I love these discussions about character in a lens, quirks and enjoyment. Clinically sharp images are boring.

@TonyNomadic

7 ай бұрын

Truth. The photos that have been more receptive have been with my viltrox 23 than the higher price counterparts

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

The best part about these lenses is you can get fun and quirky or sharp and clinical. These manufacturers are making lenses for everyone and it’s better for everyone… unless you shoot Canon.

@Alanwking

2 ай бұрын

I love TTArtisan's lenses. I have their manual ones (17 mm and 35 mm) and thor 27mm af lens. I keep the 27 on my A6400 and love what I'm getting of that lens.

Just purchased a Viltrox 27mm F1.2 (Fujifilm). Best lens I own, hands down. Sharp down to f1.2 across the screen. Great color, contrast, and low light performance. I feel like I got a $1,000 lens for $490!

On my Fuji system I have tried numerous Chinese lenses:- Meike, 7artisans, Viltrox , TTartisans, Kamlan and Samyang, along with Fuji's own lenses and some adapted L39 and M mount Voigtlanders. Results have been mixed, optically, comparing the cheaper offerings with the premium brands. However, one thing stands out, every TTartisans has been at the worst optically decent and often very good indeed. My 23 and 56mm Viltrox lenses are superb optically with decent build and very good AF. My particular favourites from TTartisans are the 25mm f2, 27mm f2.8 AF (I prefer this model over Fujifilms own and I have had both the original XF and the WR model to compare it to) and 35mm 0.95. There are a number of advantages to these lenses. Of course being cheap they enable one to experiment with different focal lengths. There is no way I as a hobbyist would be able to justify an ultra wide angle lens from Fujifilm, but the 7artisans 12mm f2.8 is more affordable than even renting a similar lens from Fujifilm. It's not that great optically but it has given me the chance to try the FOV out and I have subsequently upgraded it to a Samyang 12mm. One may say that having both a 25mm and 27mm (alongside my 23mm Viltrox!) is a bit redundant, but I really like both the 25mm and 27mm focal lengths. The 27mm is very much a normal standard lens, but the 25mm gives just a hint of wideness without being obvious about it like a 23mm would. That 25mm and its 50mm f2 companion provide a very compact kit on a X-E1,2,3,4 or X-T1,2,3. In the wide and standard focal lengths these cheap lenses are better than adapted SLR lenses which cost more and are heavier and unwieldy. Even compared to the adapted Voigtlander lenses I have, the ability to focus more closely is often welcome. The MF lenses are also useful to me as living in the UK, we can get mist and fog. I would rather not rely on AF in these conditions, which are really good for photography. At the beginning of November I spent a week by the sea in North Yorkshire. As I never knew what weather to expect I took 3 manual lenses with me, the 25mm f2 and 35mm f1.4 TTartsans and an adapted MD 58mm f1.4 Rokkor for use on my X-T10. The mist and fog never arrived so I did miss the convenience of AF at times, but I never found myself wanting at any point for something better optically. Now I wish you had not mentioned that 7artisans 35mm f1.2. Dammit my bank account is getting nervous again 🙂

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

I think you hit it on the head talking about how being a hobbyist it allows you to try different focal lengths and such. That’s a big deal and honestly it’s a low risk, high reward potential that isn’t talked about a lot.

@colintraveller

7 ай бұрын

Samyang is SOUTH KOREAN ....NOT CHINESE

@stratocactus

6 ай бұрын

I 100% agree. I have the 35mm f/0.95 and 25 f/2 from TTartisans. The 25mm is so small it never leaves my X-Pro2. I love that focal length (38mm in FF equivalent), and I embrace its flaws (vignettes a lot until f/4, but the swirly bokeh at f/2 reminds me of Helios-44 lenses). It's fairly sharp in the center from f/2 and that's to be noted. At least it's good enough for me, amateur photographer who mainly shoots film. I don't really use the 35mm 0.95 anymore cause it's not great until f/1.4 IMHO and more bulky for me (I love compact cameras). EDIT : I had to calibrate infinity focus on both lens, but considering the price, I didn't mind.

The "philosopher Pluto" line made me smile. Love your content

Absolute truth man. For my paid work I used the Viltrox 23 & 56 f1.4 because they have FAR more reliable focus than the first gen Fuji versions, built like tanks too! I also use the cheap TTartisan27 as my EDC on my X-T30. It's cheap enough I could yeet it at someone and not be sad 😂

@TonyNomadic

7 ай бұрын

Factual. Clients don’t care how much you spent on a lens, can you get the results they want. End of day that’s all that matters.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

I’m using the Viltrox 13 & 27 for assignments. Can’t be happier and the reliability plus weather sealing makes it such an easy choice! I’m hoping one of them makes a funky zoom like the 35-150 2-2.8 from Samyang!

The LLL Elcan is straight fire. The build quality is amazing. I’m almost happy the hype is low so I can actually get them since it’s typically a small batch production. I’m excited for the 35mm 1.4 AA they have coming.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

Oh man same! For mine for $712.35 out the door on eBay by putting in a “best offer”!

Samyang is Korean

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

I’m so sorry 😭

Lmao. The shots at the RF Mount!!!

Good points D. I have noticed too that camera brands the last couple of years are going for processing power over solid design. Fujifilm xs20 is light, great grip but it doesn't feel like a Fujifilm. With lenses I have seen Sigma, Viltrox and recently ttArtisan step up and produce great, affordable glass that provides a great experience. Myself I nowadays buy vintage lenses for my Fuji came. Love the experience and image quality of those lenses.

Samyang isn’t Chinese they are made and designed in Korea.

Was waiting for this one!

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

It’s here!

Back again! With another banger!

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

🫡

Can’t agreed more with you. I have several TTArtisan lens and they produce great results. Also helps to make me a better photographer as those manual lenses slow me down and forces me to compose my shots better. Also all these lenses are well made and really fast in my opinion.

Bought a pancake Meike 28 f2.8 to pair with a Fuji XE3. Makes a X100 great manual alternative. Great fun and a very enjoyable experience. After that I got a 7Artisans 35 f1.2 for my XPro3. This made my trustworthy Fuji 56 f1.2 to be in the shelf. Now that was a real surprise…

I have the viltrox 13 mm and it is great for landscapes and architecture photos.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

It truly is.

Samyang is korean by the way,

Loved my Viltrox lenses. Used them for 2 years for weddings films, really worked those lenses and they held up. I sold them now because I like the sirui snipers better I didn’t regret my purchases.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

A good lens is a good lens.

@JaymesMedia

7 ай бұрын

@@DeeRosa amen

I actually own 3 TTartisans and are pretty good specially for the price 27mm pancake AF, 35mm manual lens and their new 56mm AF

I am loving the Viltrox 27mm 1.2.

The Elcan is a good as a Summicron? I've seen a couple of comparisons that say it's nowhere near as sharp. In any case, I still use the LLL Elcan, it's so small and comfortable to use.

I just got a 50mm f/2 from TTArtisan for RF mount for $70 and it is exactly what I wanted. It’s manual focus and is the same size as my EF adapter and is a great walk around lens.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

Nice! That price tag makes it pretty easy to get into what you want!

@rebours

7 ай бұрын

I have the x-mount version, it exhibits weird optic aberrations around bright areas and the out of focus rendering is really odd, but it isn't punchy to say the least...

"Sorry, Canon shooters. Your Brand hates you!!! LOL too funny. Great Video Dee!!!!!

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

Bro they hate them fr

Only Chinese lense i have is the Laowa 100mm x2 macro . As for other brands i've not seen others on the 2nd hd market for Canon EF or brand new for that matter ..

I had the 24mm Sony GM lens that i paid 1700€ for. And this Lens was Sh... with the Autofocus. It had a major problem with focussing. It constantly missed it.

I have the full contingent of Fujifilm f/1.4 lenses, but on a whim bought the TT Artisans 35mm and 17mm f/1.4 lenses, just to play with, both together costing under $200. Both surprised me with the output. On my older 16mp Fujifilm cameras they give a real old school look, very film like. Both are usable at full aperture and by f/5.6, excellent. Particularly with the 17mm, the DOF scale really let's you use zone and hyper focusing which negates the slowness of manual focusing. Get that tiny 35mm f/1.4 and an older X-E class body and just go shoot. Any limitation will not be from the gear.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

I love their tiny lenses. Fun as hell.

Yes! This.

If you could have one which would you choose, viltrox 27mm f1.2 or Fuji 35mm f1.4? I’m looking for character for street, portrait, general lens. Thank you. 😊

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

For character? The 35mm beats it along with the size.

@robertlamont2611

7 ай бұрын

@@DeeRosa thank you mate. The reply is much appreciated. You’re smashing it with your channel. It’s very refreshing.

It’s amazing how much quality I get out of my TTArtisan 25mm F2 on my Sony A6400. Originally I wanted a smaller lens to take with me everywhere, but now it lives on the camera most of the time. It’s a breath of fresh air with this manual focus lens. It’s definitely not super sharp like my Sigma 30mm or 56mm. However, the shooting experience and nostalgic look to the final image is what I need to itch that creative part of my brain. I went a step further and got a cheap black mist filter that lives on the lens. Would I use this for paid shoots? Most likely not. But shots for myself? Absolutely. $65 for this metal lens is well worth it. We are spoiled with mirrorless cameras with focus peaking. Anyone on the fence should take the plunge and try something new.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

What a price for a lens you like! That’s why I’m a fan.

Totally agree. I have the Ttartisan 50mm 1.4 asph, and both the image quality and build quality is better than my Leica 50mm 2.4. My brother has a muuuch more expensive Leica summilux 50mm, and the IQ from that lens is definitely more "interesting" and perhaps somewhat prettier, but the build quality is about the same.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

Has the TT 50/1.4 and it was crazy just how great it looked from a sharpness standpoint. Not lots of character but BEAUTIFUL RESULTS.

@1:53 Samyang is a Korean company, not Chinese... but I getcha...

Viltrox made me switch to Fuji. Simply no other brand gives you the same value for money over the 27 and 75/1.2 Pro lens. They overcome the RF 35/1.8 and 85/2.0 in every way. AND they are actually performing best at wide open aperture unlike the other lens which you have to stop down to actually perform good.

I gree with you 1000%, try Mitakon 35mm 0.95 for fujifilm one day

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

I’ve heard it’s the bees knees.

@DannyChau7

7 ай бұрын

Agree, indeed one hell of a lens for M4/3 and APS-C sensors.

The present crop of Chinese lenses has characteristics of older lenses, they tend to look slightly soft wide open but get super sharp stop down. I have compared these lenses with lenses from 50-60 years ago and they do share a similar feel in terms of rendition. I'm certain these lenses will become 'classics' in time. I do hope they continue to produce lenses with character instead of these modern technically perfect digital lenses which are boring in terms of mood and feel.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

The best part is they’re making lenses for both sides. So you can pick your flavor.

My Viltrox 85mm is gold for me.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

It’s a sleeper!

i bought a ttartisans, $73. After 1 month it fell apart. Unusable.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

As I said, “I am not surprised if a $75 lens breaks in a year”. Risk/reward.

Using China-glass on a Leica may be a „style crime“. I get it ! But the argument that Chinese products are generally cheap and of poor quality, might only have been true 20 or 30 years ago. Meanwhile China is a global player in technology and as far as photography is concerned, many Chinese companies are building exceptionally fine glass and the reasonable price is a bonus and certainly not an argument against them. Laowa is one if not the world leader in macro photography lenses and Viltrox is a really good alternative for Fuji X mount lenses. TTartisan entered the game recently with a nice lens .. just to mention a few lens manufacturers I use myself. If you are a Leica purist or Fuji lover or what ever than stay within your brand and enjoy your gear. But if you are open to new brands and products you can’t go wrong with China made lenses and the fact that they are not unreasonable expensive should be appreciated and not a reason for bashing them.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

Great insight! Thank you!

@GeertKuster

7 ай бұрын

I think the ethical question is not often enough asked.

@bondgabebond4907

6 ай бұрын

People are going to have heart attacks when they see where their German Wunder Cameras are made or who makes their sensors. Who cares, though. With all these cheap lenses, we can have fun on a budget.

@GeertKuster

6 ай бұрын

@@bondgabebond4907 don’t be such a fool. The sensors are made in Europe (Grenoble) and the cameras Made in Germany. I don’t care if you care or not, but a little bit more critical consumerism would do the world much good.

….but a shit sale, especially in mft, try to sell!!!!

Light Lens Lab are copying Leitz optical formulas of yesteryears. The construction quality is good and the prices quite high for Chinese lenses, however they do bring the ownership of these lenses within the reach of the more financially comfortable photographers. Just imagine trying to buy a genuine Leitz Elcan lens, or the original 8 element 35mm Summicron. I am not quite sure how I feel about copying what is the intellectual property of someone else, but this is the world we live in.

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

Trust me. That formula (very familiar with it) with the modern optics makes it A KEEPER.

So I bought a Viltrox. Garbage AF out of the box. Returned it for refund. Not buying these cheap and cheerful Chinese lenses again.

I’m shifting away from made in China products for principle reasons. Possibly that’s the same reason for the people that say ‘I’m not buying Chinese crap’. It’s not only for quality. It’s also for ethics of the country, copyright protections, used materials, slavery work done by Uyghurs, etc etc. Samyang and Rokinon are Korean made products, and not made in China. That being said I’m keeping on to my TTArtisan 25mm f2 for Leica CL, but that’s the first and last one.

@ReinoldFZ

6 ай бұрын

I got a Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 for my Canon film camera. I understand it is not a copy and has a different rendering, I am grateful because it made me decide to get Canon lenses. But I couldn't feel myself like getting more Yongnuo lenses. It is not about its quality but the doubt if it is legitimate work or it is just taking from Canon R&D. You are right about the Korean brands, is like showing examples of Chinese cellphones and showing a Samsung.

Leica with a cheap Chinese lens…sorta like a rolls with 4 donut tires. Waste of money. Save up for nice third party lenses. First party lenses are crazy expensive. Sigma foreva..that said you made me think on it. Perhaps to try odd focal ranges it might be good. But for payed jobs I’d rather get the best I can afford.

@CianMcsweeney

7 ай бұрын

Yeah on Leica M Zeiss and Voigtlander is the way to go in my opinion

@DeeRosa

7 ай бұрын

I owned a V4 Summicron. Currently own the 28 Summicron ASPH. This LLL lens is better/as good as that V4 Summicron; this is a nicer 3rd party lens that anything from Voigtlander. Don’t comment about products you’ve never used.

Your lack of knowledge regarding the concepts of mass production and quality control is astounding. And the notion that you completely ignore the fact that these Chinese manufacturers basically rip apart an original lens to reverse engineer it in order to cut down on the incredible amount of R&D cost of Japanese, German companies is really naive. Not to mention the fact that Chinese companies pay pennies on the dollar for what amounts to slave labor… but yes, you are happy you have a cheap lens, and that’s all that matters in the end, right?

@DeeRosa

6 ай бұрын

This was a really long hissy fit.

@pepetrueno8722

6 ай бұрын

@@DeeRosa whatever… the facts remain

@gerardneedham

6 ай бұрын

If you complain about a cheap competitor product that is at a similar performance then you do t understand how good free trade deals are for the economy and innovative products. Imagine if we only had one brand of microwave!

@pepetrueno8722

6 ай бұрын

@@gerardneedham if you think the Chinese honor other companies patents and don’t simply just copy others designs and you think this is fine, then I don’t have much else to say … I guess stealing is ok in your book

@bondgabebond4907

6 ай бұрын

Think of the poor guy who spent thousands of dollars on a Leica only to find 'Made in Japan' stamped on the bottom. Many Sony lenses are made in China, Thailand and even Vietnam. Only their special expensive lenses are made in Japan. Sigma makes designs and manufacturers their lenses in Japan, while Tamron designs their lenses in Japan and outsources the manufacture to China. S. Korea is also in on the action with Samyang and Rokinon being made in S. Korea.

I'll pass I'm not supporting the CCP.

@DeeRosa

6 ай бұрын

I don’t care.

@bigrobotnewstoday1436

6 ай бұрын

@@DeeRosa I know you don't because your a sellout to the F'n communist.

@seed157

6 ай бұрын

learn to deal with comments you big baby@@DeeRosa

I will never use or buy these cheap knockoff Chinese lenses. They are a cancer to photography just like anything else being flooded with cheap products that don’t last. They have no value!

@DeeRosa

5 ай бұрын

Hey buddy - take your sensitive, cry baby, victim mentality somewhere else. This channel is only for people who know how to actually work.

These are not a good investment they have no value.

@DeeRosa

5 ай бұрын

Lol