TTArtisan | FUJI X WEEKLY

Review: TTArtisan AF 56mm F/1.8

Posted on April 19, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

A few months back Pergear reached out to me and asked if I would like to test an upcoming lens. This is actually the second time that this has happened; the first was the TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8. Now this time, the lens is the TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8. Unlike the 35mm lens, which was quite obviously an early-preproduction model, the 56mm seemed very production-ready. It’s still technically a preproduction model, but I don’t think there’s much, if any, changes between my copy and the final version that is now available for purchase; however, just to be completely transparent, there could be something different that I’m unaware of.

The TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 lens is an affordable autofocus portrait lens for Fujifilm X-mount. I’m sure it’s available for other lens mounts, too, but this is a Fujifilm-centric website, so we’re specifically talking about using it with Fujifilm cameras. Because of the crop factor, 56mm on APS-C is an 84mm full-frame-equivalent focal-length, which means that it is basically an 85mm lens, a fairly common focal-length for portrait photography. I’m not a portrait photographer myself, so I mostly used it for other subjects.

The maximum aperture on the TTArtisan AF 56mm lens is f/1.8, and the minimum is f/16, with 1/3 intermediate-stops in-between the full-stops. The minimum focus distance is about 20″, which is decent. There are 10 elements in 9 groups, with 9 aperture blades. The lens accepts 52mm threaded filters. It is made mostly of metal and weighs about half a pound. It has similar dimensions to the TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8, which means that it is reasonably-sized for a telephoto. The autofocus motor is fairly quick and quiet, but not quite as snappy as most Fujinon lenses that I’ve used, and it has a tendency to hunt sometimes. It comes with a little lens hood. Like the 35mm lens, the firmware for this lens is updated via a USB connection in the rear lens cap, but apparently requires a Windows operating system. It has electrical contacts, which means that the lens information is recorded into the EXIF data.

This TTArtisan is pretty good optically, and I really don’t have a lot to say about it. Oftentimes with these less-expensive third-party options, there are flaws which can give your photographs character that precision-engineered glass cannot. If you appreciate that character, it might be a reason to purchase the lens, and if you don’t appreciate it, that might be a reason not to buy. The TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 doesn’t have very many flaws, so it lacks the typical character that one might expect; instead, you have good sharpness corner-to-corner without vignetting or other issues, especially when stopped down a little—wide open, there is a little corner softness and vignetting, but it’s not bad. I’m not convinced that this lens can fully resolve the 40mp sensor found in some of the latest cameras. I don’t think that really matters—for example, I sometimes use the Fujinon 18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit zoom, which also doesn’t fully resolve 40mp, and I don’t think twice about it and I’m not bothered by it in the slightest. I believe that maximum sharpness is around f/5.6, but I didn’t do any scientific tests to figure that out.

My opinion is that any and all lenses for Fujifilm X-series cameras should have an aperture ring. Of course not all of them do—not even all Fujinon lenses. Many of the low-budget options don’t have an aperture ring; a lot of third-party lenses are made for multiple lens mounts, and aperture rings aren’t necessarily common for other brands. The TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 does not have an aperture ring, which is my largest negative comment about it. My hope is that TTArtisan would someday offer a version with an aperture ring.

Something else that might be considered a complaint—or a compliment (depending on your perspective)—is lens flare, which is well controlled. I had to work at achieving it in my pictures, even with the hood off. If you like flare (which I do, personally), that might be considered a negative, but if you don’t like it, then it’s positive news. The pictures below are the best that I could get regarding lens flare.

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 + Summer of ’59*

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 + Agfa Ultra 100 v2*

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 +* Fujicolor Natura 1600

I really had to consider which Fujinon lens this TTArtisan best competes with. Of course, there’s the 56mm f/1.2, but I believe if you can afford that one, you’re going with the Fujinon, no questions asked. So maybe the TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 is a good alternative to it if money is tight, and could serve as a temporary stop-gap until you can afford the better lens. There’s also the Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 Macro, which might seem like a less-obvious comparison at first glance. While the TTArtisan is not a macro by any means, there are similarities, I think, between the two with regards to image quality and autofocus performance and such. If you don’t need the macro capabilities, the TTArtisan is about as good, yet with a larger maximum aperture and a significantly lower cost, at only $168.00 USD (or $158 when ordered directly from Pergear). Between the Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 Macro and the TTArtisan 56mm f/1.8, if I wasn’t interested in close-focusing capabilities, the TTArtisan is similar quality for a fraction of the cost, and is a better overall value. Otherwise, the Viltrox 56mm f/1.7 was recently released and is seemingly similar for a little less money. If you’re in the market for a good quality autofocus portrait lens for your Fujifilm camera, the TTArtsian AF 56mm f/1.8 is definitely one to consider, just as long as the lack of an aperture ring doesn’t bother you.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8:
Amazon, Amazon (<— save 10% with code 10POB9YC for a limited time using that link)
Fujifilm X-T5 in black:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:
Amazon, B&H, Moment, Wex, Nuzira

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using my preproduction version of the TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 lens on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 + Kodak Portra 800 v3 – Photo by Jon Roesch*

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 + Kodak Portra 800 v3*

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New: Kodak Retina retro-style digital mirrorless camera!!

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Ritchie Roesch

Introducing the brand-new Kodak Retina digital mirrorless camera! Inside this retro-styled body is a 40-megapixel APS-C BSI CMOS sensor. It has eight built-in presets that mimic classic Kodak film stocks. The pictures from the Kodak Retina look great straight-out-of-camera, no editing needed! This new camera is bold yet beautiful; classic yet modern; digital yet analog.

I was given a pre-production copy of the Kodak Retina camera to try out, and used that as an excuse to visit the majestic Grand Canyon in northern Arizona! I recorded the experience, which I just published to my YouTube channel. The video is my review of the new camera, plus an epic adventure by train to one of the natural wonders of the world. I’ve included it below—you don’t want to miss this one!

The Kodak Retina

Below are example pictures that I captured on this trip using the eight built-in presets included in the Kodak Retina:

Kodachrome 64

Portra 160

Portra 400

Gold 200

Ultramax 400

Ektachrome E100VS

Vision3 250D

Tri-X 400

At this point, I’m sure you’re already aware that there’s no such thing as a Kodak Retina digital camera. Kodak made Retina film cameras from the 1930’s up to 1970. While Kodak pretty much invented the digital camera, and were an important early innovator of the technology, they never made an interchangeable lens APS-C model. They did produce some full-frame DSLRs in the very early 2000’s, and made an APS-C back for a Nikon SLR in the late 1990’s, and even sold a Micro-Four-Thirds interchangeable-lens mirrorless in 2014 (manufactured by JK Imagining under the Kodak brand name); however, nothing remotely like my faux digital Retina was ever produced by Kodak. This was all just for fun—sorry if I got your hopes up.

The camera is actually a Fujifilm X-T5. That might have been obvious to you. I put some silver tape over the Fujifilm logo, and added a Kodak decal. If you look closely, you can tell that I did that. The lens is a TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 in their limited edition yellow/orange color scheme, which is very Kodak-like; the lens is actually what inspired me to do this project. The camera strap is something I’ve owned for years now, and a red soft-shutter-release completed the look.

The pictures that I captured with this camera/lens combo are straight-out-of-camera JPEGs using eight of my Film Simulation Recipes:

I chose those particular Recipes because they mimic popular Kodak emulsions, which seemed appropriate since the X-T5 was disguised as a Kodak camera. You can find them—and over 300 more—in the Fuji X Weekly App, available for Android and Apple. Consider becoming a Patron subscriber to unlock the best App experience and to support Fuji X Weekly.

My thoughts with this camera were: what if, 15 years ago, Kodak had pivoted, and began making retro-styled mirrorless cameras with built-in film emulation presets? How much different would the industry look like today if they had? While Kodak didn’t pivot, Fujifilm did. Instead of a digital Retina, we have the X-T5. You don’t need Kodak to make this camera, because it already exists. The X-T5 (or any other Fujifilm model), combined with my Film Simulation Recipes, will do what I proposed a digital Kodak Retina would do. Fujifilm is doing what Kodak should have done but didn’t.

Now it’s your turn! What do you think of this project? How much different would the camera industry look today if a digital Kodak Retina actually existed? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Fujifilm X-T5 in black: Amazon B&H Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver: Amazon B&H Moment
TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 in black: Amazon
TTArtsian 27mm f/2.8 in yellow/orange: Amazon

TTArtisan 35mm F/1.8 Autofocus for Fujifilm X-Mount

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Ritchie Roesch

Back in early-August, Pergear reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in testing out an upcoming lens. I said sure, agreeing to provide feedback and keep quiet about the lens until it was announced sometime in the future. Two weeks later a box arrived at my door containing a TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 Autofocus lens. I eagerly attached it to my Fujifilm X-T5 and put it to use!

Before I go any further, I want to state a few important notes. To start, this is the first time that I’ve ever been given a chance to try out and provide feedback for a piece of unreleased camera gear. Heck, I’ve barely been offered gear that’s already been available! This was such a big honor, and I appreciate the opportunity given to me by Pergear. I hope it’s not the last time, or that it’s limited to just one manufacturer (Fujifilm: hint, hint). Second, my copy of the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF was a preproduction model. They told me that the production version would have a slight tweak to the mount (which, for my copy, is X-mount, if that wasn’t obvious), but the optics and functionality would be identical; however, I have some notes (and an apology) about this in just a moment. Third, I wasn’t given any technical information until after I’d finished writing this review, so I had to edit that information in as best as I could.

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/9 + Kodak Portra 400 v2 Recipe*

The TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF competes directly with the Fujinon XC 35mm f/2 lens, which is the budget version of the XF 35mm f/2. Those two Fujinon lenses are, as far as I understand, optically identical, but the cheaper XC version lacks an aperture ring and weather-sealing. Going head-to-head with such a high-image-quality-yet-still-very-affordable lens seems a bit risky. Clearly, if money is no concern, one will opt for the $400 XF version (which is both smaller and better-looking); however, those on a tight budget now have two lenses to consider: the $200 Fujinon XC 35mm f/2 or the $149 TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF. At $280, the Viltrox 33mm f/1.4 AF could also be mentioned. Plus there are a number of manual focus options, including the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.4, TTArtisan 35mm f/0.95, and Meike 35mm f/1.7, which I compared side-by-side in Sedona earlier this year.

From a pure technical image-quality perspective, the Fujinon options are significantly superior. The TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF lens has some corner softness when wide-open, as well as vignetting. Across the entire frame, the TTArtisan is noticeably less crisp at f/1.8 than the Fujinon is at f/2. Once you stop down, things quickly improve, and the TTArtisan is quite excellent (and comparable to the Fujinon) from around f/5 or so and beyond, with nothing negative to report. There are 10 elements in 8 groups, with 9 aperture blades. The minimum focus distance is about two feet, which is so-so. The lens seems to be well built, with more metal than plastic. The filter thread size is 52mm. Of course, photography is art, and character in real-world use can be much more important than test charts and spec sheets, so we’ll move right along.

Thankfully, the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF has excellent character, especially when a bright light source is just outside of the frame. I cannot tell you strongly enough how much I love how this lens flares! However, this is where I need to apologize. You see, I told Pergear that I really love the flare produced by this lens—especially the multiple rainbow flare—and showed them some examples of it, but their response was not what I expected: they didn’t think that most of their customers would appreciate it, so steps would be taken to reduce it. I reached out to them a few weeks later to inquire what was changed to reduce the flare, and they simply replied that TTArtisan reduced the flare, but did not change any of the optics or coatings. So I don’t know what’s different between my preproduction version and the final version that’s now for sale, but apparently there is a difference, and my copy is more prone to the absolutely wonderful flare, and yours less so to some extent, if at all. I pleaded with them not to make this change, but to no avail. I hope that whatever they did change has a minimal impact on flaring, but I have no idea. The lens comes with a square lens hood (mine did not), and maybe that was their solution; I’d definitely try the lens without the hood and see what you get.

The TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF doesn’t have an aperture ring. This might or might not be a big deal to you, but it is to me. In my opinion, all lenses for Fujifilm X cameras should have an aperture ring, because it’s such an integral part of the experience for the majority of Fujifilm models. However, I do understand that not everyone feels the same as I do, and that many third-party lenses are available for other systems where aperture rings are less common or essential. I told Pergear that if this lens was offered with an aperture ring, I’d definitely buy it. I hope that TTArtisan makes an aperture ring version at some point in the future. I don’t know how much that would cost, but I think $250 would be a fair price for such a lens. The minimum aperture is f/1.8 and the maximum is f/16, with 1/3 intermediate stops in-between the full stops (except for in-between f/11 and f/16, where it has only a single 1/3-stop before jumping 2/3-stop to f/16); however, you must use the command dial to adjust the aperture, which isn’t my preference. That makes the use of this lens more frustrating (and, in turn, less fun) than it should be.

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/2.5 + Reala Ace Recipe*

There’s one issue that I want to mention cautiously, and that you must take with a big grain of salt. While the autofocus was quiet, I experienced a lot of focus-hunting and misses with the TTArtisan lens, much more than any other glass I own. My guess is that this is due to it being a preproduction model (an early one at that), and I assume that the firmware on the production version has rectified this problem; however, I cannot verify one way or the other. It’s important for me to point this out just in case it is an issue, but I hope it’s not. Most likely it’s no issue. It’s common for preproduction versions of gear to have problems that are partially or fully resolved by the time they’re released. It’s probably only a problem on my copy, which was an early model, and those being sold today have fast and accurate autofocusing, but I cannot state that with certainty. A side note is that the firmware for this lens is updated via a USB connection in the rear lens cap, but apparently requires a Windows operating system.

Is the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 lens worth buying? Despite no aperture ring and the autofocus woes of my preproduction copy, this has been my most-used lens since it arrived at my doorstep. I have used it on both my Fujifilm X-E4 and X-T5, but mostly on the X-T5. I love the character that this lens gives to my pictures. I have shared some of these images on Fuji X Weekly and on my Instagram page, and I’ve had a lot of people inquire about the lens I used (much more than usual), and I had to respond with “I can’t tell you yet” (because I agreed not to talk about it). The way this lens renders seems to pair especially well with Fujifilm’s excellent JPEG output and my Film Simulation Recipes. It’s highly desirable. In my opinion, this lens is well worth the small price-tag. With that said, I would much prefer an aperture ring, and I want the lens flare that my copy produces, which might be different than the one they’re currently selling. I hope that TTArtisan will someday offer such a version.

*Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/5 + Reala Ace Recipe*

Pergear asked that I not show some of the pictures in this article that have the rainbow lens flare, which might not be so pronounced (if produced at all) on the final version. Some of my absolute favorite photographs captured with the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF lens have this flare. I have so many examples of it, I could have shown it in every picture. Instead, I only included a handful of those images, with the hopes that TTArtisan will realize that this unique characteristic is desirable. If you agree, please leave a comment below saying so.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF:  Amazon
Fujifilm X-T5 in black:  Amazon  B&H  Moment
Fujifilm X-T5 in silver:  Amazon  B&H  Moment

Example photographs, all camera-made JPEGs captured using my preproduction version of the TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF lens on my Fujifilm X-T5:

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @f/11 + Vibrant Velvia Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/13 +* *The Rockwell Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/9 + The Rockwell Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/8 + The Rockwell Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/8 + Summer of 1960 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/5 + Kodak Gold 200 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/11 + Reala Ace Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/7.1 + Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/5.6 + Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/1.8 + Fujicolor NPS 160 Pulled Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/5 + Fujicolor Reala 100 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/1.8 + Reala Ace Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/5 + Fujicolor Super HG v2 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/4 + Kodak Gold 200 Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/2.8 + Reala Ace Recipe*

*Fujifilm X-T5 & TTArtisan 35mm f/1.8 AF @ f/4.5 + Emulsion ’86 Recipe*

Review: TTArtisan 27mm F/2.8 — A Cheap Fujinon Alternative

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 on a Fujifilm X-T5*

The Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR is my favorite lens for Fujifilm cameras. The problem is that it’s also my wife’s favorite lens, and between the two of us we only have one copy. When she’s using it, I typically go with the Fujinon 35mm f/2 instead, which is a really good lens, too, but I like the 27mm just a bit better. The other problem is that the 35mm lens, while small, is bigger than my 27mm pancake, and it doesn’t fit into my travel camera bag (I have it set up where my Fujifilm X100V and Fujifilm X-E4 with the 27mm fit really nicely into a little camera bag—the 35mm lens is just a tad too big). When TTArtisan recently announced their inexpensive 27mm f/2.8 autofocus pancake lens, I thought maybe this could be a good solution to my problem.

The TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 feels well built. There’s mostly metal in the construction, and at 0.2 pounds, it’s definitely lightweight. It has an aperture ring, with f-stops from f/2.8 to f/16, and third-stop clicks in-between. It has 6 elements in 5 groups, and 7 diaphragm blades. 27mm is full-frame equivalent to 40.5mm, and is pretty close to what they eyes see. The minimum focus distance is about 13.5 inches. It accepts 39mm threaded filters—the lens came with a tiny hood that screws into the threads. The rear cap has a USB dock for firmware updates. Overall, the lens looks and feels pretty good.

I really like the manual focus ring. It has the right amount of give, and the amount of focus change per turn is great. I like this lens better as manual-focus than autofocus. Why? Autofocus is loud and slow. Fujifilm’s 27mm isn’t their quickest or quietest, but the TTArtisan is noticeably noisier and slower (I tried it on an X-T5 and X-E4 with the same result on both). It reminds me a lot of Fujifilm’s 18mm f/2 pancake. I said of that lens, “Autofocus is the slowest I’ve experienced in a Fujinon model, outside of macro lenses that have a long range to cycle through. It’s also the loudest.” The TTArtisan’s autofocus performs very similarly. My wife has been around cameras and lenses nearly as much as I have—she shoots with a Fujifilm X-T4. A couple days ago I was playing around with the TTArtisan 27mm and she happened to be nearby, and she asked, “What’s that noise?” I answered, “This new lens, it’s trying to focus.” Her response was, “I’m sorry.” Maybe I just got a bum copy, or maybe they’re all that way—either way, it was a bit disappointing, but not completely unexpected for cheap gear.

The other aspect of the TTArtisan 27mm that’s similar to the Fujinon 18mm is size, as they’re pretty close to the same dimensions—the TTArtisan is just barely smaller. I said in my review of the 18mm, “Whereas the 27mm is a true pancake, the 18mm f/2 is only sort-of one, as it’s a little on the large size for this category. Think of it more of a Japanese pancake than an American flapjack, or maybe it’s a short stack.” It’s definitely smaller than the 35mm f/2, though, and it passed the fit-test in my travel bag. So when my wife is using the Fujinon 27mm, I can choose to attach the TTArtisan 27mm or the Fujinon 18mm to my X-E4, and it will still fit alongside my X100V.

What about image quality? There’s some strong vignetting that never fully goes away—by f/8 it’s extraordinarily minimal, but at f/2.8 it’s very pronounced. You can use the vignetting creatively, or stop down… it’s not too bad at f/4, and definitely not a big deal by f/5.6. It’s pretty sharp in the center at all apertures, but a little soft in the corners wide-open. I think the lens is optically best at around f/8, but certainly acceptably good at all apertures—even f/2.8. Bokeh (which is the quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image and an overrated aspect of image quality) is alright—not bad, but not my favorite, either; can be slightly “swirly” at f/2.8 when close-focusing. I didn’t notice chromatic aberrations or anything like that, but it might be because the camera is fixing it automatically. There is some noticeable barrel distortion. Lens flare is mostly well controlled, and sometimes kind of interesting (I’ve yet to decide if I like it or not). Overall, image quality from the TTArtisans 27mm isn’t as good as the Fujinon 27mm, but still pretty good.

*Hanging Garden Light* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/3.2 – *Upcoming recipe*

The TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 is only $160, which is an extremely good price. If the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 is out of your budget or you’re having a difficult time finding a copy, this is a pretty good alternative. If you can afford the Fujinon model, I recommend that instead because it’s better; however, the TTArtisan is pretty good yet very affordable. For those on a tight budget, I don’t think you’ll find a better pancake lens for your Fujifilm camera.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Autofocus Amazon

Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR Amazon B&H

Example photos, captured with the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 lens, all straight-out-of-camera JPEGs:

*Early Morning Lamp* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @ f/2.8 – “Superia Xtra 400“

*Night Blossoms* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/2.8 – “Superia Xtra 400”

*Autumn Leaves on a Green Bush* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/4 – “Nostalgia Negative“

*Lemon Bowl* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/4 – “Superia Xtra 400”

*Dark Coffee* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/2.8 – “Timeless Negative“

*Western Boots* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/2.8 – “Superia Xtra 400”

*Cowgirl Boots* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/2.8 – “Kodak Tri-X 400“

*Illuminated Branch* – Buckeye, AZ Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/5.6 – “Pacific Blues“

*Rose in the Garden* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/5.6 – *Upcoming Recipe*

*Afternoon Bougainvillea* – Bcukeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/4 – “Pacific Blues”

*Blue Sky Bougainvillea Blossom* – Buckeye, AZ – Fujifilm X-T5 + TTArtisan 27mm @f/6.4 – *Upcoming recipe*

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New 27mm f/2.8 Pancake Alternative by TTArtisan

Posted on October 29, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

*TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 … photo courtesy of Pergear*

I’ve told you before that the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 is my favorite lens. I have the new version with the aperture ring and weather-sealing—the old version is optically identical (and the autofocus is identical), but it lacks an aperture ring and weather-sealing and costs just a little more for some reason. While the “Mark II” 27mm f/2.8 is the better option, it can be a little difficult to find. Fujifilm has had a difficult time getting the lens to stores, and stores sell out pretty quickly after they receive them. A number of you have stated your frustration trying to get your hands on one. There is a new alternative, though: the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Autofocus.

I’ve shot before with a different TTArtisan lens—the 35mm f/1.4—on a Nikon Zfc, and was actually impressed by the image quality. It was no Fujinon or Zeiss or anything like that, but it was noticeably superior to the Nikkor 28mm lens that came with that camera. I suspect that this one will be similar: deliver decent image quality, have character, be solidly-built, and cost a lot less. In fact, the MSRP is only $160 (or $150 if you buy direct from Pergear), which is very affordable for an autofocus lens. If you can’t find the Fujinon 27mm, or if you cannot afford the Fujinon lens, this seems like a good alternative to consider.

I believe that the TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 is a little bigger than the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8, so it isn’t quite as pancake, but more like the Fujinon 18mm f/2 pancake. It has a rear-lens-cap USB connection for firmware updates, which I think is interesting. I’ve never used this lens personally to verify any of this, but maybe someday I will.

I personally wish that TTArtisan would have instead created a different focal length pancake lens—maybe that’s in the plans, who knows?—and I think a 23mm pancake or 50mm pancake or 12mm pancake would be nice options. For reasons that I don’t understand, there aren’t nearly enough good pancake options for Fujifilm cameras. I mean, a selling point of APS-C is the compact size (compared to full-frame), so why not offer more tiny lenses to take advantage of it? I do believe that competition is good, so I’m happy to see this TTArtisan lens as an option for Fujifilm photographers, and I hope they make more lenses that are similar in the future.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

TTArtisan 27mm f/2.8 Autofocus Amazon

Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 R WR Amazon B&H

I Got it WRONG — How to Use the Nikon Zfc the Right Way!

Posted on July 16, 2022 by Ritchie Roesch

I was wrong about the Nikon Zfc.

I wasn’t wrong about everything, actually. The Zfc is indeed surprisingly large and heavy—since it’s large and heavy it should have a grip, but it doesn’t. The camera feels too plasticky. It has an unnecessary PASM switch. The Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 lens that it came with is pretty pedestrian—plus it doesn’t have an aperture ring (none of Nikon’s Z lenses do, unfortunately). The Zfc is a little overpriced. It’s a camera that is easy to be disappointed with, and I believe a missed opportunity for Nikon. I was right about all of that.

Where did I get the Zfc wrong? How I was using it. This is a camera that begs to be used with a manual third-party (or vintage) lens, and with the PASM switch set to M. Forget that crummy Nikkor lens! Buy a cheap “nifty fifity” from China instead. Then use the Zfc as an all-manual camera. Viola! It suddenly makes sense!

I purchased a TTArtisans 35mm f/1.4 for about $85 (stay tuned for a full review), and I’m much happier with it than the 28mm f/2.8. It has nothing to do with the focal length of the Nikkor lens or its maximum aperture. My favorite Fujinon lens is the 27mm f/2.8—that Fujifilm pancake is great! The Nikon version is not. The TTArtisans lens is much better than the Nikon lens that came with Zfc—it’s both optically superior and has more character. More importantly, though, it has an aperture ring.

Using the Zfc in full-manual without an aperture ring just doesn’t make sense. Using the Zfc in Aperture-Priority without an aperture ring doesn’t make sense, either. Using an aperture-ring-lens on a PASM camera isn’t particularly natural in my opinion, unless you set it to M and treat it like an old-school film camera—that’s what I did with my Zfc! It works on this camera only because it has shutter and ISO knobs—I control the exposure triangle with physical controls.

This! This is how to use the Nikon Zfc—the right way—all manual. No auto anything. The Zfc is unique in that, even though it has PASM, it also has physical controls that are activated by being in the correct mode (in this case, manual mode). When you do this, the shooting experience is similar to manually shooting with a Fujifilm X camera—this is the closest to the traditional Fujifilm experience that I have found outside of using a Fujifilm camera. If you don’t mind attaching a non-Nikkor lens and shooting full-manual, the Zfc is actually an alright camera. Yes, it’s still short of what it could have and should have been, but at least I found how I can enjoy using it.

This post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase using my links I’ll be compensated a small amount for it.

Nikon Zfc — Amazon — B&H
TTArtisans 35mm f/1.4 — Amazon — B&H

Example photographs, captured with my Nikon Zfc plus the TTArtisans 35mm f/1.4 lens, using some of my Nikon Z Film Simulation Recipes: