Review of TTArtisan AF 35/1.8 ED (for APS-C, FujiFIlm X, Sony E, Nikon Z)

Navigation

1. In short
2. Main Specifications
3. Assembly
4. Focusing
5. Firmware Upgrade
6. Image quality
7. Photo examples (+ source files)
8. Price
9. My experience
10. Video review
11. Results
12. User Comments
13. Add your review or question on the lens

In this review I will refer to the TTArtisan AF 35/1.8 ED lens as the 'TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF'.

It's important: This review shows the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF version for Sony mirrorless cameras with bayonet mount Sony e-mount and with firmware version v1.0. At the same time, there are modifications of this lens for mirrorless cameras APS-C Nikon Z (Nikon DX) и fujifilm x.

In short

TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF is a modern lens for mirrorless cameras with a cropped APS-C sensor (the coefficient crop factor Kf=1.5x). In terms of its parameters, the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF is a very attractive solution. First of all, the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF is designed for creative photo and video shooting. Automatic focusing is performed using a stepper motor. The image quality has its own distinct advantages, such as high resolution, and distinct disadvantages, such as a large number of artifacts when working in backlight.

The price of the new TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF is low and is approximately $160.

Such 35mm lenses are in great demand and can be considered standard solutions for everyday photography tasks.

• for the system APS-C Sony E-mount The TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF lens is an alternative to the original autofocus similar lens Sony E 1.8/35 OSS (Optical Steady Shot, SEL35F18, E-mount) (2012, about $450).
• for the system APS-C Nikon Z (Nikon DX) there are no original similar solutions (as of the end of 2024), and therefore the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF lens will be in high demand for this system
• for the system APS-C FujiFilm X The TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF lens is an alternative to the original F autofocus lensUJINON ASPHERICAL LENS SUPER EBC XF 33mm 1:1.4 R LM WR (2021, about $800) and Fujifilm FUJINON ASPHERICAL LENS SUPER EBC XF f=35mm 1:1.4 (2012, about $600).

It's important: when searching and choosing autofocus optics for Sony E-mount APS-C Use these very useful links:

• All autofocus lenses for Sony E / Sony NEX (original and from third-party manufacturers)
• All TTARTISAN lenses

Alternatives

Below are all the fast 30-35mm autofocus lenses for mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor:

1. Carl Zeiss Planar 32/1.8 Touit (E, X, 2012)
2. Sony 35/1.8 OSS (E, 2012)
3. FujiFilm 33/1.4 XF (X, 2021)
4. FujiFilm 35/1.4 XF (X, 2012)
5. FujiFilm 35/2 XC (X, 2019)
6. FujiFilm 35/2 XF (X, 2015)
7. Canon 32/1.4 (EF-M, 2018)
8. Leica 35/1.4 SUMMILUX (L/TL/CL, 2016)
9. Samsung 30/2 (NX, 2010) [overview]
10. Sigma 30/1.4 (E, X, Z, L, EF-M, RF-S, MFT, 2016) [overview]
11. Sigma 30/2.8 EX DN (E, MFT, 2012)
12. Sigma 30/2.8 A DN (E, MFT, 2013)
13. Tokina 33/1.4 (E, X, 2021)
14. Viltrox 33/1.4 (E, X, Z, EF-M, 2020)
15. Viltrox 35/1.7 (E, X, Z, 2024)
16. Yongnuo 33/1.4 (E, X, Z, 2024)
17. Yongnuo 35/1.8 (Z, 2024)
18. TTArtisan 35/1.8 (E, X, Z, 2023) [overview]
19. Meike 33/1.4 (E, X, Z, 2024) [overview]
20. Sirui 33/1.2 (2023)

Main technical characteristics of TTArtisan AF 35/1.8 ED:

Review Instance Name	On the lens barrel: TTArtisan AF 35/1.8 ED + data plate Near the front lens: TTArtisan AF 35/1.8 ED 0.6m/1.97ft Ø52mm On the box: TTArtisan AF 35mm f1.8
Basic properties	E (E-mount) - designed for Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras AF (Auto Focus) - the lens supports auto focus STM (Scarpets Motor) - focusing stepper motor IF (Iinternal Focusing) - internal focus DMF (DDirectly MAnnual Pass Focus) - direct manual focus ED (Extra Low Dispersion) - low dispersion elements in the optical scheme H.R.I. - elements with an ultra-high refractive index Special Coated optics, with protection of the front lens from water and dirt USB-port to update the firmware on the lens cover supplied (serves as a docking station) Electronic focus ring Included hood Important: lens from a third-party manufacturer, which imposes some restrictions on its use
Front Filter Diameter	52 mm, plastic thread for filters
Focal length	35mm Equivalent Focal Length Sony E APS-C / APS-C Nikon Z (Nikon DX) / APS-C FujiFilm X is 52.5 mm
Zoom ratio	1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom)
Designed by	for cropped mirrorless digital cameras. Theoretically, the lens is suitable for all digital mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses and mount SONY E/FE и APS-C Nikon Z (Nikon DX) и APS-C FujiFilm X
Number of aperture blades	9 rounded petals
Tags	bayonet mount mark hood attachment mark
Diaphragm	from F/1.8 to F/16 without aperture control ring
MDF	0.6 meters, maximum magnification ratio 1:7.7
The weight	199 grams (measured, only the lens itself, version for Sony E APS-C)
Optical design	10 elements in 8 groups, including 1 ED element and 2 ultra high refractive index elements
Lens hood	Bayonet-type lens hood included in delivery
Manufacturer country	MADE IN CHINA (Made in China)
Period	From 20 November 2023
Instructions	Included in delivery
Price	About $160, see current prices on Aliexpress

The actual aperture ratio (T-stage) is quite high, and is at the T/1.9 level.

Aperture F/1.8 approx. three stops wider aperture of F/5.6, which is used in some 'dark' standard lenses. Each stop gives a doubling of the light-gathering power: 1.4 -> 2 -> 2.8 -> 4 -> 5.6. In numerical terms, this means that the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF should be 10 times lighterthan stock lens Sony 16-50mm f / 3.5-5.6 PZ OSS or Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ OSS II, which at a focal length of 50 mm can use a maximum relative aperture of only 1:5.6. Calculating the difference in relative apertures (calculate the aperture ratio) is elementary: (5.6 * 5.6) / (1.8 * 1.8) = 10. The creative potential of such a lens is difficult to overestimate. Photo enthusiasts often use it as a portrait lens. Many simply want a fast prime in addition to their 'whale' lens.

Assembly

The lens came for review new in its original box. The package does not include a USB cable for updating the firmware.

TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF has metal mountThe lens body (including the focusing ring) is also metal.

The TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF weighs about 200 grams. The build quality is high. The lens feels great in your hands.

The package includes a durable metal lens hood. The lens hood is a bayonet type and snaps into place. reliably. The hood cannot be installed in the reverse direction (transport mode).

The front and rear protective covers are plastic, massive, and easy to use.

The rear protective cover has contacts for the lens microprocessor and a USB port for updating the firmware, folds like a DOC station.

The aperture consists of 9 blades. At values ​​of F/1.8-F/4 the hole takes a fairly round shape. The aperture works quickly, does not stick, but creates excessive noise from frequent opening/closing.

It's important: When the lens is detached from the camera, or when the camera is turned off, or when the camera is in 'sleep' mode, the aperture blades are always closed down to f / 16.

Focusing

The lens has a built-in STM focusing stepper motor. The motor runs very quietly.

Auto focus speed average, closer to high. The focusing speed is sufficient for comfortable work in most photo tasks.

The focusing ring is metal, wide, with veins. Electronic focusing ring, rotates very easily, has no extreme positions. The ring can be rotated with only one finger. There is virtually no lag in the electronic focusing ring.

During auto focus focus ring remains stationary.

Lens has internal focus, the front and rear lenses remain stationary during focusing. It is possible to use various filters without any problems.

The minimum focusing distance is 60 cm and the maximum magnification ratio is 1: 12.

Focus Features:

1. Important: The focusing performance of the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF is highly dependent on the camera used.
2. TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF has a strong 'Focus Breathing' effect (changes in the angle of view during focusing). When focusing towards the middle focus area, the angle of view decreases.
3. Focus Shift (focus shift, changing focus distance due to iris)
4. TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF does not have a hard stop (hard infinity mechanical stop) that allows you to accurately and quickly focus the lens to infinity under any external temperature conditions. For precise focusing to infinity, you cannot simply bring the focusing ring to the extreme position. This is a common problem with lenses with an electronic focusing ring.
5. Unknown compatibility with teleconverters.

Firmware Upgrade

The lens comes with a special rear protective cap, which also serves as a station for manipulating the lens firmware. The cap is equipped with a port USB TYPE-C 2.0 (a common port used by many smartphones and other devices). When connected to a computer, the lens is recognized as a 'TTArtisan' drive with a capacity of 1.96 MB. The drive contains a DeviceInformation.txt file - a text file with information about the lens and firmware, as well as the firmware file itself UserProfile.dat.

To update you should download the firmware file from the official website and copy it to the 'TTArtisan' drive, wait 5 seconds, then make sure the text file shows the new firmware version. You may need to update the drive and/or connected devices. At the time of writing this review, there was no firmware update for this lens.

Image quality

Overall, the TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF's image quality has distinct strengths and weaknesses.

Resolution

• in the center of the frame at F/1.8 the lens is wonderful in terms of resolution
• there is a very slight drop in sharpness towards the edges of the frame at F/1.8. Even across the field of a full-frame sensor at 1.8, the resolution towards the edges and corners drops slightly
• after approximately F/2.8, the resolution is at a very high level across the entire field of the frame

Distortion

• small pincushion distortion
• the overall level of distortion is at a level typical for such lenses
• the nature of distortion is unified, easily corrected in the editor

Vignetting

• the overall level of vignetting is at a level typical for such lenses
• noticeable vignetting is only observed at f / 1.8
• vignetting almost disappears at F / 2.8-F / 4
• vignetting is easily fixable in the editor
• the lens has a good coverage area when working on full frame (example)

Aberration

• there is a small amount of chromatic aberration at open apertures
• have a strong friging (HA in the blur zone)
• aperture down to f / 4 significantly reduces the amount of HA

Rest

• the aperture opening at F/1.8-F/4 is quite round and smooth
• the lens does not handle side and back light very well, creating strangely shaped glare
  
• in many scenes, the lens can create a pleasant / neutral bokeh

There is no lens profile for the lens in popular RAW converters, but most likely the profile will appear shortly or you can create it yourself.

Sample photos on APS-C

Camera used Sony a3500 (20 MP Sony Exmor APS-C HD CMOS sensor), Sony NEX-F3 (16 MP Sony APS-C HD CMOS sensor), Sony a7 (24 MP Full Frame Exmor HD CMOS sensor, 10 MP in APS-C mode). All photos in this review are shown without processing, according to the principles ZEROJPEG.

• Original photos in RAW format (Sony '.ARW', 12-bit, lossy compression) can be view / download this link (100+ files, Google Drive gallery).
• Original photos in JPEG format ('.jpg') can be view / download this link (100+ files, Google Drive gallery).

Prices

Prices for TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF on Aliexpress you can see at this link.

My experience

I worked with this lens for about a week. I liked that TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF works with almost all cameras, even old Sony NEX models. It is stated that only tracking autofocus will not work with a3500/a3000 (and it does not work, checked).

Of the inexpensive similar solutions, my favorite so far remains MEIKE 33mm F1.4 Auto Focus Lens NEO Series APS-C STM (2024) и Sigma 30/1.4 (E, X, Z, L, EF-M, RF-S, MFT, 2016). But MEIKE 33/1.4 will only work with the latest Sony Alpha cameras and will not work with the older line SonyNEX and Sony Alpha line cameras without phase detection focus sensors (a3000, a3500, a5000).

Video review

Results

TTArtisan 35/1.8 AF – affordable standard fixed gear, costing about $160. Optically, this is not the most balanced lens, although it has good resolving power. There are minor drawbacks: large MDF, strong spherochromatism at open apertures and strangely shaped flares in backlight.

main advantages

1. internal focusing, electronic wide focusing ring
2. quiet and fast stepper focusing motor, tenacious automatic focusing (on cameras of the latest models)
3. good/excellent build quality: metal bayonet mount, metal body, metal lens hood
4. USB port for firmware upgrade, easy firmware upgrade method
5. nine-petal diaphragm
6. modern complex optical design with special optical elements
7. nice / neutral drawing, which can be used as a good artistic technique during portraiture
8. high resolution across the entire frame field already at F/1.8
9. low level of vignetting and distortion
10. good value for money

main disadvantages

1. there is no AF/MF focus mode switch (for example, there is MEIKE 33/1.4 STM)
2. there is no aperture control ring (for example, there is MEIKE 33/1.4 STM)
3. there is no image stabilizer (for example, there is one in Sony E 1.8 / 35 OSS)
4. the lens is poorly protected from environmental influences (for example, MEIKE 33/1.4 STM rubber seal of bayonet)
5. large MDF (for example, Sony E 1.8 / 35 OSS MDF is twice smaller – 30 cm, versus 60 cm)
6. slight noise from the diaphragm mechanism
7. The hood cannot be installed in the opposite direction
8. poor backlight performance, oddly shaped highlights
9. noticeable spherochromatism
10. hard to find for sale (especially for Nikon Z, possibly discontinued for Nikon Z)

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.