For photographers looking to get impressive image quality without breaking the bank, the TT Artisan 75mm F2 lens might just be the perfect pick. In this review, we’ll take a close look at what this lens offers, especially for those using the Nikon ZF or Sony E-mount cameras, and why it’s an excellent choice for both amateur and professional photographers looking for quality on a budget.

A Quick Look at the TT Artisan 75mm F2

TT Artisan has recently made waves with its affordable full-frame lenses, and the 75mm F2 is no exception. With a price tag around $179, this lens delivers surprising quality, a durable metal build, and bright aperture, making it ideal for low-light and portrait photography. Notably, this lens follows in the footsteps of TT Artisan’s popular APS-C models and is now the company’s second full-frame autofocus lens.

This review focuses on its performance with the Nikon ZF, a camera well-suited for high-megapixel images, allowing us to really push the lens to its limits.

Key Features and Build Quality

The TT Artisan 75mm F2 comes with an array of features that appeal to photographers of all levels:

  • Minimum Focus Distance: While typical at 75mm, it’s sufficient for most portrait and close-up scenarios.
  • Bokeh Quality: Known for its smooth transition between in-focus and out-of-focus areas, this lens provides beautiful bokeh. The “cat’s eye” effect near the edges is a matter of taste, adding unique character to each shot.
  • Metal Construction: Built with a full metal body, metal rings, and metal mounts, the lens feels solid and premium—a feature often missing in budget lenses.
  • Compact and Lightweight: Weighing around 330g, it’s an ideal choice for travel photographers who want to pack light without compromising quality.
  • 62mm Filter Thread: With a 62mm filter thread, it’s easy to find compatible filters for creative effects or glare reduction.

The standout design feature here is the square lens hood, which lends the lens a unique, modern aesthetic. It’s a welcome break from the typical rounded hoods, adding to the appeal for photographers who value style along with functionality.

Autofocus and Aperture Ring

The autofocus system on this lens is notably fast and performs well, especially for a budget option. For both single and continuous autofocus modes, the TT Artisan 75mm F2 offers reliable performance with only a few instances of missed focus, even in low-light environments. Video shooters should note, however, that while the autofocus is steady, it does have some focus breathing—a mild shift in the framing that might be noticeable in professional video work but should pose minimal issues for casual users.

Photographers who enjoy manual control will appreciate the aperture ring, which has satisfying clicks and provides a tactile feel that’s missing from many modern lenses. A minor downside, though, is that the ring may shift slightly when in auto mode, but this is easily manageable.

Image Quality: What to Expect

For a lens in this price range, the TT Artisan 75mm F2 does an exceptional job delivering sharpness and detail. Here’s a breakdown of how it performs across various apertures and settings:

  1. Wide Open at F2: The center image quality is sharp, with decent contrast and a good level of detail. Corners are slightly softer with minor vignetting, but this effect is easy to correct in post-processing.
  2. Stopped Down to F2.8: Stopping down results in a noticeable improvement in sharpness and contrast. The corners gain clarity, making it ideal for full-frame portrait shots with better edge-to-edge detail.
  3. F4 and Beyond: At F4, the lens truly shines. Corner sharpness and contrast reach impressive levels, and by F5.6, the image is consistently sharp from corner to corner. This makes it perfect for photographers who need that added level of crispness for landscapes or street photography.

The lens also performs well at minimum focus distance, offering ample detail and sharpness, especially when stopped down to F2.8. Photographers can expect minor flare in direct light, but this can add a creative touch to photos.

Chromatic Aberration and Vignetting

The TT Artisan 75mm F2 has done a great job minimizing chromatic aberration and longitudinal chromatic aberration (LoCA). Minor vignetting is visible at wider apertures, but it’s easily correctable in post, and stopping down to F4 significantly reduces this effect.

Who is the TT Artisan 75mm F2 Best Suited For?

This lens is ideal for photographers who:

  • Need an affordable full-frame portrait lens: With its smooth bokeh, sharpness, and pleasing rendering, it’s a great option for portraits.
  • Want quality for travel: Compact and lightweight, the TT Artisan 75mm F2 is highly portable and pairs well with travel-ready cameras like the Nikon ZF.
  • Like manual controls: The aperture ring adds an enjoyable hands-on feel, which many photographers will love.

However, for professional videographers, the focus breathing may pose challenges in high-stakes shooting environments.

Final Thoughts

The TT Artisan 75mm F2 is a powerful, budget-friendly lens with impressive build quality, good autofocus for both photo and video, and outstanding image quality starting from F2. It’s well-matched with the Nikon ZF and other full-frame cameras, bringing a lot of value to photographers without the hefty price tag often associated with full-frame lenses.

For photographers in search of a high-quality, bright aperture 75mm lens, the TT Artisan 75mm F2 is definitely worth considering. Whether you’re a travel photographer or a portrait enthusiast, this lens delivers excellent performance at an unbeatable price.

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