TT Artisan 25mm f2 Manual Focus Lens Review
A while ago I was looking to get a manual focus lens for my Fuji XT5. Having used my mates old Minolta in Venice, I really wanted my own one however I didn’t want to spend loads of money before knowing for sure a manual lens is for me. Having looked online I found a lens by TT Artisan for £70. It’s a 25mm f2.0 pancake and on paper it looks perfect! Considering how affordable it is, I decided it’s worth experimenting and grabbed it. Worst case scenario manual focusing isn’t for me and I haven’t wasted £600 on a Voigtlander. In this blog I will share my thoughts having used it for a couple months.
Build Quality
The build quality is really good and I don’t just mean really good for a £70 lens, I mean really good in general. The entire body is made from metal, the aperture dial is nice to use and the focus ring is well damped and consistent throughout the range. There is no weather sealing but that’s to be expected. No other complaints or issues.
Ergonomics
The major negative is that the distance markings are off. Infinity is not really infinity and all the other markings just don’t line up to the actual distances they represent. This means that I 100% had to rely on the in-camera manual focus tools like peaking. Secondly the focus ring can be hard to turn in a comfortable way especially with gloves on. Thankfully this is an easy fix with some stick on focus tabs from Amazon as pictured. The lens is small and compact which makes it great as a pocketable daily and it really suits the XT5.
Image Quality
To be honest it’s not terrible for the price. It’s pretty sharp and wide open it doesn’t go all crazy like the 27mm f2.8 TT Artisan. Sure it’s not tac sharp and the corners do soften up a fair bit, but it’s not a total potato either. Just like the other lens by TT Artisan, I found the colours to be a little off. I can’t quite put my finger on it but they seemed dull, lifeless and with a strange hue. The contrast was also weird that resulted in the image looking a little flat. Of course shooting raw this isn’t an issue and it can all be fixed in editing, just something I noticed.
Summary
If you’re toying with the idea of getting a manual lens or just what to experiment shooting without autofocus, this lens is a perfect starting point. Couple that with the a stick on focus lever / tab it’s easy to manual focus as long as you don’t rely on the markings. At £70 it’s cheap enough for experimenting without risking a large sum of money. Worst case scenario you can keep it as a fun lens for more abstract shots when you’re bored. Personally I sold mine as I ended up getting the Voigtlander.
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Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Warm
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
Do I actually use these?
Yes. This is the same pack I use right now for all my editing. This isn’t a pack made just to sell.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be differences due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
10 in the main pack and 24 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits and is kept small to reduce wasted time scrolling through presets. The extras pack is everything I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work.
Thank you!