TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras

The TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 is an inexpensive manual focus lens. It has no electronic contacts, no autofocus. I'm using this lens with Micro Four Thirds (M43) cameras but you can also purchase it for APS-C cameras. In this article I share my thoughts and experience using this lens. I'm not a professional photographer but I hope my real world experience can be helpful.

TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 mounted on the Olympus E-M5 II

Build and handling
It's small, it's not heavy but it feels dense. The focus ring is smooth. Everything is well put together. The aperture ring clicks, in a soft way. Previously I owned the TTArtisan 23mm f1.4, that was also very well made but this 35mm is smaller and a very different shape. Actually, it reminds me a lot of the Olympus 45mm f1.8 in size and shape. Later in the 'competition' section I'll discuss this more. But there's something quirky about this long cone shape that I sort of like.

The lens cap is metal and it screws on the front of the lens. I know a lot of people don't like this type of cap, as they feel it takes time to take on and off, but I actually like it. I usually take the lens cap off and put it in my pocket while taking photos. It find it is fine. I like the security of knowing the lens cap will stay on when the camera is in my bag. 

A lens hood was not included. So far I haven't felt the need to get one. Flare hasn't been much of a problem. The lens thread is 39mm, I little quirky! That is a sort trend with this lens. 

As you turn the focus ring, the lens extends about 5mm. I don't find this annoying, it's ok, but just something to mention. There are distance markings on the lens. The minimum focus distance has a hard stop which is nice. But when photographing at infinity, I found it best to have the ring just before the stop, just on the first part of the infinity symbol. I had the same trouble with my Pergear 25mm f1.7. It's a shame because you can't just twist to the stop, you must look at the lens barrel.

I have used the TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 on two cameras. Previously on the Lumix GX9 and now on the Olympus E-M5 II. On both cameras the lens is well balanced. It is of course a little heavier than the lenses I usually use, such as the Olympus 17mm f1.8. However, I have become used to it. I feels better than the TTArtisan 23mm f1.4 I had in the past. One thing I didn't like about that lens was the weight, my GX9 was always front heavy but with this TTArtisan 35mm f1.4, I don't find that.


Focal length
On M43 the 35mm focal length is equivalent to 70mm in full frame terms. I find this a strange focal length, for general photography I don't find it wide enough and it isn't a very long telephoto. This unconventional focal length is a bit of a challenge and that's a nice feeling. 

Aperture
It ranges from f1.4 to f16. I mostly use it at f1.4 only because that's the star feature of this lens. It's just such a bright lens. Together with the 35mm focal length, you can really make your subject stand out by blurring the background. Of course f1.4 also means it's possible to use the lens in low light conditions.

I should warn that sometimes it is very difficult to get sharp focus at f1.4. On the GX9 the focus peaking and magnify options are easy to use. On the E-M5 II, I use focus peaking but I have to press a button to activate it and often it's difficult to see the peaking ants. Perhaps this is all part of the fun to make you take time to get the photo. 

Close focussing distance
It's very good, at just 28cm. It works very well for flower photos. With extension tubs you can turn this into an almost-macro lens. 

TTArtisan 35mm f1.4, at the closest focussing distance and at f1.4

TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 + extension tube

Image quality
I haven't done any scientific tests but to me, it is a very sharp lens. Whether or not you get sharp photos is probably down to your skill with the manual focus rather than the quality of the lens itself. For this price especially, it's excellent. The out of focus areas render nicely too. 

Real world experience

This is a fun lens. I walk around my local botanical garden and try using the f1.4, can I get a sharp image? It's a challenge! It's compact, it balances well with my camera. I like it is a niche lens. What I mean is, it's not versatile, the focal length is a bit strange. 

I enjoy this lens but it doesn't replace any of my existing lenses. It has its own quirks that make it fun to use on occasion. 

One role this lens could play, is to be a portrait lens. With the f1.4 and a short telephoto, it's pretty good. 


Competition
As I said above, either you get this lens and just accept it's for fun, or you buy it to use it seriously for something like portraits. There are many options, for manual focus, consider the TTArtisan 50mm f1.2. You get a bit more reach and with that slightly brighter aperture, the out-of-focus areas of the picture can be very smooth indeed. It is heavier than the 35mm, very front heavy on my E-M5 II. 

The most obvious competitor for portraits is probably the classic Olympus 45mm f1.8. It's a similar size and it is not expensive, especially on the used market. The image quality is superb. It also has auto-focus and it is lighter. The Olympus is plastic though, I don't mind but I know some others covet the metal, in that case the TTArtisan is definitely the one for you. The TTArtisan focusses closer than the Olympus too. 

The above photos were taken using the E-M5 II on a tripod in the same position relative to the subject. The camera was set to manual, ISO 400, 1/800. 

The first photo (left) is the TTArtisan 35mm f1.4, taken at f1.4. 

The second photo (right) is the Olympus 45mm f1.8, taken at f1.8. 

Notice how much wider 35mm is compared to 45mm. If you prefer the wider view, I'd say the TTArtisan is a good choice because the f1.4 does provide a creamy out of focus background. However, I personally prefer the Olympus 45mm f1.8, that extra focal length makes a difference. 

Instead of portrait photography, maybe you'd like a reasonably priced lens for close-ups, flower photography for example. I would say the TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 is a good choice. The 28mm minimum focus distance gets you close enough for flowers. For smaller, use an extension tube. An alternative would be the Lumix 30mm f2.8 macro. That's a true macro lens, no messing with extension tubes. The field of view is close too. At f2.8 you will not get the same subject separation that f1.4 will give you. Having said that, for macro that is not a concern. In fact, with macro, you must stop down to get more depth of field. This makes the TTArtisan a bit of a waste because having that f1.4 aperture is the major selling point. Anyhow, perhaps as a second use to portraits, it could double as a good close-up lens that won't break the bank. 

Conclusion
The TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 is fantastic! I say that when thinking about the price and performance. I bought from Pergear, it came in a nice presentation box. There was a quality neoprene bag included too. As a fun lens, it has its place. Maybe a great gift for someone. As a serious lens to replace another, I don't think so. But that's just me, if you really love manual focus, then why not. If you are looking for a reasonably priced portrait lens, I do think the Olympus 45mm f1.8 is a better investment. It's more expensive but the auto-focus and lighter weight is worth it. Having said all this, whatever you get, it'll give you great results. Most Micro Four Thirds lenses are excellent.

Disclaimer
I have not received any remuneration for this blog article. This is just my opinion, nothing more. I take no responsibility for your choice or decisions. I am just trying to help here, to share my experience, I hope you find it helpful.