TTArtisan 21mm f1.5 ASPH

TTArtisan 21mm f1.5 ASPH

When it reached buyers in early 2020, the TTArtisan 21mm f1.5 ASPH stood out mainly for a combination almost no other manufacturer offered: a 21mm wide angle paired with an f/1.5 maximum aperture in Leica M mount, sold at a fraction of the price of established rangefinder optics [1][2]. TTArtisan, one of several Chinese makers building manual lenses for Leica rangefinder cameras, positioned it as an accessible fast wide-angle, and reviewers noted that comparably specified lenses cost roughly double to triple as much, with the original Leica equivalent in another category entirely. The lens uses an advanced optical layout of 13 elements in 11 groups, incorporating aspherical and high-refractive-index glass, while remaining surprisingly compact for its speed.

The barrel is metal and solidly built, with a finish and operating feel similar to TTArtisan's earlier 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. The focusing ring can feel stiff when new and loosens with use, and the ten-bladed aperture ring is lightly damped. The large front element protrudes from the barrel when the hood is removed, so the supplied removable hood, or alternatively a filter-ring adapter that accepts 72mm filters, is worth keeping fitted. The lens is rangefinder coupled and focuses to 0.7 m, although that minimum distance is longer than some users would like for a fast lens, and the patch-confirmed minimum focus limits close work. One reviewer observed that infinity is reached just before the mechanical hard stop, and that a small screwdriver is supplied for adjusting rangefinder calibration if a sample is mis-coupled.

As a recent production lens it has little version history. It launched in M mount first, and TTArtisan also offers the same optical block in native mirrorless mounts such as Sony E, Canon RF and L mount for use without an adapter[3]. The M-mount lens is not six-bit coded, so it is not automatically recognized by Leica digital bodies.

Optical qualities

Rendering The lens shows a mix of classical and modern traits that shifts with aperture. Wide open it is already contrasty and sharp at the center but not clinically corrected, and stopping down to around f/2 brings a noticeably more modern, high-contrast look, with the finest detail across the frame reached near f/4 to f/5.6.

Sharpness Center sharpness is strong from wide open, with contrast and resolution improving markedly from f/2 onward. On a Sony body one reviewer noted a mid-zone dip, while field curvature on the Leica M240 produced some across-frame sharpness inconsistencies, particularly between f/2 and f/4.

Bokeh and transitions Because of the wide angle, appreciable background blur requires getting close to the subject even at f/1.5. The out-of-focus rendering is somewhat busy but generally regarded as acceptable, described as a little nervous though less so than several other budget fast lenses.

Flare resistance Flare can be a weakness, especially with a strong light source just outside the frame; the supplied hood is small relative to the front element, and reviewers criticized the glossy interior paint of the hood as a contributor.

Distortion and vignetting Distortion is well controlled in real-world use, though instrument-style analysis describes it as complex rather than simple. Light falloff at the widest apertures is noticeable and rated as average.

Aberrations Strong spherical aberration produces visible glow at f/1.5, and coma correction is limited, which makes the lens a poor choice for astrophotography despite its speed. Lateral and longitudinal chromatic aberration are comparatively well handled.

History

Development and Launch TTArtisan built the lens as part of an expanding line of fast manual primes for Leica rangefinder cameras, following its 35mm f/1.4 ASPH and a 12mm fisheye. The 21mm f/1.5 began shipping to early buyers around late 2019 to early 2020, and reviewers treated it as a first-of-its-kind product given the absence of other 21mm f/1.5 designs.

Collector Notes Buyers should confirm rangefinder coupling on the individual sample, since the design reaches infinity slightly before the mechanical stop and TTArtisan supplies a screwdriver for calibration. The protruding front element is vulnerable to scratches when used without the hood, so the presence of the original hood and the 72mm filter adapter is worth checking. As a current-production lens that is not six-bit coded, it will not be automatically identified by Leica digital bodies, and lens profiles must be set manually. One reviewer's measured M-mount figures (about 56mm diameter without the focus tab and roughly 415g with the adapter and hood) differ slightly from the bare lens dimensions, reflecting whether the hood and filter adapter are fitted.