TTArtisan 50mm f.1.4 ASPH.

TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH.

Released in 2020, this lens arrived as part of TTArtisan's push into affordable Leica M optics, offering a fast standard focal length at a fraction of the price of Leica's own f/1.4 designs [1][2]. Its optical layout is unusual for an inexpensive 50mm: a longer-focal-length double-Gauss section up front is paired with a rear group carrying high-dispersion and aspherical elements that apply additional correction, an approach reviewers have compared to the "speedbooster-like" rear groups in recent Cosina-built Voigtländer designs [3][1]. The ten-element, eight-group formula includes one double-sided aspherical element and one abnormal partial-dispersion element alongside eight high-refractive elements [2].

The barrel is built entirely of metal and glass, with an aluminium body, a ribbed manual-focus ring, and engraved, paint-filled markings whose typeface deliberately echoes classic Leica lenses [1]. The thin front aperture ring runs from f/1.4 to f/16 with half-stop clicks, and the twelve straight blades are held in alignment so the opening stays close to circular [1][3]. The lens is a fully mechanical, manual-focus design with no electronic contacts, so it passes no EXIF data and carries no six-bit coding [1]. It is rangefinder-coupled, and a notable convenience is that the coupling can be recalibrated by the user with a supplied small screwdriver, allowing owners to match it precisely to their camera without sending it away [3].

The M-mount version is the original release and focuses to roughly 0.7 m; later mirrorless-native versions for systems such as Canon RF and Sony E added closer focusing at the cost of some added spherical aberration near the minimum distance [3][1]. The M lens has been sold in black, under the model reference A09B [4]. No major factory special editions of the M-mount version are widely documented.

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers describe a lens with a deliberate split personality that depends on focus distance. It performs well across most of the frame at portrait and standard working distances of roughly 0.7 to 3 m, where it combines good central resolution with smooth falloff into blur, while wide-open performance toward infinity is soft due to abundant spherical aberration [3][1].

Sharpness At wide apertures in the close-to-medium range the central portion of the frame is good to very good, with softer edges, and stopping down to f/4 to f/5.6 brings sharpness across the frame [1]. At infinity the lens is soft at f/1.4 but reaches very good to excellent edge-to-edge results once stopped down, making it usable for landscapes [1].

Bokeh and transitions From minimum focus to about 3 m the background blur is generally smooth and well regarded, with only minor onion-ring structure in specular highlights from the aspherical element; beyond roughly 3 m the rendering roughens, with bright, multicoloured outlines on highlights tied to residual spherical and chromatic aberration [1].

Contrast and color Contrast is moderate at wide apertures in the close-range sweet spot and becomes punchy when stopped down, with a slightly warm base color balance [1].

Aberrations Lateral chromatic aberration is well controlled, while longitudinal CA appears wide open as magenta-before and green-behind fringing typical of fast fifties; coma is high, making the lens a poor choice for astrophotography [1].

Flare resistance Flare control is the lens's main weakness, reflecting modest coatings: shooting into the sun wide open can produce a rainbow ring flare, which is largely eliminated by stopping down slightly [1].

Distortion and vignetting The lens shows mild to moderate pincushion distortion that is easily corrected in software and is rarely objectionable in everyday use [1].

History

Development and Launch TTArtisan, the brand of Shenzhen-based DJ-Optical, introduced the 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. in 2020, shortly after its 50mm f/0.95, positioning it as a more practical and affordable fast standard lens for Leica M cameras [3][4]. At launch it was offered only in M mount, and reviewers tested it on bodies such as the Leica M10 [3]. It was widely framed as a low-cost alternative to Leica's Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. [2][5].

Collector Notes Because the lens carries no electronic contacts and no six-bit coding, M-camera users who want focal-length recording or in-camera profiles must select 50mm manually [1]. The user-adjustable rangefinder coupling is a useful feature but means originality and calibration are worth checking on the used market, since owners may have re-shimmed the coupling themselves [3]. The lens ships with a slip-on metal cap but no hood, so a 49 mm-thread or push-on accessory hood is a common addition; verifying the cap and any aftermarket hood is sensible before buying [1].

Sources

• [1] Admiring Light. Review: TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH (RF Mount). https://admiringlight.com/blog/review-ttartisan-50mm-f-1-4-asph-rf-mount/
• [2] The Camera Store. TTArtisan 50mm f1.4 ASPH. - Leica M. https://thecamerastore.com/products/ttartisan-50mm-f1-4-asph-leica-m
• [3] Phillip Reeve (BastianK). Review: TTArtisan 50mm 1.4. https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-50mm-1-4/
• [4] B&H Photo Video. TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. Lens for Leica M (A09B). https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1592033-REG/ttartisan_a09b_50mm_f_1_4_asph_lens.html
• [5] Photos by Johnathan Comer. TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 ASPH (vs Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH). https://photosbyjohnathan.com/2022/03/12/ttartisan-50mm-f-1-4-asph-vs-leica-50mm-summilux-asph/