The TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 lens features an all-metal barrel, providing a reassuringly solid and dense feel despite its relatively small size. The lens comes with an M-42 mount. The design is reminiscent of classic lenses, with clearly engraved and painted markings for aperture and focus distance.

The aperture ring is clickless, making it suitable for video use as it allows for smooth and silent aperture adjustments. However, still photographers may prefer clicked apertures for tactile feedback. The focus ring is generally smooth and well-damped, offering a pleasant manual focusing experience. The lens includes a built-in, retractable lens hood, a convenient feature that adds to its compact profile when not in use. The filter thread size is 55mm, a common and easily accessible size for filters.

Image Quality

• Sharpness: Center sharpness is reported to be very good to excellent, even wide open at f/1.5. It delivers crisp details in the center of the frame, making it well-suited for portraiture where subject sharpness is crucial. Corner sharpness is softer at f/1.5, as is typical for fast lenses, but improves considerably as the lens is stopped down to f/2.8 and beyond. By f/4 to f/5.6, sharpness is very consistent across the frame.
• Bokeh: The fast f/1.5 aperture is a key selling point, enabling the lens to produce a very shallow depth of field and beautiful background blur. The bokeh is generally described as smooth and creamy, especially in the center. While not as perfectly rounded as some higher-end lenses, the bokeh is pleasing and helps to isolate subjects effectively. Some reviews mention a slight "nervousness" in the bokeh in busier backgrounds, but overall it is considered a strength of this lens.
• Vignetting: Vignetting is present at f/1.5, particularly in the corners, which is expected for a lens with such a wide aperture. However, it is not overly pronounced and can be easily corrected in post-processing or is often considered aesthetically pleasing for portraiture. Vignetting reduces significantly as the lens is stopped down and is minimal by f/2.8-f/4.
• Distortion: Distortion is very well controlled for a lens of this type. It exhibits minimal distortion, making it suitable for a variety of subjects, including portraits and general photography, without requiring significant distortion correction.
• Chromatic Aberration and Coma: Chromatic aberration is reasonably well-controlled, especially considering the lens's fast aperture and price point. Some purple fringing may be visible in high-contrast areas when shooting wide open, but it is generally manageable. Coma is present at f/1.5, leading to some elongation of point light sources towards the edges of the frame, but it improves quickly as the lens is stopped down.
• Flare Resistance: Flare resistance is decent but not exceptional. Like many lenses, it can exhibit flare when shooting directly into strong light sources. Using the included lens hood is recommended to minimize flare. However, some photographers may find the flares artistically usable, adding a vintage character to images.

Focusing

The TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 is a manual focus lens. The focus ring is smooth and allows for precise adjustments. The focus throw is reasonably long, enabling accurate focusing, especially beneficial when shooting at f/1.5 where the depth of field is very shallow. The lack of autofocus might be a drawback for some users, particularly for capturing fast-moving subjects. However, for portraiture, still life, and deliberate photography, manual focus is often preferred for its precision and control. Modern mirrorless cameras with focus peaking and magnification features greatly assist in achieving accurate focus with manual lenses like this.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Fast f/1.5 Aperture: Excellent for low-light shooting and achieving shallow depth of field with beautiful bokeh.
• Very Good Center Sharpness: Sharp images in the center, even wide open, crucial for portrait work.
• Solid Build Quality: All-metal construction provides a robust and premium feel.
• Compact and Lightweight: Relatively small and easy to carry, enhancing portability.
• Clickless Aperture Ring: Beneficial for video recording due to silent aperture adjustments.
• Built-in Retractable Lens Hood: Adds convenience and protection in a compact form factor.
• Attractive Price: Offers excellent value for a fast 75mm prime lens.
• Pleasing Bokeh: Smooth and creamy bokeh for subject isolation.

Cons:

• Manual Focus Only: No autofocus, which may be a limitation for some photographers and shooting scenarios.
• Softer Corners Wide Open: Corner sharpness is less impressive at f/1.5.
• Vignetting at f/1.5: Vignetting is present at the widest aperture, though correctable.
• Clickless Aperture Ring (for some): While a pro for video, some still photographers may prefer a clicked aperture ring for tactile feedback.
• Flare Resistance Could be Better: Flare can occur in strong lighting conditions.

Target Audience

The TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 lens is ideal for:

• Portrait Photographers: The 75mm focal length is excellent for portraiture, offering a flattering perspective, and the f/1.5 aperture allows for beautiful subject isolation.
• Low-Light Shooters: The fast f/1.5 aperture excels in low-light conditions, making it suitable for indoor photography, evening shots, and situations where maximizing light gathering is important.
• Photographers Seeking Character: The lens offers a slightly vintage rendering style and pleasing bokeh, appealing to those who appreciate lenses with character over clinical perfection.
• Users of Mirrorless Cameras: Manual focus lenses are well-suited to mirrorless systems with focus aids like peaking and magnification.
• Budget-Conscious Buyers: Provides a fast, high-quality prime lens experience at a very affordable price.
• Videographers: The clickless aperture ring and smooth focus ring make it usable for video work.

Value for Money

The TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 lens represents exceptional value for money. It delivers image quality that punches above its weight class, particularly in center sharpness and bokeh. For its price, you get a well-built, fast prime lens that is capable of producing beautiful images, especially for portraiture. While it lacks autofocus and has some minor optical compromises typical of lenses in this price range, its strengths significantly outweigh its weaknesses, making it a highly attractive option for photographers on a budget or those seeking a characterful lens for creative work.

Conclusion

The TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 Full Frame Lens is a compelling and budget-friendly option for photographers looking for a fast, portrait-oriented prime lens. Its strengths lie in its excellent center sharpness, beautiful bokeh, solid build quality, and compact size, all offered at a very attractive price. While it is a manual focus lens and has some expected optical compromises, its overall performance and unique character make it a lens that is easy to recommend, especially for portrait, low-light, and creative photography. If you are seeking a lens that provides a classic shooting experience with pleasing image quality and a fast aperture without breaking the bank, the TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 is an excellent choice.