How accurate is zone focusing with the TT Artisan 25mm f2?

Is the TT artisan 25mm f2 accurate when using zone focusing. In this episode we will take a closer look at some images shot with this lens and see just how accurate this cheap but amazing lens actually is.

Gear Used in this episode
Microphone: Electro Voice RE320
Audio Processor: Rodecaster Pro
Camera: Sony A7iv
Lens: Sigma 24mm f1.4

[Kzz]

"Sharp enough" is one of the most refreshing things I've head on a YouTube video. So tired of excessive pixel peeping reviews.

[albertsmith]

Back in the film days when we all used lenses with scales and DOF marks for the apertures, we learned how to zone and hyper focus. One thing to understand is that depth of field is an illusion based on ACCEPTABLE sharpness. The absolute sharpness is on the thing or distance the lens is focused on. The parts that fall gradually outside of that distance are within the acceptable DOF based on an assumption of viewing distance and enlargment.

FWIW, when a lot of us wanted better sharpness, we set the infinity mark to one less aperture than what we have the lens set to. For example, lens set to f/11, infinity mark set to f/8... this will really assure good sharpness and enlargability.

[apoorvj]

Got my copy yesterday and I’m very impressed with the sharpness in areas where it is able to focus!
Experimented a bit by keeping objects at .5m intervals from the camera and photographing at different apertures and zone ranges. I could only get reasonable sharpness for objects placed at distances corresponding to the second half of the zone. Eg. If the aperture is set to f8 and zone upper limit set to infinity, then the zone lower limit falls at ~.9m and the zone center at ~2m. I could only get sharp images of objects at 2m and beyond. Anything between .9m and 2m was totally blurry!
I think this is what happened at 3:50 in the video. Jason mentioned earlier in the video that he shot all images at f8 and upper limit of the zone at infinity. The woman was slightly blurry but the trash can was in focus. Jason said he was 6ft (2m) away, right at the middle of the zone.

[rutlegs]

Mine hasn't arrived yet but it will live on my Fuji Xe2s as a dedicated street/B&W kit. You video has me even more excited!

[delphinekirkland]

Wow! Thanks for the zone focus confirmation! That is wild; packing up your other lenses for that particular camera. . I'm convinced. Can't wait to use it when I go to Stockholm next month and back to Guanajuato in the fall!

[BFNLIONBUZZ]

Keep doing the great work; this world needs more of it.

[jasongins]

Thanks for this discussion on zone focusing. I have an old Olympus EPL-1 M43 that I received as a gift back when it was new, really only used it a little in the various auto modes. I dug it out all these years later curious to do more. I find street photography interesting, I picked up the TT Attisans 25 f2...and ran into a struggle to focus it on the little lcd (no viewfinder). Now I understand what to do.

[hugomartinsphoto]

This was great, Jason! Thank you for the showcase!

[manickvelu]

Love the vids you've made on the TTArtisan 25mm F2! ^^

[Jermzybarra]

Thanks man!! Yeah, so far I love the lens. The build quality is extremely good for a 60-70 lens. I appreciate you making a video demonstrating how you use the focus scale and the results you get.

[joelp]

It is very sharp when you look at photographs the way it's supposed to be looked at, exactly ! Pixel peeping is not the way to look at photographs, never been.

[oneshotoneclick]

Echoing your sentiments on the lens. Happy with mine on a Canon RF mount.

[MonkeyDroppingPics]

I picked up the 25mm and l love it! I then bought the 50. I have the 25 on my X-T30 II and the 50 on my X-T3. My AF lenses haven't seen light since, 56 f1.2 and 35 f2. I am glad you made this video, I thought I was the only one loving these lenses.

[fabioserenelli]

Have u tried setting the lens to the hyperfocal distance at f8? That should make the ‘sharp enough’ approach work for even better !

[caferacer]

Nice video! There’s a sale going on Amazon right now so I just ordered the 25mm for my X-E2. I’m very happy with their 27mm 2.8 lens, but I have been wanting a manual lens for a while. Cant believe this lens replaced all your Fuji lenses, that’s awesome!

[JingNickPHLife]

If you zoom in 600%, just about ANY lens will break down! People need to realise that this is a $60 lens and, bang for the buck, it's excellent.

[stevenanthony]

I love this lens--it's my go-to for street photography. My only issue is that every month or so, I need to tighten the 3 screws on the mount.

[steveharbolt]

Dude at 6:12 looks just like another YouTuber that I followed back in the day his channel was ScrambledO, he was from the Columbus area.

[glenh]

I have a Sony NEX-5 and was using the TTattisan 25mm f/2 during a recent trip. I found either I was totally misunderstanding the concept of zone focusing or the markings on the lens were not quite accurate. I got better focus using f/8 and on camera settings using the focus peaking level set to red to guide me to better focus. Once set that way and leaving the focus alone after that the images were as you say- acceptably well. No going back and checking focus unless I had diddled the focus ring.

[houghwhite]

What I like from this lens is actually the soft rendering, not a deep friend rendering the phone camera gives.