M42 mount shooters who love a bit of bubbly bokeh will be delighted to hear that TTartisan has released a new lens featuring what they call “soap bubble bokeh”.
The manual focus Bubble Bokeh lens is a 100mm F2.8 full-frame M42 mount lens that can be adapted to other mounts with the appropriate adapter. Possible adaptations include mirrorless mounts like the Sony E, Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, as well as other mounts like the Leica M port, Nikon F, and Canon EF.
“Soap bubble bokeh is characterized by a bokeh ball with a bright edge around their perimeters and will give stunning results.” – TTartisan
Bokeh has become a popular characteristic in contemporary photography. It is used to isolate subjects but also adds a soft dreamy touch to an image which might evoke a different reaction than a scene in full detail. The texture and shape of bokeh is often evaluated in lens reviews and everyone has a personal preference for the “type” of bokeh.
TTartisan’s new lens aims at this market of bokeh lovers. In the sample images below, you can see exactly what kind of bokeh to expect from this longer lens.
The 100mm F2.8 lens is constructed of aviation-grade anodized aluminum with a clicked aperture as per TTartisan’s standard build quality. Perhaps to suit the M42 mount aesthetic, they have also added a vintage-style focus ring, something that we haven’t seen much on modern lenses. The glass bits are structured in a 3-element 3-group design and the total package weighs in at 307g.
TTartisan says the lens has a large imaging circle, meaning it can cover a good amount of even a medium format sensor (like the Fujifilm GFX series) with little vignetting.
One mechanical “p.s.”, if you will, of the manufacturer is that the lens doesn’t naturally align with the centerline when using conventional adapters. Therefore, if you want the lens markings to center on a digital camera, you’ll need an adapter with an adjustable centerline.
“Infuse your photography with a vintage and painterly aesthetic that brings a unique, creative edge to your work, making every shot a work of art.” – TTArtisan
The retail price for this lens is USD $155 and can be found on Pergear’s shop here or on Amazon here.
So basically they reproduced the original Meyer Optik Trioplan? Interesting. While those are quite expensive, this would be a more accessible way to get that look. I’d definitely buy this if I had a camera to adapt it to.
Well they did raise the price only after a few hours (not that it is expensive now, but still worth mentioning).
Cheaper to buy and adapt an old Nikon 105mm
This is true, but it would be an entirely different lens with a very different character
Hi Hamish, I have gotten impressive bokeh with the Gauss version of the Nikkor 105mm.
I have an Industar 61 that gives similar bokeh bubbles for a lot less £.
Only 52mm but 4 lenses in 3 groups, so maybe similar character?
China clones. Why bother in a world with so many real vintage lenses for less money that weren’t assembled by slaves?