Introduction
A lot has happened in 2023 and a few of those things I want to highlight and talk about here.
2023 – Year in Review
Review: TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 (APS-C)
Introduction
The APS-C 35mm focal length is equivalent to 52mm on a Fullframe camera, therefore it is in the ‘standard’ category and very close to the classic 50mm lenses on fullframe cameras. With an angle of view offering none of the ‘perspective distortion’ associated with wide angle or telephoto lenses. It is TTArtisan’s third autofocus lens after the 27mm f/2.8 and the 32mm f/2.8, but their first AF lens with a max aperture of f/1.8. Its focal length sits between Nikon’s own 28mm and 40mm lenses, which on an APS-C camera would be the FF equivalents of 42mm and 60mm, hence filling the gap for the missing 50mm (eqv). Let’s have a deeper look at it!
This lens will be released on Monday, November 20, 2023 and will be available on TTArtisan’s onlie store for 119 USD (right now), from 11am GMT+1 (Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid time). The first batch will be in Fuji X mount only, Nikon Z and Sony mounts will be available later.
Sample Images
Review: Brightin Star 9mm 5.6
Introduction
This Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 and the 7Artisans 9mm 5.6 had been announced almost at the same time, so I already expected these lenses to be more or less identical. Interestingly only this Brightin Star lens features a 34 mm rear filter thread though, so I decided to have a closer look at this Brightin Star lens as well.
The optical and most of the mechanical construction of this Brightin Star 9mm 5.6 lens is identical to the 7Artisans 9mm 5.6, so I will reuse many parts of its review here.
Sample Images
Review: TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 – A modern and affordable Trioplan?
Introduction
Meyer-Optik Görlitz produced a series of triplet lenses “Trioplan“, based on the Cook Triplet design from 1893, in different focal lengths after WWII. One of those lenses was the 100mm f/2.8 Trioplan, produced from 1956 to sometime at the end of 70s or beginning of 80s, when Meyer-Optik Görlitz was merged with Pentacon in the then East Germany. They stopped producing this lens because Pentacon had better 100mm lenses. It had OK center sharpness though and could produce a so-called soap bubble bokeh in certain situations. This was considered an optical defect then, which is what it is. With the advent of digital cameras, it became very popular though, and the prices went up in the used market, so popular that the company decided, for the first time in history, to revive the lens by a Kickstarter campaign in 2015. It was a successful campaign; the produced lenses were sold out quickly for about €1000 each. In 2023, TTArtisan has come up with a lens very similar to it, both in look and optical design. Let’s have a closer look at it!
Update 11/23: the lens is now also available for M-mount for $210 in the official shop
Sample Images
Continue reading Review: TTArtisan 100mm f/2.8 – A modern and affordable Trioplan?
Review: Mr. Ding Optics 50mm 1.1 Noxlux M
Introduction
The Syoptic 50mm 1.1 was one of the big surprises for me in 2022, as it was a very capable, fast 50mm lens with surprisingly appealing bokeh rendering and a very affordable price tag.
Unfortunately there were also some issues: almost unreachable filter thread, loose focus rings in the first production run and allegedly some issues with product support.
Now the “official” and improved version of this lens is available branded as Mr. Ding Studio 50mm 1.1 Noxlux. Let’s have a look together.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.
Update 11/23: Information on the updated Mark II version added
This lens is in many aspects identical to the Syoptic 50mm 1.1, so I will reuse a few sections of my review of that lens.
This lens is also part of my Comparison of 6 Super Fast 50mm M-mount Lenses together with the Leica 50mm 0.95 Noctilux-M, the Zhong Yi 50mm 0.95 M, the Voigtländer VM 50mm 1.0 Nokton, MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM and Voigtänder VM 50mm 1.2 Nokton.
Sample Images
