Strange Lens arrives.

 

All of you who guessed that I purchased some esoteric, high speed Leica lens were incorrect. I throw money around carelessly sometimes but it's usually buying something like a large latté instead of a small one. Or filling the gas tank all the way up...

I was curious so I bought another TTArtisan lens. It's the 50mm f 0.95 lens that's made for APS-C crop cameras. I would never have bought it but I read a user report from a decent blogger who was "surprised" when he tried the lens on a full frame camera. He found ample vignetting around the edges but (importantly) it wasn't mechanical vignetting, rather it was just optical vignetting which looks better and, with a bit of elbow grease, might be somewhat mitigated in post. But there are no hard edges. The lens, when used wide open or near wide open is also very soft in most places outside the center third of the frame. I like weird stuff and I always like to try super-fast lenses. And it was firmly embedded in the cheap side of the B&H lens collection. I took the reviewer at his word and ordered one. 

It came quickly. But it came on the day of maximum work schedule intensity and I only just got the opportunity to play with it this afternoon. 

The lens is all metal, has a click stop aperture ring, was purchased in the L mount configuration, has eight elements in six groups and two of the elements are claimed to be "high index" elements. 

It's very small for such a fast lens but I guess it makes sense since it's only intended to cover the smaller frame size. It's also kind of strange looking as the focusing ring and aperture ring are deeply engraved with a grip worthy design.

You probably know that most of these Chinese lenses are completely manual focus, have no electronic linkage to the L mount cameras, don't record exif info, etc. You actually have to use your hand to focus the lens by turning the ring. The L mount cameras will work in aperture priority as well as manual exposure modes. Enable focus peaking if you'd like. 

The metal filter ring is a 58mm one. The lens cap is one of those screw in metal ones that seems to annoy everyone. You can source a plastic pinch cap just about anywhere for about $8 if your frustration with the two or three seconds it takes to screw or unscrew the cap boils over....

So, what do I think? This is not a lens to buy if you are in the camp of needing/wanting and insisting on a flawless, sharp across the frame performance level --- especially when used at its two widest apertures. It's just a non-starter for that. 

Me? I'm happy with the lens. I like the heavy vignetting wide open. I like the almost non-existent plane of focus when used at its big apertures. But I do have a consistent goal to become eccentric. This lens is a helpful push in that direction. 

The top image (self-portrait) as shot into mirrored glass at f 0.95 and is a pretty accurate reflection of the overall performance wide open. The lens actually sharpens up at the middle apertures and becomes like most other lenses; except for the remaining high level of vignetting. 

More of an Artsy Found Object lens than a Street Shooters Tool. You've been warned. And really, for the $200+ you could instead get yourself a really nice pair of shoes or a good, restaurant dinner for two. 

Can't wait to shoot some portraits with it.