So… These Upstart Lens Makers Are Coming For The Necks Of Established Brands.

This is a great time to be a new lens customer.

I was looking at the TTArisan 75mm f/2 and had some thoughts.

There are always good deals to be had in the used lens market. Most of the lenses I purchase are used, including all of the recent ones I have written about. KEH (That I wrote for a while ba ck.) and MPB are favorite haunts of mine online, and I have purchased plenty of lenses used and new at my local camera shop. But new? There are tiers to the thing.

Tier 1: Native brand.

Pluses.

Quality is the name of the game. Arguably the best performers since they were designed specifically for the cameras they are used on. There are perks to be had. For example recent Sony camera bodies can compensate for focus breathing, but this is only available with some native lenses.

Minuses.

Usually, they are the most expensive options.

Example.

Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM.

Tier 2: Premium brands.

Pluses.

SIGMA (The rare brand that finds itself in both the native and premium categories.), ZEISS, Voigtlander, and I would argue Tamron as of recent with their 35-150mm f/2-2.8 zoom and 90mm f/2.8 macro lenses for example. Nearly as good, as good, and occasionally even better than native glass.

Minuses.

While less expensive than native glass, they are not what one would call inexpensive either.

Example.

SIGMA 105mm f/1.4 Art.

Tier 3: Good brands.

Pluses.

This is your Tokina and Rokinon/Samyang lenses for instance. These are fine lenses. Some innovation can be found, like the Rokinon/Samyang Remaster Slim kit. Some even perform near as well as the lenses above optically. These are typically less expensive than the brands above.

Minuses.

While not awful by any stretch, Ok build quality is usually the norm here.

Example.

Rokinon/Samyang 75mm f/1.8 FE.

GORDON PARKS PHOTOGRAPHERS COLLECTIVE HARLEM AND SOHO-VILLAGE PHOTO WALK

Tier 4: The others.

Pluses.

These are typically the upstarts. Value is usually the name of the game here. They are looking to get your attention by making you an offer you cannot refuse. TTArtisan, 7Artisans, Meike, Viltrox, and the like. Initially these were all manual focus offerings, but a few brands have started making AF lenses. These lenses often offer perks like brighter than usual apertures and “character” that some may or may not appreciate..

Minuses.

Inconsistent quality or features at times. Hamish Gill wrote an excellent piece on the latter and even gave me a shout out. While there are some gems to be found IQ can be a bit wanting at times.

Example.

7Artisans 50mm f/1.1.

But I have noticed that things seem to be changing recently.

The upstarts are coming for everyone’s necks it would seem.

There are have been a few upstart AF lenses I have noticed that show they were stepping things up. An early member of this movement that I enjoyed using was the Viltrox 85mm f/1.8.

A lens I used on the Fuji X system that I liked better than some native Fuji lenses. And I was not alone.

But a recent release really got my attention. The TTArtisan 75mm f/2 portrait lens.

Background.

Have wanted a reasonably sized/portable well built portrait prime lens for the A7C for when the 105mm was overkill but did not want to spend a lot for it. The two contenders were the (excellent) Sony 85mm f/1.8 and (also excellent) Samyang/Rokinon 75mm f/1.8. Have owned both. But neither fit the bill currently. The Sony was a little larger than I wanted and more than I was willing to spend. Worth it. But I did not want to spend that much. I liked the Rokinon/Samyang 75mm, but given its cheap feel, it was also more than I was willing to spend.

At $199 I dismissed the TTArtisan 75mm f/2 lens without looking at it closely when I first heard about it. I assumed it must have a cheap build and suffer some manner of optical malady. A video review informed me that I was wrong.

He actually said, except flare in direct sunlight, it was as good as the Sony 85mm f/1.8 or even better in some ways, while being smaller. Less aberrations than the Sony. I did not expect that at all. And there are perks compared to the Sony and Rokinon/Samyang options. And there were advantages above those two lenses.

All metal build.
An aperture ring.

For $199? Yeah… I ordered one.

And there are others. I have heard great things about the lenses below also.

Viltrox 135mm f/1.8.

I am sure I missed some, but that list is nuts. All AF. Many have a metal build. The Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 even bests the Sony rivals IQ according to Gerald Undone in the video above. I have only one thing to say.

Nice.

Great for those just starting out or for those with tight budgets. Great for everyone actually.

But at $199 the TTartisans 75mm f/2 is an exceptional deal. This is less than some of their manual focus lenses.

A win all around for camera gear customers.

Happy capturing.

-ELW