TTArtisan 75mm F/2 Review

Quality Without Cost

By Sam Bugas - Jan 2025

In this post, I’ll be reviewing the TTArtisan 75mm F/2 lens after almost two months of consistent use on the Nikon Z8. TTArtisan did send me this lens to keep, but they did not require me to make this post, they will not review it or see it before it is posted, and all opinions are 100% my own. Let’s get started!

Initial Thoughts

Like many recent TTArtisan lenses, the 75mm F/2 has a solid, premium feel in hand—though it’s surprisingly hefty. The durable metal construction gives it a rugged toughness, but I do wish it had a gasket at the mount for weather sealing; that would make it an easy choice for taking anywhere. On my Z8, the lens balances well, though it leans slightly back-heavy with the camera’s substantial grip. Still, it creates a surprisingly compact shooting package. But size aside, the image quality is where this lens truly shines—delivering some of the best results I’ve ever achieved with any lens. The 75mm focal length feels more practical for my shooting style compared to 85mm or 105mm options, and the F/2 aperture makes it a true bokeh powerhouse. Honestly, I can't think of another lens that offers this level of creative potential in such a compact form.

Build // 3.5 out of 5

I’ve come to expect solid craftsmanship from TTArtisan, and this lens is no exception. It feels reassuringly sturdy in hand and durable enough to toss into my bag without worry—confident that a few bumps won’t do any harm. However, I do have a couple of minor gripes. First, the aperture ring feels a bit too loose, and the markings don’t quite align—it's slightly over-rotated by about 1mm, which gives it a somewhat cheap feel. There’s also a bit of play in the ring, and it frequently shifts from my intended setting, whether in my bag or even while hanging from a strap. An aperture lock would have been a welcome addition, but given the price, I understand why it’s not included.

My second complaint is the lens hood—it’s practically useless. Even at this price point, a sturdier metal or reinforced plastic hood would have been a much better choice. As it stands, the flimsy petal design does little to block sunlight, and it often falls off, making it more of a hassle than a help.

Lastly, while it might be asking too much for the cost, weather sealing would have been a fantastic addition. With Sirui offering a weather-sealed 85mm in a similar budget range, I can’t help but feel TTArtisan could have made it happen too.

Image Quality // 4.5 out of 5

Image quality can be a tricky thing to evaluate, so I’ll break it down into three key areas: sharpness, aberrations (such as chromatic aberration, ghosting, and flaring), and finally, what I call the “X-factor” (stick around to find out what that means).

Let’s start with sharpness—my least favorite aspect to discuss. Simply put, the TTArtisan 75mm F/2 is sharp. Not just “good for the price” sharp, but genuinely excellent by any standard. It holds its own against my much pricier Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 and never leaves me wanting more. As expected, the center is sharper than the edges, but the drop-off is impressively minimal. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this lens for paid work, weddings, or even large prints—it's that good.

Now, onto aberrations—a broad category encompassing anything the lens does that you don’t necessarily want it to do, such as chromatic aberration, ghosting, and flare. Here, the 75mm performs admirably. Ghosting is minimal when shooting into the sun, and I’ve yet to encounter any significant chromatic aberration. Since I often shoot into the sun for added contrast and an ethereal effect, my lenses need to handle these challenges—or they’re out. Fortunately, this lens delivers. However, flare is a bit of an issue. It can be difficult to control, and the included lens hood does little to help. More expensive lenses typically feature superior coatings to combat flare, which this lens lacks—but given the price, that’s no surprise. When used creatively, though, the flare can add a unique and artistic touch to images.

Finally, let’s talk about the X-factor—the unique quality that sets some lenses apart from the rest. Certain lenses, like Leica’s, are known for their distinctive focus roll-off and micro-contrast, while Sirui lenses have a soft blooming effect that gives them a cinematic feel. The TTArtisan 75mm F/2 possesses a level of micro-contrast and color reproduction I haven’t seen in any other lens. It’s difficult to quantify, but the result is that images often look closer to being fully edited straight out of the camera compared to other lenses I’ve used. This lens has a character reminiscent of a vintage film lens, with a touch of that Leica magic. Now, don’t get me wrong—this isn’t a Leica lens, but I’d argue it shares a few qualities... and I’m willing to take the heat for saying that.

Focusing // 4.5 out of 5

I don’t have much to criticize here—this lens delivers beautiful autofocus performance for my needs. It effortlessly locks onto my wife’s eye while she’s walking and doesn’t miss a beat. Of course, much of that credit goes to the Nikon Z8, one of the best cameras ever made, but the lens holds its own without issue. The real standout point here is that this is one of TTArtisan’s first autofocus lenses, and they’ve done an impressive job. They’re quickly positioning themselves alongside brands like Viltrox and Sirui in terms of quality. The only drawback? Like many modern lenses, it uses focus-by-wire, making manual focus feel a bit imprecise—but that’s just the reality of today’s technology.

Practicality // 3.5 out of 5

Practicality ultimately comes down to one simple question you ask yourself at home: Should I bring this lens? If the answer is “yes” more often than not, it’s a practical lens. If it's “no,” then it’s not. While this is a subjective measure, it’s still an important one. I've always wanted a short telephoto prime in the 75-105mm range, and this is my first. I have a feeling it will stay in my bag most of the time because it offers creative opportunities that none of my other lenses can.

If you're into portraits, street, or commercial work, this lens could easily be a 4.5/5. However, if landscapes without people are your primary focus, it might only rate a 2/5. For me, it’s a solid 3.5—make of that what you will.

To Summarize // 4 out of 5

TTArtisan is doing an impressive job of delivering high-quality lenses to photographers who can’t justify the steep prices of top-tier brands. In all honesty, with this lens—and others surely on the way—it’s becoming harder to justify spending a fortune on high-end glass. The TTArtisan 75mm F/2 is versatile enough to kickstart a portrait career, handle countless commercial shoots, and even perform admirably as a landscape lens. Paired with a wide-angle and a mid-range lens, you could build a complete kit for under $700.

I love this lens far more than I expected to, and I highly recommend picking one up.

Buy It Here —> TTArtisan 75mm F/2

About Me:

I have shot photos for six years, with a consistent focus on capturing moments of action and environment while I am outside. I’ve dabbled in quite a few different genres of photography, and I’ve found that my favorite moments to take a photo are when the wind is whipping, the air is freezing, and I’m far away from home. Over the last year, I’ve come to the realization that taking photos and telling stories are two very different things. My goal is to keep improving as a story teller that can work in the harshest environments and come away with compelling sets of photos and written stories that help me, and others, to relive the essence of an adventure. I am focused on continuing to grow as a visual story teller so that I may leverage my skills to successfully work within conservation, expedition photography, and commercial photography.