TTArtisan 75mm f/2 AF Lens Mini-review

Executive Summary: Buy it!

If compact primes are your thing, you are going to love the TTArtisan 75mm f/2 AF lens. In case you missed it (like me), TTArtisan released this excellent lens about a year ago, initially for the Sony and Nikon mirrorless platforms. Subsequently, they added an L-mount version (the subject of this review) and, more recently, a Fuji X-mount version. Incredibly, it retails for just $199 USD. Keep in mind this is an all-metal lens that delivers excellent optical performance, snappy auto-focus, and a fast f/2 speed.

Build Quality

The 75mm is truly compact for a short tele and is very solid. It is a no-frills lens. The anodized aluminum body has no aperture de-clicking switch, AF/MF switch, or AF lock button. The only features are a very smooth focus-by-wire knurled ring and a clicked aperture ring. It comes with a pinch-type front lens cap, plastic petal-type bayonet hood, and a base cap with USB-C connection for firmware updates.

The 75mm Focal Length

Although we often think of 85mm or 90mm as ideal portrait lenses, 75mm is also a wonderful option for portraits. Leica currently offers a 75mm Summicron-SL, and historically, they have made at least two others that come to mind: a Summilux-M and a Noctilux-M. The 75mm focal length provides just a bit more reach and subject separation than a 50mm. That reach is able to accomplish moderate compression as well. When users look through the camera, they won’t feel as if they are looking through a telephoto lens. It simply removes distraction. It concentrates your attention and isolates subjects quite naturally. Besides portraiture, 75mm is also an excellent choice for landscape, travel, live theater, and street photography (below). Paired with a 28 or 35mm, it is a versatile focal length to have in your bag. It is eminently portable, unobtrusive, and just plain fun to shoot!

Image Quality and Function

Beyond my gushing praise for this lens’ build quality and price, how is the image quality? Optically, I find little fault with this TTArtisan lens. The manufacturer says it features “an optical structure of 10 elements in 7 groups, including 1 Extra Low dispersion (ED) element and 4 high index elements”. Chromatic aberration is well controlled, and I saw no noticeable color fringing. The lens focuses quickly and accurately on my Leica SL (601). It features an STM motor, which I did not find noisy or distracting (but I’m not a video shooter). I shot mainly in the AF-S or face-detection modes, and the lens locked onto subjects even with my “vintage” focusing system.

Below are a couple of examples specifically showing the kind of out-of-focus rendering one can expect. At normal distances, without point-source lights, the background is rendered smoothly without drama or distraction. Sharpness is never an issue, even when the lens is shot wide-open. You can confidently shoot this lens at f/2 all day long. It’s sharp! Corners may be slightly softer, but with a 75mm lens, I’m not looking for edge-to-edge sharpness. I did not determine whether it exhibits any pincusion or other optical “faults”. We’ll leave that to the pixel peepers!

Close Focusing

The minimum focus distance of 75cm (29.5 inches) might be a limitation for some, but due to the lens’s length, you are already quite close to subjects, so I never felt limited in real-world shooting (see below). It is not, however, a macro lens.

In Comparison

As you can see below, this lens truly delivers on the promise that mirrorless systems were supposed to be smaller. From left to right, we have a Panasonic Lumix S series lens, the TTArtisan 75mm lens, and a Sigma DG DN lens. It is directly comparable to the Sigma DG DN Contemporary I-Series lenses, which share a similar build, compact size, and tactile aperture ring.

Leica’s current 75mm f/2 APO-Summicon-SL ASPH is priced at $5775 USD. At $199 USD, the TTArtisan lens is cheaper than a replacement plastic Leica SL lens hood, which retails for $279!

Opportunity for Improvement

What could we wish for in a future version of this lens? Very little. The lens could benefit from a bit more resistance in the aperture ring or a locking function. It can be easily moved from its intended setting. The only other small niggle? I would love to see a tactile red dot on the exterior of the lens to help locate the proper position when mounting. Also, there is no weather sealing, so care must be taken in inclement weather, just like with my Leica M lenses. I hope TTArtisan considers making a 90mm f/2 AF lens and some other options similar to the Leica SL Summicron range.

Conclusion

The TTArtisan 75mm f/2 lens is an excellent product, worthy of your consideration. Its compact size and weight make it invaluable in any kit. Image quality is outstanding, and build quality is unsurpassed. TTArtisan is a legitimate player in optics design and manufacturing. I’ve hesitated to use the phrase “for the price” earlier in this review because the lens is just plain good. The lens is easily worth twice the price!

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