TheRealRichardWong funny, that I've heard from one of MikeBurnFire's videos, that knurling is pretty expensive and hard to make. But just this morning I've seen the industrial accessory for knurling... for $25. Dunno how much it will live in the industrial environment - but still, if I can buy it, it's probably not that hard to get nowadays.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

I don't know how hard/expensive it is to make it. But i can imagine it would be harder and more expensive than the normal ridged metal focus ring

[@DenBlendaman]

@@TheRealRichardWong You know what they probably should try? Leather or textile. Can You imagine the feeling and the aestetics...

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@denblendaman-826 that would be interesting 🤔 I wonder if It can last or not though.

[@carlosandreviana9448]

Mine has just arrived 😁 I tested it with a speed booster and got one 1ev of light, which means, it works at around f4

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Awesome!

[@genarek]

К сожалению стекло очень требовательно к освещению . Что делает его почти что бесполезным . Что бы не мазать с рук нужна ,1/1000 , а это всегда высокие iso на такой диафрагме . У меня есть такое в коллекции на полке )) .

[@TheRealRichardWong]

thanks for watching! Interesting about your shutter speed experience. For myself, with the Lumix S9 and S5II, I was shooting as slow as 1/80s and still get quite sharp photo. But I agree this is definitely a day time lens and need light because of it's f/5.6 aperture and long focal length

[@genarek]

@@TheRealRichardWong canon m50 m2 , no ibis ... ((

[@lp67O]

Почти все современные камеры с матричным стабом. Я даже на камеру 2013 года выпуска (Olympys E-М1) на эфр 600мм получаю стабильно (!) резкие кадры на 1/100-1/125. Да, для м50 действительно будет почти бесполезным...

[@TheRealRichardWong]

@genarek Oh yes if no IBIS and APSC, then i can see you need much faster shutter speed :(

[@LWJCarroll]

Btw an Affiliate link to TTArtisan New Zealand online store? I noticed in one of your other videos you showed this. Interested in buying this lens and would like to be able to use your affiliate link in NZ. Laurie. NZ.

[@TheRealRichardWong]

Thank you so much but no i don't have affiliated link to NZ TTArtisan store (i don't think they have one). My Affiliate link is only to the TTArtisan global store, but if the NZ store has it, i highly recommend you to support them! you can even visit their showroom in Penrose if you are based in Auckland. Say hi to them if you visit their showroom.