Thank you for measuring the actual speed of the lenses! A technical note: the F-stop value (1.4, 2,...) is a geometrical property of the lens, while the T-stop value (typically reported only in cine lenses) is what you measured, which is the actual light transmission number. Keep up the good work!
This is the only video everybody need. Very informative, such a high quality content sir... You even consider some aspect about something that we aren't thinking about. For example, you were comparing F2 between these F1.4 lenses based on the real speed of the lens. Thank You so much... Liked & Subscribed.
Love the quality of the videos man keep up the work. Love to see the channel grow extremely underrated information for us folks on a budget or looking for something different.
Super interesting comparison. I went for a similar lens, the TTArtisan 27mm/2.8, which is a little bit slower and less wide than the ones, you reviewed, but it comes with an autofocus for an also quite decent price.
Tom my friend thank you so much for your efforts into making this videos, I know it’s hard work, and this is one of the contents I was hoping for. Cheers 🎥🎬
Was looking forward to this Tom, really great showdown!! In the end however, I went with the Kamlan 21/1.8 ; it really should be the sharpest as you said and wider is also better in my case. I'm disappointed by the 7artisans 23/1.4; it's the biggest, newest and most expensive, so I was expecting better quality. That 25/f2 is really something,..probably my next buy.
Firstly congratulations your videos are great. And I was torn between ttartisan 25 and 7artisan 24. Thanks to you and your video, finally I decided! ✌🏻
I think it's a great lens for street. Also because the short focal length makes manual focusing easy and fast, especially when you stop down a bit. I wish you a lot of fun with this lens!
25 f2 is bloomin brilliant. I want to have another lens but that lens worked too well for me. Aside from extreme corners and flare performance, 25F2 proved that it's worthy for one lens setup and for travel
Really enjoying your many reviews of these affordable manual lenses. Especially as an owner of a Fujifilm X-E3 with handgrip, it is great to see these lenses paired with this camera. The X-E series are so versatile, and even though I use them with heavier lenses often, it is important to have at least one light-weight well rounded lens. Manual lenses are easy to focus on the Fujifilm with peaking, and in many ways I prefer manual over auto focus, as I like to be able to sweep depth of field as I focus and compose. Even having used a number of Fujifilm primes and zooms, some of favourite lenses have been lower cost manual primes. I have only used Samyang (Rokinon) and KamLan lenses, and these lenses are generally very high-quality with some like the Samyang 135mm F2 being superlative in image-quality. The KamLan lenses are surprisingly good and have been around for a while. I still use a heaving KamLan 50mm F1.1 MkII at 600g, but it is a workhorse of a lens and has been essentially for night photography and events. Manual focus especially shines in these settings. The other Kamlan I've used was the 28mm F1.4 - which is also great, really punchy colors, great contrast, and close focusing. Since selling my XF35 F2 (a favourite) I'm looking to replace it with a small prime, and will definitely consider some of these.
@@tomscameras Thanks, i hope so too. I used a Fujinon 16mm, 2.8 for street photography for 4 years and got somehow stuck motivation wise...so i try something different for a while...have a nice day.
Thanks. I actually liked the 7artisans's bokeh least. To my eye it was far busier than the ttartisans lenses - both of which seemed about the same as far as bokeh was concerned. I'm definitely going to look at the 25mm f2. A no brainer as you say.
Thank you for another great review. I would appreciate if you did some testing of flaring. I love the interesting shapes or colours you sometimes get when there is a strong light source just out of frame. The voigtlander nokton 35mm f1.4 for Leica mount for example has really interesting flare.
I get what you mean, many thanks for your feedback! I'll maybe really have to try show more flare shots in my videos in the future. I know that flares are also a sign of imperfect lens design, but actually it's a characteristic that I often really enjoy!
Nice to hear and I hope you are having a lot of fun with the TT Artisan lenses! And, of course, all the best to Israel and hopefully a peaceful future, if that is possible … !
Great video! Those MF Chinese lenses are real hidden gems. I bought the TTArtisan 1.4/23 a year ago for my Sony a6000 because i wanted a 35mm equivalent with vintage characteristics, wide enough aperture and cheap lens for my small camera body. I have a decent collection of true vintage lenses (or modernized versions) like the old Zeiss Jena 2.4/35, the Leica Summicron 35mm (with a Voigtlander adapter) or the modern version of Trioplan 2.8/35 (and others with different focals) but all of them are FF lenses that i am using on my a7C. On the APSC body though they turned to a 52mm, the focal length i hate the most in photography! Initially i was skeptical about such a cheap lens but i gave it a try. Now is permanently mounted on my a6000! It has a very nice character from 1.4 to 2.8 with an (thankfully) uncorrected field curvature that reminds me of some Minolta or Voigtlander primes from the 80s. But the most important thing is the sharpness across (almost) the entire frame from f4 all the way down to f16!! And strangely at f8 and f16 i noticed less impact from diffraction compared to my 24mm f1.4 GM, a 1.400€ pro grade lens. The build quality is exceptional given the price and the focus ring has perfect motion, even though it lacks accuracy at the infinity marking (i calibrated it using the three screws but i don't suggest it for everyone!! You must know what to do). But its not a lens for every photographer! Its not for beginners or for those who need AF (obviously) and its not for professional use because it lacks the clinical rendering of the modern professional lenses. I can suggest this lens for people that wants to slow down a bit before the hit the shutter or for retro style edits (is perfect) and genres that zone focusing is preferable, like street photography. Its the most compact f1.4 version for a 35mm equivalent and it pairs nice with small cameras like my a6000 or the smaller Fuji bodies.
Hey, many thanks for your detailed feedback and report of your experience with the TT Artisan 23/1.4! These lenses are far from perfect, but they are still pretty capable and also just great in use. And as you say, they give a nice classic rendering which is very different to the modern "clinical" lenses. I really like that a lot as well! But as you say, it's not for everyone. Which is fine for me, having all these choices today is really great!
Hey Tom, just watched this again. I really enjoy your videos. I'm considering upgrading from highend webcam for zoom/youtube, to a lowend mirrorless camera. The consensus seems to be APS-C and this kind of short focal length (23-25mm). For budget the manual 'artisans win the lens choice - but which one of the three would you choose? ❤ Other question is: for camera much advice leans to old Sony models for budget (a5000+clean hdmi hack, or a5100/a6000) as only chasing 1080p. I wondered what your thoughts were on budget bodies/brand for video? I might also use occasionally for photography too.
The question is of course if for Zoom calls and TH-cam videos, if you really want to have a manual lens. It's more creative but often, especially when filming yourself for TH-cam, auto focus might be very helpful. Out of these three lenses, I'd go for the 7Artisans 24/1.4 if you want a bit more of a "filmic" look at open aperture, and otherwise for the TT Artisan 25/2 cause it is the sharpest of the three. I don't know what you have in mind exactly, so maybe the f/1.4 aperture is not really needed by you anyway. As for cameras for video, I have to confess I'm not really an expert. Judging from my own experience I would also go for an older Sony body, but I would definitely want one that can shoot 4k if producing for TH-cam. One reason is that the TH-cam algorithm likes 4k videos more than 1080p. (But of course, no one really knows what that algorithm is doing anyway ...) Personally, I sometimes use my Fuji X-E3 and now X-E4 for video and I do actually love the video quality and especially the colors, but compared to Sony most Fuji bodies do offer less video features, especially the older ones. The best here for video would be the Fuji X-S10 or X-S20.
Very interesting Tom like you i like small form factor i used to shoot just full frame and everything seemed big and heavy ha ha i still use my full frame but really love the smaller cameras and lenses now days and i shoot mainly B&W
i favour the ttartisans 23mm f1.4 the most. by far is consider the smallest with the fastest stop. i use this lens for 2 years + and have created many amazing shots with this lens. i used to have the 7artisans 25mm f1.8 but sold it off because the ttartisans is faster yet and a decent size. Even though it is abit more heavier but it is still compact considering that size. the 25mm f2 might be even smaller but the extra 2mm focal change alot if you shoot alot of wide potrait (or close up) i am aiming for the ttartisans 27mm f2.8 as my next street lens but for now the ttartisans 23mm offer the best overall
Hi, after using those manual lenses, may I know why are you considering the 27mm ( i think its the AF one right?) . Cos actually im planning to get a new lens within these focal range, but currently considering whether or not I need that auto focus since the manual is quite faster. To add more context, I like these lenses for their small form factor, so I'm not too interested atm with the more expensive and bulkier Viltrox or Samyang etc offerings.
@@bgtcsjm if you shoot purely streets, non portrait, mostly day time. you dont really need that f1.4. sure the 23mm 1.4 25mm f2 seems like a good choice if you dont mind manual. but after shooting manual for many years, i just got tired of shooting manual. plus i did try shooting f4 for night street photography with my fuji kit lens. it is good enough just for sharing and viewing. sometimes the f1.4 highlight kills the feel if you planning to shoot jpg without editing. i rather play safe, shoot around 2.8 4 for street. thus 1 of the reason why i would go for the tt27 2.8 since i have already experience some night photography with my fuji.
@@ftk-alt thanks for your input. Actually I'm also getting tired of using manual lenses since the only auto i have is my kit lens 😄. Yup, I think I'm gonna go with the auto lens. Thanks again
Thanks for your comprehensive feedback! I am happy you enjoy the 23/1.4 so much! And if you got some great shots with it, that’s all that counts in the end!
Hello. Txs for you review! I have a question. I am beginner. Just got a sony nex F3 with native 18/55mm Sony lens. It is ok and very versatile. But it is too big. I want my camera to be pocketable, and keep my 18/55mm in my backpack. 25mm lenses from 7 and TT artisans Won't be a bit the same versatile use as my 18/55? Should I buy the 18mm lens from 7Artisans? Considering my needs, something pocketable, easy and fast to use, that is not a double use with my 18/55, which one of 3 (or another solution) would you advise me? Thank you! Raphaël
You can get a good secondhand sony lenses with AF cheaply instead. Surely not the best, but you get your starter. But then again, if you are really new and don't really know what you like, better use the kit lens until you know what kind of photos / videos that you like. My own personal starters: Sony E 20mm f2.8 (for street) or Sony E 35mm f1.8 (the apsc niftyfifty) or Sony FE 85mm f1.8 (good for portrait).
Hey there! Well the TT Artisan lenses all are prime lenses so of course you can't zoom anymore - your 18-55 zoom lens is much more versatile in this one regard! Having said that, the TT Artisan lenses are much faster (larger aperture) so they give you more background blur and also enable you to shoot in darker environments like in evenings etc. Which one is the best for you? Maybe you can have a look at the photos that you take with your zoom lens and think about what focal length you prefer to shoot. I mean, do you prefer to shoot at the shorter end, around 18-25 mm? Or are most of your shots right in the middle, or even at the longer end? In general, the advice is that the best first manual lens is a "standard" lens and that would be a 35mm lens. It enables you to shoot beautiful portraits but still it is also very versatile for other photos. I also made a video about which "first" manual lens to get here. Maybe it helps a bit: th-cam.com/video/QuYFj4JHEFs/w-d-xo.html
Very interesting an useful! Already have the TTA 23mm, Im happy with it. A similar comparison between the ultrafast 35mm (50mm equivalent) f/0.95 - f/1.2 would be really interesting as well!
@@tomscamerasyeah, thats a good review too!!! Already watched your reviews of the 35mm 0.95, which one do you like more, the 7artisans or the TTartisan??
Checking in to complement you on your reviews! Thanks so much for making them. I have been wondering if you could compare the TTArtisan 50mm 1.2 to the Brightin Star 50mm 1.4 and the TTArtisan 35mm .95 to the Brightin Star 35mm .95?
Regarding the 35mm lenses: To me, the new Brightin Star 35/0.95 looks a lot like a cosmetically altered version of the 7Artisans 35/0.95. That one I already reviewed about 2 years ago. It's also apparently the same lens as the Meike 35/0.95 - again, just cosmetic changes! And yes, the 7Artisans 35/0.95 is optically better than the TT Artisan 35/0.95. So if you plan to shoot a lot at f/0.95, go for the 7Artisans! Also check out my individual reviews of the 7Artisans and TT Artisan 35/0.95 lenses. Here's an article by FujiFanBoys about the new Brightin Star, they also show the other lenses that I just mentioned: fujifanboys.com/blog/35mm-f0-95-by-brightin-star/
Very useful comparison! I'm leaning towards the 25/2. Question: For 'talking head'-style videos, indoors, would any of these be a decent choice? If so, what would you say would be a suitable distance between me and the lens?
You want to film yourself, holding the camera on your stretched arm? Then IMO the focal length of this lens is a too long to be suitable! Or do you have someone else filming you / or can set up a tripod or something? Then it should work out perfectly with the 25/2 lens. The distance between you and the camera will be most likely something between 1 and 2 meters, it depends on how large you want to appear on the video. But check if you want to use a manual focus lens for this work, or maybe would prefer an AF lens that can track your face.
Yes, that area is the "Rheinauhafen" = "Rhine Wetlands Harbor", referring to its former use as a industry / harbor complex. It has been extensively rebuilt about 10-15 years ago. The marina of Cologne is also located there.
The TTArtisan 25mm f2 could've been amazing if it just had better coatings. I loved it when I had it but the haze and flare is just bad. It's unusable whenever there's a strong light source in or near the frame. Such a shame as it has a very nice size and manual focus feel. And light transmission is pretty bright.
I still wonder how big sample to sample variation is. As in all my reviews I do shoot RAW and use a RAW converter to orocess the images but the settings were always exactly the same for each of the three lenses in this video. So contrast, color reproduction etc are very similar as you can see. And also the settings that I use here, especially in contrast, don’t differ a lot to other lenses like from Fuji or Viltrox etc I can’t say that my copy of the 25/2 has a low contrast at all. The night shots with bright light sources also look well. But it f course there are other lenses with a more robust performance in counter light situations and also, again, maybe there isn’t a some sample to sample variation. So many thanks for sharing your experience. Super valuable!
I'm afraid only a psychologist specialised in the treatment of photographers could answer you this question 😂 But I do think that a small pancake lens like this is a great addition to the standard zoom lens. Plus it's an inexpensive way for you to find out if you enjoy manual lenses in general!
thanks again for your reviews. question, I received my ttartisans 23mm, 1.4 lens. I attached a uv filter and now the lens cap will not stay on. I wish they had provided one of the screw on caps which I think are awesome. any thoughts on how to remedy this not so major issue?
Hey there, so you did *not* get the TT Artisan screw-on lens cap with your lens? Normally it should also screw onto the UV filter! But also other types of lens cap should work, also with the filters ... BUT sometimes there's an issue with the front thread in the filter itself - maybe they're too thin or have some other issue so that you can't actually screw or snap something onto that filter anymore. Then it would be an issue of the filter ...
Oh I was able to find a screw down lens cap that works well. TTARTISAN said they’d send a screw down lens cap for $6 with a $20 charge for shipping. The 23mm came with a lens head also which has a pinch on plastic cap which also works well. Thanks for getting back
For portrait use, I'd prefer a 35mm lens or 50mm lens. They will give you more background blur. Check out my video where I show the TT Artisan 35/1.4 and 50/1.2, and the 7Artisans 35/0.95: th-cam.com/video/eeSX2jwC-eM/w-d-xo.html But if you want wide-angle portraits, I think the 7Artisans 24/1.4 might offers a little bit softer bokeh compared to the TT Artisan 23/1.4 and 25/2. But the differences are small IMO.
What 50mm manual lens do u recommend? Do u have a video comparing them ? I doesnt have to be 0.95 or 1.2.. .. any recommendations for sharpness, quality?
I have a video where I compare the 7Artisans 50/0.95 with the TT Artisans 50/1.2: th-cam.com/video/zY-4oI9uN14/w-d-xo.html But if you’re okay with less speed, then I recommend the TT Artisans 50/2. I also have a video where I compare this with the 50/1.2: th-cam.com/video/vhkK_K3I8mE/w-d-xo.html
The 25mm f/2 actually has a ton of problems but compared to the other two it looks great 😀 those other two are miserably flawed. Should be discontinued/replaced
All these lenses are far from perfect. I really love the 25/2 the most and I actually use it a lot. It’s just good enough in so many things and then also compact and super inexpensive. I agree that there still is room for a 23-25mm lens that really is very good (better than the lenses shown in this video) and then maybe just around 200 USD new …
On the 7Artisans, yes. On the TT Artisan lenses "out of the factory", also usually yes. You can user adjust that on the TT Artisan lenses if you're confident to fiddle with the three small set screws on the focus ring. On 7Artisans, you can't user adjust the focus ring at all.
Fine video as always, Tom. But i really don't like the rendering from the 25/2 TTA. I've sold it brand new with my X-M1 as combo, after some demo shots. I do like the 23/1.4 way more, haptics is also very nice, the silver-black one. As 35mm Lens, it's perfect for my needs, given the price, i paid only like 85 EUR from China.
Thanks a lot for your feedback! I do also like the 23/1.4 but yes, in the end I prefer the 25/2. The silver-black "zebra" optics of the 23/1.4 are cool, yes! I wonder if they're doing some more lenses like that (or the 35/0.95) ... or if the vast majority of customers prefers the all-black designs and thus TT Artisan will go that route in the future ... would be definitely a bit more boring.
@@tomscameras Everyone is being different, Tom. Totally fine. 🙂 I enjoy the 23/1.4 TTA much more, and that extra stop, even not as sharp by design in terms of contrast, -resolution, does come in handy, for night time/avialable light photography, over the cheaper 25/2 TTA lens.
Thank you for measuring the actual speed of the lenses!
A technical note: the F-stop value (1.4, 2,...) is a geometrical property of the lens, while the T-stop value (typically reported only in cine lenses) is what you measured, which is the actual light transmission number.
Keep up the good work!
Many thanks for your feedback! And I have to say that I wonder if those T-stop numbers are always accurate. Especially with budget lenses …
This is the only video everybody need.
Very informative, such a high quality content sir...
You even consider some aspect about something that we aren't thinking about.
For example, you were comparing F2 between these F1.4 lenses based on the real speed of the lens.
Thank You so much...
Liked & Subscribed.
Many thanks for your feedback! I really appreciate it!
Love the quality of the videos man keep up the work. Love to see the channel grow extremely underrated information for us folks on a budget or looking for something different.
Many thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Super interesting comparison. I went for a similar lens, the TTArtisan 27mm/2.8, which is a little bit slower and less wide than the ones, you reviewed, but it comes with an autofocus for an also quite decent price.
Tom my friend thank you so much for your efforts into making this videos, I know it’s hard work, and this is one of the contents I was hoping for. Cheers 🎥🎬
Manu, many thanks for your nice feedback! I really enjoy creating content and I am even more happy if you guys appreciate it! 🙏
Was looking forward to this Tom, really great showdown!! In the end however, I went with the Kamlan 21/1.8 ; it really should be the sharpest as you said and wider is also better in my case.
I'm disappointed by the 7artisans 23/1.4; it's the biggest, newest and most expensive, so I was expecting better quality.
That 25/f2 is really something,..probably my next buy.
Thanks for your nice feedback! I love the 25/2 and also the 50/2 of the same series. They’re like two lenses that fit in the size of just one 😃
Love your channel Tom. Very interesting comparison. Looking forward to your next one.
Thanks David for your feedback! I appreciate it!
Useful information!
Thank you very much for all your great work 📸
Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it!
Firstly congratulations your videos are great. And I was torn between ttartisan 25 and 7artisan 24. Thanks to you and your video, finally I decided! ✌🏻
Many thanks for your feedback! And I hope you will like the lens! Have a lot of fun with it!
@@tomscameras thank you so much. Hope so, I got canon nifty fifty hope it worth it.
Great review! Thanks for the detailed comparison.
Great review. I bought the 25mm. Really good lense!
Many thanks for your feedback! I am glad that you like the lens!
Just bought the TTArtisan APS-C 25mm f2, it will arrive in a couple of days. I will be using it for street. Thanks for this comparison.
I think it's a great lens for street. Also because the short focal length makes manual focusing easy and fast, especially when you stop down a bit. I wish you a lot of fun with this lens!
If you like the ttartisan 25mm f2, consider Meike 35mm f1.4. I rotate between those 2.
@@rinconjazz Yes. And there’s also the fantastic TT Artisan 35/1.4!
Good choice of lens, will work well for one lens only setup. At least I did for a year now
25 f2 is bloomin brilliant. I want to have another lens but that lens worked too well for me. Aside from extreme corners and flare performance,
25F2 proved that it's worthy for one lens setup and for travel
Really enjoying your many reviews of these affordable manual lenses. Especially as an owner of a Fujifilm X-E3 with handgrip, it is great to see these lenses paired with this camera. The X-E series are so versatile, and even though I use them with heavier lenses often, it is important to have at least one light-weight well rounded lens. Manual lenses are easy to focus on the Fujifilm with peaking, and in many ways I prefer manual over auto focus, as I like to be able to sweep depth of field as I focus and compose.
Even having used a number of Fujifilm primes and zooms, some of favourite lenses have been lower cost manual primes. I have only used Samyang (Rokinon) and KamLan lenses, and these lenses are generally very high-quality with some like the Samyang 135mm F2 being superlative in image-quality. The KamLan lenses are surprisingly good and have been around for a while. I still use a heaving KamLan 50mm F1.1 MkII at 600g, but it is a workhorse of a lens and has been essentially for night photography and events. Manual focus especially shines in these settings. The other Kamlan I've used was the 28mm F1.4 - which is also great, really punchy colors, great contrast, and close focusing.
Since selling my XF35 F2 (a favourite) I'm looking to replace it with a small prime, and will definitely consider some of these.
Ordered Friday a TTArtisan 25/2 for my x-pro 1, can't wait to try it...
I hope you'll have a lot of fun with it!
@@tomscameras Thanks, i hope so too. I used a Fujinon 16mm, 2.8 for street photography for 4 years and got somehow stuck motivation wise...so i try something different for a while...have a nice day.
Thanks. I actually liked the 7artisans's bokeh least. To my eye it was far busier than the ttartisans lenses - both of which seemed about the same as far as bokeh was concerned. I'm definitely going to look at the 25mm f2. A no brainer as you say.
Another great review!
Many thanks! 🙏
Thank you for another great review. I would appreciate if you did some testing of flaring. I love the interesting shapes or colours you sometimes get when there is a strong light source just out of frame. The voigtlander nokton 35mm f1.4 for Leica mount for example has really interesting flare.
I get what you mean, many thanks for your feedback! I'll maybe really have to try show more flare shots in my videos in the future. I know that flares are also a sign of imperfect lens design, but actually it's a characteristic that I often really enjoy!
Good comparisons. Thanks.
You‘re welcome! 🙏
Thank you for your great videos! I own quite a few TTartisan lenses that I saw your reviews on. Regards from Israel.
Nice to hear and I hope you are having a lot of fun with the TT Artisan lenses! And, of course, all the best to Israel and hopefully a peaceful future, if that is possible … !
Thank you, much appreciated! @@tomscameras
Great video! Those MF Chinese lenses are real hidden gems. I bought the TTArtisan 1.4/23 a year ago for my Sony a6000 because i wanted a 35mm equivalent with vintage characteristics, wide enough aperture and cheap lens for my small camera body. I have a decent collection of true vintage lenses (or modernized versions) like the old Zeiss Jena 2.4/35, the Leica Summicron 35mm (with a Voigtlander adapter) or the modern version of Trioplan 2.8/35 (and others with different focals) but all of them are FF lenses that i am using on my a7C. On the APSC body though they turned to a 52mm, the focal length i hate the most in photography!
Initially i was skeptical about such a cheap lens but i gave it a try. Now is permanently mounted on my a6000! It has a very nice character from 1.4 to 2.8 with an (thankfully) uncorrected field curvature that reminds me of some Minolta or Voigtlander primes from the 80s. But the most important thing is the sharpness across (almost) the entire frame from f4 all the way down to f16!! And strangely at f8 and f16 i noticed less impact from diffraction compared to my 24mm f1.4 GM, a 1.400€ pro grade lens. The build quality is exceptional given the price and the focus ring has perfect motion, even though it lacks accuracy at the infinity marking (i calibrated it using the three screws but i don't suggest it for everyone!! You must know what to do).
But its not a lens for every photographer! Its not for beginners or for those who need AF (obviously) and its not for professional use because it lacks the clinical rendering of the modern professional lenses. I can suggest this lens for people that wants to slow down a bit before the hit the shutter or for retro style edits (is perfect) and genres that zone focusing is preferable, like street photography. Its the most compact f1.4 version for a 35mm equivalent and it pairs nice with small cameras like my a6000 or the smaller Fuji bodies.
Hey, many thanks for your detailed feedback and report of your experience with the TT Artisan 23/1.4!
These lenses are far from perfect, but they are still pretty capable and also just great in use. And as you say, they give a nice classic rendering which is very different to the modern "clinical" lenses. I really like that a lot as well! But as you say, it's not for everyone. Which is fine for me, having all these choices today is really great!
I have and love the 7 Artisans 35 1.2 on the Canon M50m2. Love it. 10 blades and nice contrast.
Thank's Tom
You’re welcome, many thanks!
Love my 25/2
👍
Hey Tom, just watched this again. I really enjoy your videos.
I'm considering upgrading from highend webcam for zoom/youtube, to a lowend mirrorless camera. The consensus seems to be APS-C and this kind of short focal length (23-25mm). For budget the manual 'artisans win the lens choice - but which one of the three would you choose? ❤
Other question is: for camera much advice leans to old Sony models for budget (a5000+clean hdmi hack, or a5100/a6000) as only chasing 1080p. I wondered what your thoughts were on budget bodies/brand for video? I might also use occasionally for photography too.
The question is of course if for Zoom calls and TH-cam videos, if you really want to have a manual lens. It's more creative but often, especially when filming yourself for TH-cam, auto focus might be very helpful.
Out of these three lenses, I'd go for the 7Artisans 24/1.4 if you want a bit more of a "filmic" look at open aperture, and otherwise for the TT Artisan 25/2 cause it is the sharpest of the three. I don't know what you have in mind exactly, so maybe the f/1.4 aperture is not really needed by you anyway.
As for cameras for video, I have to confess I'm not really an expert. Judging from my own experience I would also go for an older Sony body, but I would definitely want one that can shoot 4k if producing for TH-cam. One reason is that the TH-cam algorithm likes 4k videos more than 1080p. (But of course, no one really knows what that algorithm is doing anyway ...)
Personally, I sometimes use my Fuji X-E3 and now X-E4 for video and I do actually love the video quality and especially the colors, but compared to Sony most Fuji bodies do offer less video features, especially the older ones. The best here for video would be the Fuji X-S10 or X-S20.
Very interesting Tom like you i like small form factor i used to shoot just full frame and everything seemed big and heavy ha ha i still use my full frame but really love the smaller cameras and lenses now days and i shoot mainly B&W
I totally relate! And I also love black and white 😃
hi tom, just subscribed ur channel, i'd love to see the comparison between modern lenses and old lenses like canon fd & takumar, it would be great
Actually you're right, I should go and compare my vintage 50 or 28mm lenses with these!
i favour the ttartisans 23mm f1.4 the most. by far is consider the smallest with the fastest stop.
i use this lens for 2 years + and have created many amazing shots with this lens.
i used to have the 7artisans 25mm f1.8 but sold it off because the ttartisans is faster yet and a decent size. Even though it is abit more heavier but it is still compact considering that size.
the 25mm f2 might be even smaller but the extra 2mm focal change alot if you shoot alot of wide potrait (or close up)
i am aiming for the ttartisans 27mm f2.8 as my next street lens but for now the ttartisans 23mm offer the best overall
Hi, after using those manual lenses, may I know why are you considering the 27mm ( i think its the AF one right?) . Cos actually im planning to get a new lens within these focal range, but currently considering whether or not I need that auto focus since the manual is quite faster. To add more context, I like these lenses for their small form factor, so I'm not too interested atm with the more expensive and bulkier Viltrox or Samyang etc offerings.
@@bgtcsjm if you shoot purely streets, non portrait, mostly day time. you dont really need that f1.4.
sure the 23mm 1.4 25mm f2 seems like a good choice if you dont mind manual. but after shooting manual for many years, i just got tired of shooting manual. plus i did try shooting f4 for night street photography with my fuji kit lens. it is good enough just for sharing and viewing. sometimes the f1.4 highlight kills the feel if you planning to shoot jpg without editing.
i rather play safe, shoot around 2.8 4 for street.
thus 1 of the reason why i would go for the tt27 2.8 since i have already experience some night photography with my fuji.
@@ftk-alt thanks for your input. Actually I'm also getting tired of using manual lenses since the only auto i have is my kit lens 😄. Yup, I think I'm gonna go with the auto lens. Thanks again
@@bgtcsjm i recently invested in viltrox 23 and sigma 56 1shot. all the best!
Thanks for your comprehensive feedback! I am happy you enjoy the 23/1.4 so much! And if you got some great shots with it, that’s all that counts in the end!
Hello. Txs for you review! I have a question. I am beginner. Just got a sony nex F3 with native 18/55mm Sony lens. It is ok and very versatile. But it is too big. I want my camera to be pocketable, and keep my 18/55mm in my backpack. 25mm lenses from 7 and TT artisans Won't be a bit the same versatile use as my 18/55? Should I buy the 18mm lens from 7Artisans? Considering my needs, something pocketable, easy and fast to use, that is not a double use with my 18/55, which one of 3 (or another solution) would you advise me? Thank you! Raphaël
You can get a good secondhand sony lenses with AF cheaply instead. Surely not the best, but you get your starter. But then again, if you are really new and don't really know what you like, better use the kit lens until you know what kind of photos / videos that you like.
My own personal starters:
Sony E 20mm f2.8 (for street) or
Sony E 35mm f1.8 (the apsc niftyfifty) or
Sony FE 85mm f1.8 (good for portrait).
Hey there! Well the TT Artisan lenses all are prime lenses so of course you can't zoom anymore - your 18-55 zoom lens is much more versatile in this one regard! Having said that, the TT Artisan lenses are much faster (larger aperture) so they give you more background blur and also enable you to shoot in darker environments like in evenings etc.
Which one is the best for you? Maybe you can have a look at the photos that you take with your zoom lens and think about what focal length you prefer to shoot. I mean, do you prefer to shoot at the shorter end, around 18-25 mm? Or are most of your shots right in the middle, or even at the longer end?
In general, the advice is that the best first manual lens is a "standard" lens and that would be a 35mm lens. It enables you to shoot beautiful portraits but still it is also very versatile for other photos.
I also made a video about which "first" manual lens to get here. Maybe it helps a bit:
th-cam.com/video/QuYFj4JHEFs/w-d-xo.html
Why not Viltrox 28mm f4.5? It's a good body cap lens with autofocus capability and affordable too
Very interesting an useful! Already have the TTA 23mm, Im happy with it.
A similar comparison between the ultrafast 35mm (50mm equivalent) f/0.95 - f/1.2 would be really interesting as well!
I have made a comparison video of the TT Artisan 50/1.2 and 7Artisans 50/0.95, for example.
@@tomscamerasyeah, thats a good review too!!! Already watched your reviews of the 35mm 0.95, which one do you like more, the 7artisans or the TTartisan??
Checking in to complement you on your reviews! Thanks so much for making them. I have been wondering if you could compare the TTArtisan 50mm 1.2 to the Brightin Star 50mm 1.4 and the TTArtisan 35mm .95 to the Brightin Star 35mm .95?
Regarding the 35mm lenses: To me, the new Brightin Star 35/0.95 looks a lot like a cosmetically altered version of the 7Artisans 35/0.95. That one I already reviewed about 2 years ago. It's also apparently the same lens as the Meike 35/0.95 - again, just cosmetic changes!
And yes, the 7Artisans 35/0.95 is optically better than the TT Artisan 35/0.95. So if you plan to shoot a lot at f/0.95, go for the 7Artisans!
Also check out my individual reviews of the 7Artisans and TT Artisan 35/0.95 lenses.
Here's an article by FujiFanBoys about the new Brightin Star, they also show the other lenses that I just mentioned:
fujifanboys.com/blog/35mm-f0-95-by-brightin-star/
Very useful comparison! I'm leaning towards the 25/2. Question: For 'talking head'-style videos, indoors, would any of these be a decent choice? If so, what would you say would be a suitable distance between me and the lens?
You want to film yourself, holding the camera on your stretched arm? Then IMO the focal length of this lens is a too long to be suitable!
Or do you have someone else filming you / or can set up a tripod or something? Then it should work out perfectly with the 25/2 lens. The distance between you and the camera will be most likely something between 1 and 2 meters, it depends on how large you want to appear on the video.
But check if you want to use a manual focus lens for this work, or maybe would prefer an AF lens that can track your face.
Haha! I see Cologne!
It's a really interesting cityscape there near Microsoft building
Yes, that area is the "Rheinauhafen" = "Rhine Wetlands Harbor", referring to its former use as a industry / harbor complex. It has been extensively rebuilt about 10-15 years ago. The marina of Cologne is also located there.
The TTArtisan 25mm f2 could've been amazing if it just had better coatings. I loved it when I had it but the haze and flare is just bad. It's unusable whenever there's a strong light source in or near the frame. Such a shame as it has a very nice size and manual focus feel. And light transmission is pretty bright.
I still wonder how big sample to sample variation is. As in all my reviews I do shoot RAW and use a RAW converter to orocess the images but the settings were always exactly the same for each of the three lenses in this video. So contrast, color reproduction etc are very similar as you can see. And also the settings that I use here, especially in contrast, don’t differ a lot to other lenses like from Fuji or Viltrox etc
I can’t say that my copy of the 25/2 has a low contrast at all. The night shots with bright light sources also look well.
But it f course there are other lenses with a more robust performance in counter light situations and also, again, maybe there isn’t a some sample to sample variation. So many thanks for sharing your experience. Super valuable!
I have the sigma 18-50mm 2.8 which is great but now I wonder if I should buy the 25mm f2 to have a fun pancake lens or is it just GAS?
I'm afraid only a psychologist specialised in the treatment of photographers could answer you this question 😂
But I do think that a small pancake lens like this is a great addition to the standard zoom lens. Plus it's an inexpensive way for you to find out if you enjoy manual lenses in general!
Thank you
Thanks, you’re welcome!!
thanks again for your reviews. question, I received my ttartisans 23mm, 1.4 lens. I attached a uv filter and now the lens cap will not stay on. I wish they had provided one of the screw on caps which I think are awesome. any thoughts on how to remedy this not so major issue?
Hey there, so you did *not* get the TT Artisan screw-on lens cap with your lens? Normally it should also screw onto the UV filter! But also other types of lens cap should work, also with the filters ...
BUT sometimes there's an issue with the front thread in the filter itself - maybe they're too thin or have some other issue so that you can't actually screw or snap something onto that filter anymore. Then it would be an issue of the filter ...
Oh I was able to find a screw down lens cap that works well. TTARTISAN said they’d send a screw down lens cap for $6 with a $20 charge for shipping. The 23mm came with a lens head also which has a pinch on plastic cap which also works well. Thanks for getting back
The f2 would be my choice
Yes a good choice 👍
For portrait use, which one would u take?
For portrait use, I'd prefer a 35mm lens or 50mm lens. They will give you more background blur. Check out my video where I show the TT Artisan 35/1.4 and 50/1.2, and the 7Artisans 35/0.95:
th-cam.com/video/eeSX2jwC-eM/w-d-xo.html
But if you want wide-angle portraits, I think the 7Artisans 24/1.4 might offers a little bit softer bokeh compared to the TT Artisan 23/1.4 and 25/2. But the differences are small IMO.
Like first, then enjoy watching
Thanks! 🙏😃
What does it do when you focus past infinity?
The picture gets blurry again if you focus "past" infinity.
@@tomscameras wow. Do it's really important to be able to click it into place!
What 50mm manual lens do u recommend? Do u have a video comparing them ? I doesnt have to be 0.95 or 1.2.. .. any recommendations for sharpness, quality?
I have a video where I compare the 7Artisans 50/0.95 with the TT Artisans 50/1.2:
th-cam.com/video/zY-4oI9uN14/w-d-xo.html
But if you’re okay with less speed, then I recommend the TT Artisans 50/2. I also have a video where I compare this with the 50/1.2:
th-cam.com/video/vhkK_K3I8mE/w-d-xo.html
The 25mm f/2 actually has a ton of problems but compared to the other two it looks great 😀 those other two are miserably flawed. Should be discontinued/replaced
All these lenses are far from perfect. I really love the 25/2 the most and I actually use it a lot. It’s just good enough in so many things and then also compact and super inexpensive. I agree that there still is room for a 23-25mm lens that really is very good (better than the lenses shown in this video) and then maybe just around 200 USD new …
How can you focus past infinity?
On the 7Artisans, yes. On the TT Artisan lenses "out of the factory", also usually yes.
You can user adjust that on the TT Artisan lenses if you're confident to fiddle with the three small set screws on the focus ring.
On 7Artisans, you can't user adjust the focus ring at all.
Fine video as always, Tom. But i really don't like the rendering from the 25/2 TTA. I've sold it brand new with my X-M1 as combo, after some demo shots. I do like the 23/1.4 way more, haptics is also very nice, the silver-black one. As 35mm Lens, it's perfect for my needs, given the price, i paid only like 85 EUR from China.
Thanks a lot for your feedback! I do also like the 23/1.4 but yes, in the end I prefer the 25/2.
The silver-black "zebra" optics of the 23/1.4 are cool, yes! I wonder if they're doing some more lenses like that (or the 35/0.95) ... or if the vast majority of customers prefers the all-black designs and thus TT Artisan will go that route in the future ... would be definitely a bit more boring.
@@tomscameras Everyone is being different, Tom. Totally fine. 🙂 I enjoy the 23/1.4 TTA much more, and that extra stop, even not as sharp by design in terms of contrast, -resolution, does come in handy, for night time/avialable light photography, over the cheaper 25/2 TTA lens.