The $52 TTartisan 25mm F2

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[williamwilson]

Spending $52 to find out if that is a focal length you like, is probably better than spending $352 on a good lens, only to find out it is a focal length you don't like.

[ac]

I picked this lens up a couple months back. Gives me a vintage feel. Love the shots I get even in video. It's been a great investment for artsy shots. Even for paid work with pro boxers!

[victorsintimbrean]

"DJ-Optical, the best DJ in the lens game"

[Gogogordy]

I have this on my A6000 (Its my answer to NOT buying a Ricoh GRIII) but I really enjoy using it for street shooting and as a reminder to the fact that Ive enjoyed photography sine, errr the early 1970’s. Warts and all its a fun lens to shoot with, just not all the time. I also have a 30mm Sigma which I really like, but that lens is much larger and more conspicuous as well. For $52 its a keeper and is capable of producing some nice shots, IMO.

[SVFreshSalty]

How refreshing to hear an honest review so many you tubers do a sales pitch “and by the way here is the link that I make a kickback on”. I don’t need the lens. Hope you give the lens to someone that’s just started out.

[markfleming]

I agree with Arthur that the Sigma 30 1.4 Contemporary (which I have) is an incredible value for sharp auto-focus photography at about $265 new at Amz and sometimes $289 at B&H, or who knows what price used (for a good one) (I'd get it new: great value). For a smaller option, the older Sigma 30 2.8 is pretty excellent also. But this little TTartisan 25 f2 isn't competing with those types of lenses.

This is the only cheap "artisan" lens that I finally bit the bullet and bought, and I can't say I regret it. This is a light-weight tiny manual focus lens with an aperture ring, and it competes with lenses with those specific features to allow us to use old school techniques with our tiny Sony a6xx cameras - but for a cheap price. Have you ever auto-focused on a building or something while riding in a car, and the camera focused on the dirty windshield? You lost your shot. That doesn't happen if you pre-focus on infinity with an MF lens. You can do this in DMF or MF mode on your camera body, but you've got to push some buttons ahead of time. Have you ever tried to take a photo in a dark theater of your kid watching a movie, but your camera has a hard time locking focus? Instead, pre-manual-focus when the light from the screen is enough to set focus on your kid's face, and then snap the shot whenever you want. And like Arthur said, that Sigma 30 1.4 is about 2.5 times as long as this little 25 f/2. You could get an old MF Nikkor 24 2.8 (I have it) or something similar, but it's huge by the time you add the adapter, and a really clean one isn't cheap.

No, this lens is not as sharp in the outer zones as my smallish Voigtlander 28 1.9, but it's heavier and today that lens is worth over $600. The tiny Leica 28 2.8 elmarit or any of the tiny old Leica 35 pre-aspherical crons would be great - for well over $1, 000. The Leica 40 cron (I have) is a bargain but still over $600 and not quite wide enough for a walk-around lens (but actually better for shooting out of a car.)


For me here are the negatives Arthur describes but put in my perspective: At f2 with bright light flare situation, it's crazy, but at 2.8 it doesn't do that. The far outer zones are smeared to garbage, but it really is the farthest corners. If it bothers you on a specific shot, just crop in a tiny bit later. You can even use the camera's Clear Image Zoom to crop in a little in-camera if you feel you must. Finally, and this is my worst complaint: like most manual focus lenses on these cameras or on adapters, the infinity focus isn't accurate, so you can't easily pre-focus by just using the focus ring distance scale. I saw a YouTube saying it is feasible to recalibrate the focus ring, but I haven't dared try that yet - but I might because of the great benefit that provides.

The really good: As Arthur says, this lens is sharp in the middle, but I think it is sharper than he says. This lens is about as sharp in the center as the Sony ZM 24 1.8 (which I have), which is an excellent lens even if it was never worth $1200 in 2011 and arguably still overpriced new today at $800 and not as sharp as the Sigma 30 (but it has noticeably wider field of view)(...and Sigma 23 1.4 is coming in days, but like I said - that's a different sort of lens than this TT 25.). This TT holds up well in the mid zones too, but it is a train wreck in those very far corners, but who cares. I bought this to have fun with manual control and it actually is small enough to fit in a large pocket.


I read and watched reviews about how this lens compares to the specific competition in the low price, manual focus, very small pretty fast category, and this seemed like the best one to me, but I'd like to hear if somebody thinks another one is better.

[vietviet]

I used this lens and has a review on my channel. Just simply a fun and really cheap lens, where optical performance is not prioritized. A whole combo of Fujifilm XM1 and this lens cost under 120 dollars and brought me so much fun and creativity nowadays

[bogdannecula]

This lens is a good option for someone out there that is low on budget and somehow got on his hands an old Sony Aps-c camera without even a kit lens. I see zero reasons for anyone else buying it otherwise.
Great work as usual on the video!

[DavidSkelhon]

Got one, stuck it on my old X-E1, and now have something that fits into my coat pocket. The corners are weird but the rest of the frame is sharp. Great for street and contemplative work, and only the most discerning eyes are going to see the flaws.

[rosshodges]

Thank you for always giving us great videos.
I am currently in pharmacy school and don’t have a lot of money for gear, so it’s always nice to see you reviewing more affordable options!

[paulobarone]

Nice video, Arthur! As a photographer, I am always happy when you post a new APS-C lens review. Thanks.

[paulconway]

Hi,
I have always enjoyed your videos! Your enunciation, your right on the money expertise has always impressed me! I bought a Sony a 7 II because of your recommendation, and I am still enjoying it!! Your wife makes a good model, and I compliment you on her looks. Thanks again, and I will continue watching your videos.
Best regards,
Paul C.

[SylphDS]

As a fuji shooter, that mention of 150 dollars for a used sigma 30mm f1.4 makes me jealous. I paid 350 euros for that (new, because there were no used ones available yet)!

[lance_medul]

I think this lens will do good for casual street photography due to its compact size and almost 35mm full frame equiv. I don't know about most but I dont mind a lens with these kind of flaws specifically for the situation I will be using it in and my tight budget.

[deszczak]

I like the shorter and straight to the point review, thank you for that!

[conjureconquercreate]

That weird flare at 5:30 looks like an angelic snot bubble lmao i love it

[SnakeEyesSOG]

Love ur videos. I dang near watch ur videos daily. Keep it up.

[brentbrown]

Thanks for your reviews. Good stuff. Informative. Honest.

[OBLAXMEDIA]

Love your reviews and videos. Super straight to the point and good examples

[mazemet]

Thanks for the honest review. Keep up the good work