Category Archives: TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 Macro 2x TS – A Jack of All Trades

September 10, 2023 Martin 10 Comments

Introduction

Short telephoto macro lenses around 90mm-105mm are very popular and the market is crowded with them. Being macro lenses, they can give you great magnification (2:1 in this case), and at the same time, they can also be used as portrait lenses. But of course, they also are good for compressed landscape images and candid photography. The advantage of this lens is that it also offers a 2x magnification instead of the traditional macro 1x magnification, and besides, it is a tilt and shift lens, good for architectural and product photography, not something you see every day. Let’s see how it performs!

Sample Images

Nikon Z6 | TTArtisan T&S 100/2.8 Macro 2X | f/11 (stacked 68 images)

TTArtisan T&S 100/2.8 Macro 2X review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 — Nikon Z6 | TTArtisan T&S 100/2.8 Macro 2X | f/2.8 (untilted)

Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 Macro 2x TS – A Jack of All Trades →

7Artisans, Guides, Laowa, Mr. Ding Studio, Pergear, TTArtisan, Viltrox, Zhong Yi

The Best Fullframe Lenses from China

June 15, 2023 BastianK 28 Comments

Introduction

In 2023 there are plenty of lens manufacturers originating from China speaking to various different target audiences. While some are the Primark of the lens industry – simply trying to offer cheaper alternatives to the reknown manufacturers of lower quality – others have become the actual innovators in the photography lens business.
Having used more than 60 of those lenses from 14 different manufacturers I thought it is a good time to highlight the best ones I came across.

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Accessory, Leica M, Review, Sony E-mount, Technical, TTArtisan

TTArtisan Leica M to E 6-bit Adapter – Product of the Year?

May 10, 2023 BastianK 44 Comments

Introduction

ttartisan leica m to sony e adapter 6 bit code programmable exif — Voigtlander VM 75mm 1.5 via TTArtisan M->E 6-bit adapter on Sony A7rII

Since I bought my first E-mount camera seven years ago I have been using adapted M-mount lenses. Missing Exif data have always been a nuisance though and while the “Lens Compensation” camera app was a ray of hope, it didn’t exactly work all that well.
Now TTArtisan came up with a product which I have pitched to so many manufacturers before: a semi programmable Leica-M to Sony-E adapter. Let’s have a closer look!
Update May 2023: TTArtisan released an improved MK II version of this adapter, I summarized for you what has changed
Also a version for Nikon Z-mount is available now (affiliate link)

Continue reading TTArtisan Leica M to E 6-bit Adapter – Product of the Year? →

7Artisans, camera, Leica M, MS-Optics, TTArtisan, Voigtlander

Leica M10 – The Camera (?)

March 5, 2023 BastianK 264 Comments

Introduction

Leica M10. The Camera. Photography reduced to its essentials. This is what Leica says about this camera. If you care what I think of it: keep on reading.

Update: this article is now 3 years old and because of it some Leica fanboys still show up outside (or rather in the comment section) with pitchforks and torches. Joking aside, this is one of the most commented-on articles I ever wrote, reason enough to revisit it and see what happened in the meantime and also tackle some arguments from the comment section.

For many people owning a Leica camera is a dream. But why is that so? Is it simply the high price tag, the Bauhaus look or the huge “Made in Germany” writing, not hidden on a sticker at the bottom of the camera, but easily visible on the back?
It surely isn’t image quality or ease of use. You get more of both, elsewhere, for less. This is why Leica cameras are often perceived as vain men’s luxury items, that happen to be able to take photos from time to time.

leica m10 review rangefinder messsucher comparison vergleich sony a7iii a7rii R2 42mp 24mp wide angle portrait — Leica M10 | 7Artisans 28mm 1.4 FE+ | f/1.4

Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 75mm 1.5 Nokton | 1.5

laowa 9mm 5.6 ultra wide w-dreamer uwa hyper wide heliar 10mm distortion zero-d — Leica M10 | Laowa 9mm 5.6 | f/5.6

voigtlander vm 21mm 3.5 color skopar leica m10 sony a7rii a7riii a7riv 24mp 42mp 61mp sharpness review contrast resolution — Leica M10 | Voigtländer VM 21mm 3.5 | f/3.5

ttartisan 28mm 5.6 m m-mount pancake review smallest leica contrast sharpness resolution — Leica M10 | TTArtisan 28mm 5.6 | f/5.6

Continue reading Leica M10 – The Camera (?) →

Review, Sony E-mount, TTArtisan

Review: TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 Tilt

December 18, 2022 BastianK 6 Comments

Introduction

ttartisan 50mm 1.4 tilt review e-mount sony a7riv a7rv a7rii a7riii 42mp 61mp sharpness resolution contrast bokeh review sunstar sunstars starburst — TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 Tilt on Sony A7rII

A 50mm 1.4 Tilt lens? Some of you might be having a Deja Vu now, as just recently I reviewed the AstrHori 50mm 1.4 Tilt lens. This TTArtisan 50mm 1.4 Tilt features a completely different optical and mechanical design though, so let’s find out together in this review which is the better lens.