This is the best I’ve seen although I think Matt mentions it in one of this videos as well. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tS8TOmoMeAc.html
Man some Leica purists are truly seething in these comments. It’s not just all about quality, for most it’s about quality-price as not everyone has just tons of disposable money laying around. This is a good video, really impressed with the widening selection of alternatives for the m-mount. Up until now I’ve only shot Leica and Voigtlander lenses, this might be a nice try
I have to say, I have been very impressed with my TTArtisan and 7Artisans lenses for for M mount, and are absolutely worth checking out by more photographers
Great review. I learned elsewhere of a way to calibrate for film bodies. Take a lens you already have that produces sharp results. Position the test 4 feet away exactly. Then put on the china lens. If it focuses at 4 feet then good. If not calibrate until it does. Then repeat at 10 feet. No scotch tape needed.
I bought one of these direct from china based on this review. I'm blown away by the quality of this for the price. It back focused ever so slightly but was very easy to calibrate. Looks great on my M2 and a7iii. Great channel and review.
Hey Benj, not sure if you got an answer yet but the flare is caused by the bladed circle mechanism which sits above the aperture blades. Stopping down to f/1.7 gets rid of the effect because the aperture blades are far enough out to block reflections off the mechanism. Hope this makes sense since I don’t know of the actual terms for these parts.
What you see at the front of the blades is a _toothed_ ring with _cams_ that actuate the diaphragm blades. I doubt that's the real culprit as it's painted black (albeit not matte). However, the real culprit seems to be a bare metal ring that sits right behind the blades, that catches light if the blades are fully retracted at 1.4 and reflect back to the front elements. How you well note, closing 1/2 stop does away with the flare problem. Incredible that DJ Optical (the manufacturer) didn't catch it.
i owned that Leica 50 Summilux ASPH but a few months ago i had to go to the dentist in emergency and the bill was SO EXPENSIVE my only solution was selling this Leica lens. I'm now looking into a much cheaper alternative, hopefully in the future i will be able to afford an official Leica lens back. Thank's for your video.
@@benjhaisch Silver Summilux is 460.4g and black is 335g :D But while lens is sharp is nowhere near summilux imo :D rendering of the out of focus areas is the only reason why I've bought a lux. That's the difference between expensive and cheap glass.
They are Ok for the money take a Summilux into difficult light situations and you will always choose the Summilux… its unbelievable good. Are the Leica lenses modern. No they are not that’s what people get confused about. But shooting with them is joy….😊
Nice review Ben. I think it’s good to see these options available in the market. That coupled with the prices of used contemporary digital Leica bodies lowering, makes it easier for people to obtain and enjoy shooting with Leica’s.
For those commenting about the flare issue being the lens hood, that isn't the case and actually is only visible at f/1.4 and even stopping down 1/2 of a stop to f/1.7 solves the issue. There are only 3 vents in the lens hood and 6 gaps within the flare. This happens both with and without the lens hood at f/1.4. To see another sample at f/1.4 and f/1.7 I’ve uploaded some others to Dropbox. www.dropbox.com/sh/2wauucjll6ed7h7/AACSo-gXaJa_dllsoLlKCHeia?dl=0
More of these third party lens reviews please. I just bought my first Leica (M10R) and as a hobby shooter that was a monumental financial stretch. A big part of my justifying an M over a Q2 was knowing that a lens like this TT 50mm existed. In my eyes it's basically the Summilux. You've proven that. And we know Thypoch or someone will come out with another version with closer focusing distance any day now; this segment is only growing. This TT lens now allows me to get to know the system and shooting style and really focus my GAS on what Leica glass I want to splurge on when I've saved up enough; which likely NOW won't be a 50mm 1.4 thanks to this offering. It just made it easier to shift my focus on perhaps the 35 FLE or APO as my first and possibly only Leica glass companion to the body.
Ben, at 9:59 Timeframe your 100% Crop from the Hasselblad MF Camera shows a lot of Purple Fringing, or CA, with the Leica Nifty Fifty Summilux Lens, the TT Artisans really less here, subtle.
Wow I was shocked at the significant amount of chromatic aberrations in the Summilux 50mm. I’ve always had the idea they had focused on correcting it for the price.
Nice review. Sounds like something that I might be interested in for my M9. One thing though - if you are reviewing lenses and comparing them against other lenses you really shouldn’t use photos with presets applied. You talked about the colour differences between the Lux and the TT but the presets just made them both look the same. Same for the sharpness - difficult to judge when there is a grain effect applied. I get that you want to sell your presets but the review would be more useful to potential buyers of the lens if the images were SOC.
Fair, I’ll drop a link to the SOOC JPEGs in a bit. Personally, I’m interested in the end result but I can see what you’re saying otherwise. It’s also incredibly difficult to judge on a compressed video file regardless haha
@@benjhaisch Yeah it is tricky to judge on RU-vid. You can get an idea though - especially colour differences. Thanks for responding and sorting out the JPEGs - that’s good of you 👍🏻 Your presets are really nice by the way.
I´ve bought this lens for my M10 and I´m also amazed from the build and imagequality BUT the key thing is, how a lens can handle light (like sun, streetlights in the dark...).For instance, I have a (crappy) Nikon 24-120 f4 for my D750, which is basically good but very terrible at night with street lights (flair....).
Great review! I own this TTArtisan 50mm F1.4 and also the Zeiss C Sonnar 50mm F1.5 ZM. I was using these on a mirrorless full frame but just ordered a M10. I can't wait to try them both out. I saw in your video that you also used the C Sonnar. I'll look through your channel to see if you had any review of the Sonnar but curious your thoughts on the two. Thanks 👍
Got one of these and it's certainly very sharp and contrasty; beautiful bokeh too. Couldn't resist the lure and the price. OTOH, my old-old-old Voigtländer Nokton 50/1.5 ASPHERICAL (v.1 LTM) displays waaay less chroma than the TTA, almost as little as the 'lux. I wonder if the newer M mount v. II, costing around $750 has better performance. The old one came with a decent shade that didn't intrude in the VF frame, the TTA and the Nokton II do not. Something that pis*es me off is that neither manufacturer provides the digital code pits that are necessary for the digi-emms to recognize the focal distance. I had to craft a pattern and get a dental rehabilitator friend to do the pits on my lenses.
For people who shoot the mirrorless version, put a bigger lens hood on, massive improvement in image quality. I have it in E-mount. Made a deep hood. 49>58mm step up ring + 20mm long 58mm tube hood + Large 58mm collapsible rubber hood. It looks weird, but it works.
Great video! Also, you should see Peter Karbe's (Leica's head of optical development) reaction during his Art of the Leica Lens webinar when someone in the q&a session asked about what does he think about TTartisan lenses LOL. After seeing that webinar, I never question again why Leica lenses cost so much...
I am surprised that the calibration ring is mostly seen as a mere cost-saving exercise. I see it as a definite advantage. At f1.4 tolerances are extremely tight. It is more likely than not that after some time of use your M-mount camera will not be within these tolerances. In most situations that won't matter much. But if it does (wide open!), you have a choice between adjusting the mount or the lense. The former is anything but a piece of homework. TT provides a simple DIY way of adjusting the lense -- brilliant! // I like the TT50/1.4. But it should be pointed out that the lense is noticably soft at 1.4, that it's sharpness at infinity is so-so, and that it suffers from an impossibly to correct wavy disortion. That said, the softness 1.4 may be taken as a tool for potraits, and the slight lack of sharpness at inf and the very slight distortion probably go unnoticed in real life. Not perfect but amazingly good considering the price. // I understand that designing a 50/1.4 is a challenge at a very different level compared to a 50/2. Thus, the Summilux 50/1.4 is outperformed on every parameter by a Summicron 50/2 (or a Zeiss Planar 50/2) -- except for that extra stop. TT tried to meet that challenge by using more glas than in in the Summilux. Leica used less glas with a smaller size contraint -- and did slightly better in all relevant respects. Such perfection is admirable, but costs a little surcharge 😓
Hi Ben, thanks for a brilliant review of the TT 50mm, it looks absolutely amazing in comp to the Leica.. As u say, it’s not as quite good as the Leica - it looked a little cooler and seemed to lose sharpness in some of the 100%’s - but still amazingly good, especially given its very low price. (By the by, thanks for including the images, really very useful.)
The separation in the lens flare is probably from the vented hood. If you’re calibrating on film, do not go to scotch tape route you’re just setting yourself up for heartbreak when it’s way way off. It’s just not flat enough to calibrate on. If you develop black and white, just set the camera up on a tripod, shoot a few frames, cut them out in a dark bag, do a quick develop and 30 second fix, slap them in on a window and use the lens in reverse as a loupe. If anything it’ll be slightly back focused, just mark the brass ring and the chrome lens mount with a fine tipped sharpie and use that as a reference for how much you’ve moved it. For reference on my 35mm it back focused from the eye about an inch, it only took the width of a fine tipped sharpie to correct it (like 1mm). Just do your adjustment, put the camera back on the tripod, shoot another couple frames, develop and check on the window again.
Ok. Second time watching this video since I’m looking for options for my M3. I noticed you’ve owned the Sonnar and Planar 50s. Wondering if you have insight on those or if you mentioned them in another video? I’ve been considering those two as solid options
Late to the party but that odd flare sort of matches up with the design of that lens hood. As a vented hood it has gaps in it doesn't it?! Could be wrong.
Benj, great video! Hey perhaps rear flare at 4:14 that separates, is breaking up due to the perforated lens hood? Just a thought. Am very likely going to give this lens a try after your awesome review.
My guess is that since they sent you the lens they sent one they knew was sharp, centered, etc. at that price I would expect a lot of sample variance. Speculation of course, just know that they would send you the best copy.
It’s possible, of course. I did have to calibrate it myself as it was way off and there are even some minor cosmetic issues that I’d really assume they’d avoid if they were trying to send me a perfect copy, but again, it could technically be possible. I’ve heard very similar things from others as well though fwiw.
I have been scouring your Leica videos and others, your's are some of the best. I'm trying to decide on my first Leica lens, and keep coming back to this TT Artisan 50mm 1.4!!! Now if the 35 FLEII was available, it would be my first, but I think I will want this one nonetheless. I just love the color from it, the size, the look, the character in the photos. Anything else you think I should strongly consider other then the 2 lens I mentioned? And do you love your black M11 much better then the first Silver one you had?
very nice review, i have sigma FP with L mount, there is 2 version of this TTartisan 50mm 1.4 Mmount and 50mm 1.4 L mount. do u know if those are same lens quality? the L mount version is 30% cheaper, should i go with the M version with M-L adapter? or the L mount version with cheaper price, i just wanna know if the L mount version is same quality image version as M mount
Great review, thanks. I assume that with a mirrorless camera, like Fuji xt3, and an adapter there would be less vignetting and better corner sharpness.
Might be interesting to compare it to the older, pre ASPF 50 Summilux, which is still pretty expensive used. I used to have one, and it was the best lens I owned, but that was on film only and before they started making lenses with aspherical elements.
Are the versions for mirrorless (L mount) and M mount different optically, apart from obvious difference in close focussing distance? The price is different. Which one is better?
Well done. I have to wonder if any minor softness I see between them could be down to rangefinder focusing and calibration. I'd be glad to redo the test with my Leica SL and CL (utilizing modern mirrorless focus assist) if you want to send me those lenses Benj! 😃
Actually 50 mm lens is not so hard to make. That's why 50mm lens are usually the cheapest in Nikon and Canon brands and providing best bargain quality. It is with leica qulity is difficult to put to practical test. Techinical perfection is difficult to justify in real world )
Once again, there are two competing issues at play: (1) The photographer's perception of a sharp, well-taken photo and everyone else. You have to have a really crappy lens to produce pictures that the average person thinks is bad. (2) And even then, the reviewer of the picture will likely not consider picture's sharpness, contrast, blah-blah-blah, if the composition or content doesn't make them feel something.
Lack of CA in the Summilux??? Your own samples show plenty of CA in the Summilux! From the samples shown, it actually seems both lenses have quite similar levels of CA.
Haha I just did some more testing with it adapted on the EOS R and I think this lens just shot my expectations through the roof. It’s about what you’d think I’d be. Usable but really soft until about f/2.8-4ish
Yeah, I’m curious about the 50/0.95 from them after testing this. If it is the same quality than I’d be super interested in trying it, but tbh carrying around such a huge lens on an M camera would be a pain.
The 50 Sonnar is one of the most unique lenses I've ever used. The sharpness was great as well as the contrast, but the bokeh was very "vintage" a little too much character for me tbh. The TTArt renders a little more modern. SUPER cool lens though. Was one of my favorites, but the bokeh just had too much character to be my primary lens.
@@benjhaisch Mmmhh, I'm to order this one of the voigtlander 50 mm 1.5,...I have seen images of it, and I kind of feel the same about the rendering of out of focus? Could be?
Just arrive this lens , I using it on a7iii+techart. I have good fe lenses, zeiss 55, planar 50, etc,...this tt artisan is sharp!! a total keeper,. I did not test it in "all" condition , flare etc, but if I want a perfect lens I have the planar. I like the rendering too. I did notice techart focus really easy/faster with this lens than with other manual I own, such as minolta's, maybe because it has more microcontrast? I can't tell and it is really enjoyable to use it with Eye AF. I will keep it, among with 7 artisan Wen.
can you tell me how this compares to the Zeiss Planar 50mm f/2? I have one available for 400$ used and am trying to decide if the Zeiss is worth the extra money.
I didn’t notice it being any worse than most other high end lenses I’ve used like the first generation Canon L series. Maybe even better in some respects. It has some, but most lenses I’ve used do at some point when pushed to the limit.
7artisans and now TTartisans? WTF? So many artisans in China. I have a 7artisans 23m f/1.8 for my Fuji and it is an excellent lens. It was selling for $69 new when I bought is 2-3 years ago.
The Voigtlander 28/2 Ultron is the best one I’ve used for size/price (although, I’m currently in the market to upgrade it to the Leica version for increased edge sharpness)
I wasn’t expecting that because I made two very unpleasant experiences with this brand. Their service is not existing. If you have an issue with those cheap lenses you literally throw away money…
@@benjhaisch Thank you! bought it for my GFX50R, excited to try it in the coming days. I've been using the 35mm f1.4 as a walk-around and have been super happy with the giant-digital-leica-but-medium-format thing that you can create with the combination.
If you had the choise between this lens and the Zeiss Planar 50 2.0, wich one would you grab? I have the Zeiss Planar on my M2. It offers an amazing image quality, but sadly it doesn‘t fit the 50mm frame lines, which sometimes leads to branches and stuff leaning into the frame, wich i intentionally have excluded when composing. It drives me nuts sometimes. Thanks for your answer and it is (as always) a fantastic review. Best on this lens online. Thank you for that as well.
Shoot? What frame lines does it pull up?? 35? For the rec, I’d say the Zeiss Planar is an amazing lens and totally sharp/reliable with good character. It’s also smaller. If you want to save a few hundred and add the f/1.4 and don’t mind calibration, the TT is a great buy. Just depends on your wants and needs.
@@benjhaisch it is a little bit wider than a 50mm. So the 50mm frame lines show up, but the real Image shows more than what was included in the frame lines when looking through the viewfinder. It is more like a 46-48 mm. Hope you know what i mean?!
Yeah, I did, there were more gaps than in the hood and the sizing was different as well. Maybe a fluke kind of a thing, but figured I’d include anyway.
Have you compared the two? Personally I don’t like the size/design of the Voigtlander but I’ve heard good things. I’ll be keeping my Summilux as that extra 10% or so is magic and worth it to me though.
4:00 really really weird Flare? Are you kidding me? Thats a rainbow flare with a lot of flair! I've seen Magics (@MagicWeddingPhotographer) review of the Techart LM-EA9 AF Adapter with the Summixlux 50mm 1.4 and fell in love with the "flaming flare" of it. So much character! Boy i wish i would find another lens with this kind of "flaws"
I've had a few lenses from TT artisans and 7 Artisans. It's all by DJ-optical. My experience with them is that they are rockstars in image quality but the handling was a little rough in mine with severe copy variations on stiffness of aperture ring and roughness in the helicoid for focusing. On every sample I've had there was either a hiccup or a rough spot in the focusing range going from minimal to infinity. But it's such a small price to pay for such great optical performance. They won't last like the Leica, zeiss or even voigtlanders, but hey they're a great 4th option that really showcases what the future might hold for affordable M mount and mirror lenses of the future. The 7 artisans 35mm 1.4 is a phenomenal performer, it's got that pre asph 35mm leica look to it but somehow sharper!!!
@@RaymondLo84 people like flat images so they can pull or push the contrast and not have it decided for them ahead of time. It’s only recent that lens makers have pumped up the contrast this extreme. When people scan negatives , they are supposed to scan them low contrast then choose their contrast in post. You can have sharp images still be low contrast. People think in order for images to be sharp it must be high contrast. Filmmakers choose flat images when they choose log to record then use luts to heighten the contrast later. People who run and gun and don’t know where they will be use Nd filters to lower light and lower high contrast situation like full sun. Nothing wrong with low contrast since that’s your starting point. It’s easier to recover images especially highlights if it’s underexposed then over exposed. Most sensors lose detail in Highlights first before they lose detail in shadows plus highlights or brightest part of images are what viewers look at first so protecting highlights is most important
@@Chris-ey7zy In film yes low contrast is ok as the bits are represented in ‘analog’ way, but in digital world, not as much. think about if information is stored by 10 shades and the moment low contrast everything is only from range 2-3, ans that is only 3 shades of information, and that is why digital photos want higher contrast lens
3:07 "absurd price for a Lens, that good" Well, Leica is at least 4 to 5 times the price it should be. Divide every piece by 4 or 5, and you have the price it should sell.. Leica Fanboys just forget they own an absurd high priced camera and lenses.