TTArtisan AF 27mm F2.8 Lens Evaluate: Higher Than We Anticipated

I all the time benefit from the problem that prime lenses throw at me. Forcing me to assume and transfer creatively slightly than zooming out and in, they make me re-imagine scenes in a number of methods. I actually didn’t know that the TTArtisan AF 27mm lens was designed for APS-C cameras – a phase I’ve prevented for over a decade now. However throughout my testing, I’ve discovered it to be a useful on a regular basis lens that may produce very helpful outcomes. If you happen to’re an APS-C digicam person in search of a cheap and dependable avenue and outside pictures lens, this one is value a go.

The Large Image

I haven’t been a fan of APS-C cameras for over a decade now. I a lot choose the superior low-light capabilities of full-frame cameras. A lot in order that I’ve not often used APS-C cameras for my skilled and private work since 2012. However utilizing the TTArtisan AF 27mm lens made me notice there have been fairly some enhancements in such a digicam currently. If I used to be somebody who had a handful of APS-C cameras in my assortment, the TTArtisan AF 27mm is a lens I’d critically think about buying. At just below USD 160, it’s a steal for the sharpness and AF speeds you get from it. Proving as soon as once more that even third celebration producers may give the foremost manufacturers a run for his or her cash, TTArtisan actually nails it with this lens.

I’m giving the TTArtisan AF 27mm three out of 5 stars for its cheap worth level, comparatively fast auto-focusing, and first rate sharpness. It’s a lens you may depend on for avenue work in the course of the day. At evening the colours don’t all the time match what you’re seeing. The minimal focal distance is over a foot, so you may’t get macro photographs with it. Nonetheless, the bokeh at f2.8 at this distance is nice. I solely want that they had accomplished higher with that microscopic lens cap which might be simply misplaced.

Professionals

• Snappy autofocus. Noticeably extra correct than that on their 32mm f2.8 lens
• Compact measurement
• Out there for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Fuji X mount cameras
• Handbook aperture management ring
• Good middle sharpness in any respect apertures. Good nook sharpness above f4. Truly, for a $160 lens that has autofocus, it’s greater than good.
• Lens firmware updates are potential with provided rear lens cap
• That silver aperture management ring undoubtedly makes it look extra interesting than if it have been all black. However I’m uncertain if that is restricted to the Nikon Z mount mannequin.
• Steel development and metallic lens mount

Cons

• Can solely replace the lens firmware on Home windows computer systems
• No climate sealing. However I assume that helps preserve the worth down.
• The filter thread measurement is simply too small. TTArtisan might have discovered a strategy to have the filter thread on the outer diameter of the lens physique.
• Some noticeable vignetting
• Even those that have tiny fingers will discover the lens cap difficult to deal with. Finest left off the lens on your peace of thoughts. Else you’re sure to search out it to go lacking most of the time.

Gear Used

I used the TTArtisan AF 27mm Z-mount lens that was despatched to us by Pergear, with a Nikon Zfc loaned to us by Nikon Center East.

Improvements

The world’s smallest lens cap. Okay, I’m being sarcastic right here, after all. This lens cap ought to simply have been a magnetic one. Even with my small fingers, it’s annoying to must pay a lot consideration to making an attempt to take the lens cap off the lens. The wafer-thin cookie-like lens cap is best left off the lens. In any other case, you’re sure to misplace it.

However that screw-on lens hood is unquestionably the smallest I’ve ever seen. And increasing round 4mm from the lens, I actually surprise if it serves any function in any respect. Besides to perhaps enable the lens cap to suit on just a little extra simply. However the lens appears extra fascinating with this hood off. This hood appears as helpful because the one on the 32mm f2.8.

It’s odd that TTArtisan can’t preserve a constant lens design. The one on their 50mm f2 lens was a screw-on sort lens cap, thinner than a poker chip.

Ergonomics 

Whereas it’s not fairly a pancake lens, the TTArtisan AF 27mm lens ought to simply slot in your pant pocket. It might slip in additional rapidly should you might discover a thinner rear cap than the one provided by TTArtisan. That’s as a result of the one which comes with the field additionally doubles as a lens dock when you could replace the firmware in your lens.

The aperture ring is silver coloured, in all probability as a nod to the retro-styled Zfc our bodies. Two knurled factors on this ring mean you can regulate the aperture. However that is extra for individuals who get pleasure from reminiscing about how they modified aperture values within the olden days. Fashionable fans would in all probability go away this ring on the A setting and regulate the aperture values from the digicam itself.

An unobtrusive handbook focus ring sits on the entrance of the lens. Nice for individuals who get pleasure from difficult themselves utilizing zone focusing. However fact be instructed, autofocus on the TTArtisan AF 27mm lens is quick sufficient for many avenue and informal pictures. I didn’t discover my fingers reaching for the handbook focus ring.

Construct High quality

The all-metal lens physique conjures up confidence that the lens can take a knock or two. The addition of a metallic lens mount is spectacular at this worth level. I simply want there was some climate sealing or resistance in there. Nonetheless, I didn’t discover any mud making its strategy to the sensor of the Zfc. If I owned an APS-C physique as a second digicam, I’d in all probability simply go away this lens on it on a regular basis. And I believe it might pair (visually) fairly completely with the Nikon Zfc black model. If Nikon’s rumored full-frame Zf mannequin doesn’t tug at my coronary heart an excessive amount of when it’s launched, I simply may get that black Zfc and marry it with the TTArtisan AF 27mm for taking avenue photographs.

Every time I give it some thought, I’m much more satisfied that the lens cap was poorly designed. It might have been higher to have had a magnetic lens cap as a substitute. However each these lens caps are about the one plastic parts of the lens.

Focusing

Actually impressed that autofocus was constructed into this lens for a solar $160 lens. Rising producers corresponding to TTArtisan, Viltrox, and Astrhori are undoubtedly placing established business giants. Their commendable efforts in producing budget-friendly lenses that yield outcomes surpassing the unusual are extremely welcomed. The autofocus efficiency of this lens is much from lackluster, leaving little room for complaints. Sometimes the lens would miss eyes ever-so-slightly, however that may be because of the eye AF not kicking in appropriately. Even the few instances the AF would hunt, attributable to low gentle, it was stunning to look at how the lens maintained a steadfast method. It by no means actually recklessly traversed all the focal vary. At most, there can be some silent back-and-forth looking earlier than it settled on the topic. This was extra evident at evening and in low gentle indoors. Beneath favorable lighting circumstances, the autofocus on this lens operated with out a lot problem.

The low gentle focus points I encountered could possibly be chalked as much as the AF efficiency of the Zfc.

Ease of Use

This actually is a form of slap-it-on-and-don’t-worry-about-it form of lens. It turns into a companion to you if you set the aperture ring to A and go away the concentrate on any auto mode. I believe my greatest gripe must be with the crippled Home windows-only firmware replace chance. I hope Viltrox fixes this headache ahead of later. There are much more of us Mac customers these days.

There’s no built-in lens stabilization. No autofocus change. And these are issues that assist preserve the worth down. However I additionally do assume that’s what’s going to preserve this lens working for years if it’s dealt with with care. Not that it wants mollycoddling of any kind.

Picture High quality

The photographs I created with this lens when the sunshine was greater than ample have been truly much more spectacular than I anticipated. Those in low gentle generally disillusioned me, particularly on the colour entrance. Anticipate a 40.5mm full-frame equal discipline of view from this lens

Bokeh

f2.8 equates to just a little over f4 (full-frame equal) when used on a crop sensor digicam just like the Nikon Zfc. So whereas the bokeh isn’t the creamiest you’ll see, it’s greater than acceptable by APS-C requirements. Not having used an APS-C digicam for a few years, I truly felt fairly happy with how the out-of-focus areas offered themselves.

If solely the minimal focus distance was nearer. That will have made the depth of discipline look even shallower when photographing issues up shut. It’s not a focal size the place you’d wish to stick it close to your topic when doing portraits although

Coloration Rendition

Throughout daytime, colours appeared passable. At evening, the reds and blues typically appeared nothing like they did in actual life. Utilizing the usual image profile on the Nikon Zfc, even barely overexposed highlights resulted in noticeable shade inaccuracies. I like to recommend switching to a vivid shade profile when taking pictures in low gentle to deal with this.

Lens Character

Nook vignetting is definitely fairly heavy in vivid photographs. If you happen to’re into including vignettes to most of your photographs, you received’t must when utilizing this lens.

Sharpness

Means higher than I anticipated, and I actually must applaud the autofocus programs right here. It’s not 100% in any respect, however it did encourage confidence in me nailing the photographs. I by no means considered switching to handbook focus mode to get extra correct focusing. The lens doesn’t all the time show the micro-contrast form of sharpness you see on the Nikon Z mount S-line of lenses. However it does simply match as much as the sharpness you’d see in a few of the higher F-mount lenses they’ve.

At f2.8, middle sharpness is spectacular. It improves throughout the corners when you begin stopping down at f4 and past.

Additional Picture Samples

From day one, The Phoblographer has been big on transparency with our viewers. Nothing from this evaluation is sponsored. Additional, plenty of of us will put up critiques and present plenty of enhancing within the photographs. The issue then turns into that anybody and everybody can do the identical factor. They’re not exhibiting what the lens can do. So we have now a piece in our Additional Picture Samples space to point out edited and unedited photographs. From this, you can also make a call for your self.

Unedited

Edited

Who Ought to Purchase It? 

The TTArtisan AF 27mm lens is at the moment obtainable in Nikon Z, Sony E, and Fujifilm X mounts. It’s you’re in search of an affordable however fairly succesful lens. I discover it might probably simply maintain its personal in nearly all departments towards greater model equivalents. And it received’t break the financial institution. This lens helped me perceive that APS-C cameras are lots higher these days and taught me that I might nonetheless have enjoyable with my pictures utilizing one in every of them.

Tech Specs

Taken from the TTArtisan AF 27mm lens Pergear product page:

• 6 Components in 5 teams
• 7-blade diaphragm
• 56° angle of view
• Clicked aperture ring
• 93g weight
• 0.35m shut focusing distance

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