Recently I’ve been exclusively using one lens to take pictures wherever I go — the lens I’m about to review: TTArtisan APS-C 25mm f2.0 for Sony E-mount.
To put things short, I am currently hooked on this lens. At first, I was not so thrilled with it due to its rather unassuming figure, but after using it for a while, I soon discovered what a gem it is. So let me present you the perfect lens that can give you street creds in, well, street photography.
Table of Contents
Build and Handling
Honestly, the form factor alone is why I bought this lens. It’s tiny enough that it’s barely larger than a wristwatch in diameter. It fits exactly on my Sony A6000 like a glove.
That alone is a good enough reason to use it for street photography, where staying inconspicuous is paramount. And since it’s available in various camera mounts (E/X/Z/RF/L/M43-mount), it’ll be a good addition to whichever camera brand you have.
Aside from the size, what I like about the lens:
- The buttery smooth focus ring
- Markings for manual focus are accurate
- Metal body, yet light enough (less than 200g)
What I don’t like:
- The metal screw cap is hard to take off quickly
- The mount has a gap when attached and does not fit snuggly
- It’s easy to touch the focus ring inadvertently and change the focus slightly
- There is no aperture stop between f8 and f16
Performance
This lens will give approximately 37.5mm full-frame focal length, given the intended target sensor is APS-C (cropped sensor). Focusing is easy with TTArtisan 25mm even though it’s a manual lens considering it’s classified as a wide-angle lens.
What I like to do with this lens is use zone focusing. I usually set the aperture to f8 and most of the time I will be ready for any interesting moments coming my way.
Additionally, my favorite aspect of TTArtisan 25mm is how it renders a scene into a cinematic scene. The photos it produces are of acceptable sharpness, not too sharp like modern lenses yet not too soft. It just feels right.
On the minus side, this lens is especially prone to wild sun flares. Given its price, it’s safe to assume it does not have a special coating to mitigate flaring. It also does not come with a hood, though I think the lens will still be weak against bright sunlight even with a hood attached. That being said, the flares render a rather vintage look if you are into retro style.
Vignetting is also prominent in the corners when it’s wide open. Stopping down the aperture helps eliminate the vignettes.
Closing Remarks
Without a doubt, TTArtisan 25mm has been my favorite lens to use for the past few months. Size and performance-wise, in a way, it reminds me of another favorite lens of mine from the film era, Industar 50mm.
Needless to say, because this is a manual focus lens, you will be struggling at first if you have never used one before. I suggest not buying this lens if you are shooting exclusively with auto-focus.
That being said, I am a satisfied customer. I had doubts about the lens because I had never owned lenses from a Chinese lens-maker before although I had heard good reviews about them in recent years. Looking back now I am glad to give it a chance. This lens is lightweight, cheap, fun to use, and makes good images. What more could you ask for?
Final verdict:
8/10
