TTArtisan 21mm f/1.5 Lens Review | Good Bokeh, Far Minimum Focus

[@c.h.schouler6621]

If you’re looking for other lenses with longer focus distance, just check rangefinder lenses. Leica M lenses only focus down to 1m or 70cm and that might easily be the reason why this TTArtisan just focuses to 70cm, because the same lens is available in coupled Leica M mount. BTW that version apparently performs better with a Leica M than your version with the Nikon, probably due to the sensor.

[@Herfinnur]

That beautiful rainbow flaring makes me want to buy this lens

[@dicekolev5360]

Looks perfect for BnW photography with this filmic charachteristics that you stated to be as flaws while to me are the positives, haha. Thank you for the review^^

[@eyesee55]

Thanks that is very useful,

[@stompy5051]

Why didn't you show corner performance at f5.6 or f/8? does it improve? The use case for this lens is available light photography where the lens will be used close to wide open and in most cases centered on subjects. Fine details in the corners don't matter in most cases under these conditions. What I would like to know is if the lens performs well in good light stopped down. That would increase its utility

[@feedthesensor]

Will note this for the future. Yes, this lens has good corner performance at f/5.6 onward. It’s no Otus (and that’s understandable given the price).

[@BillNessworthyPhotography]

Ah - this must be the same optics as their rangefinder lens for Leica M - hence the minimum focus distance - surely it's not difficult for them to lengthen the focus throw for other mounts though?

[@christianmani1730]

Thanks for the excellent review. However, for me, I question the utility of trying to throw the background out of focus with a 21mm lens. I’m looking to mount this on my Fuji X-T2 (1.5 crop) and use it as a street lens at f8 or f11 and zone focus.

[@feedthesensor]

Sounds like it’ll work just fine for that. I regret not taking more photos at f/11 with this lens because it has a nice sunstar effect in the flares at that stop.

[@scy7697]

Had om 21mm f2 for 30 years.. when u compare superwide... do not make the assumption that the focus plane r flat.. test edge sharpness should be refocused ... minimum distance can be easily solved by an small extension tube... both om and zeiss have floating elements that compansate for close focus... don't think this has floating elements or else it would be able to focus closer... so I would say testing it with close up r not very fair..

[@MattZildjian]

great review thanks

[@d30gaijin]

Sorry but who buys a wide angle lens for its low light (wide aperture) capability? There are much better lenses for low light out there. My Zeiss ZM 18mm f/4 is an incredible lens but we rarely hear about it, likely because it is kind of rare. Still, my Voigtlander 21 and 25mm lenses are f/4 and that's plenty. Wide angle and wide aperture are two things very difficult to achieve. The Chinese are not very good at it but I applaud their trying and I have no doubt they will get there.

[@stompy5051]

people, who shoot available light in cities? street photographers? astrophotographers?

[@beadierps14]

keep them coming :D, hate the min. focus distance :/

[@TheCogitech]

LOL. The Distagon is arguably the best 21mm lens ever made - sets the bar very, very high.

[@ongxa9346]

Weird comparison: the 21mm Zeiss biogon costs three times more.