TTArtisan 28mm f5.6

[pippy]

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Posting this in case it is of any use. Plenty of fine detail in the rigging should be apparent (when viewed 'full size' within forum limits) as is the near-perfectly rectilinear nature of the lens.

Spotting aside image is effectively SOOC and no corrections have been applied. Camera was M Monochrom. Lens was coded as 28mm f2.8 Elmarit v3 (i.e. the oldest design available to me). Exposure was - as far as I can tell from the EXIF Data - 1/350 f8 @ ISO 320 - so just one stop down. There was a Circular Polariser fitted which is the reason for the gradual darkening of the sky towards top-left of image as opposed to it being caused by vignetting; as can be seen there is no appreciable vignetting top-right whatsoever. Hood (as supplied) was fitted which might have helped reduce any possibility of there being any flare (the sun was about 10 degrees off to my right). Tme of day was circa 13:30;

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Philip.

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[Dennis]

5 hours ago, petermullett said:

I am extremely pleased with the Ultron, it's handling, it's size, it's quality of manufacture, the pricing and of course it's performance........I'd recommend you take a good look at one. For me it's on par with the Elmarit in all those categories, ( except price! ). The TT and the Summaron 28/5.6's are really nice lenses for sure, but the Ultron has proved to be several steps up from those lenses for my usage.

Thanks for your opinion. Yes, I know it's a terrific lens. Almost all users are saying great things about it. But I have a hunch that it's not for me. Ironically, I prefer the 1mt MFD of the TTA rather than 50cm of the Ultron II for the reason I explained above. In my mind, the 28mm works well when I want more context than a 35, w/ a lot of information and DoF. I mostly used the ELmarit-M at f8 and sometimes f4, and if I want a shallower DoF, I usually switch again to a 35. I don't see myself using the Ultron II wide open. It just doesn't fit my shooting style. That's why I'm considering the TTA, despite the fact it is not a better lens than the Ultron II.
I don't see the point (again, it's me) to shoot a large aperture w/ a WA lens. I appreciate what people do wide open, but I don't do it. While 35 and 50 at f2 is totally another story.

.

Thank you so much for your comments @pippy

4 hours ago, pippy said:

As a truly pocketable "point'n'shoot" 28mm lens it's a perfect choice as long as f5.6 is fast enough - and, for my needs, it usually is.

Agree. For daily light, yes, it could be a perfect choice. I usually expose for the highlight, and the exposure 1/1000 - f/8 - 200 iso is my base Sunny16. If it's cloudy or the scene in the shade, I can gain a stop of SS (1/500) and raise the iso 1, 2, or 3 stops until I achieve the correct exposure. That's the way I was shooting with a Ricoh GR... F8 all day long.  

4 hours ago, pippy said:

from the mixed-bag of images I shot a week or so ago I can't tell for sure simply from looking at the images which were shot at f5.6 / f8 / f11 so that says quite a bit about the performance of the thing even when used wide-open.

Awesome! I will black-tape the wide-open aperture 🙂 So the f8 will be probably my only aperture to choose from. Not sure how will be the difference in sharpness, details, DoF, and vignette again the diffraction if I decide to shoot at f11. I would have to do some tests. But using a lens at one specific aperture only is not a limitation but liberation for me. Does it make sense what I'm saying?

5 hours ago, pippy said:

I suspect that the Leica lens might outperform the TTA in the corners when running in the 'Pixel-Peeping' stakes but for general usage? The TTA is just such a joy to use I haven't once fitted the Elmarit since the TTA arrived. It's hardly a 'perfect' lens but if one embraces the quirkyness of its character then Life is Sweet.

Yes, it will probably outperform the TTA, but hey, I'm not Pixel-peeper. For this reason, having already the 35 Biogon, I would not have bought the LLL, right? The secret is to buy a lens w/ a specific purpose in mind. I think I'm ready to embrace the quirkiness... I just have to cheer myself up enough to make a choice and buy it.

 

 

 

[Guest]

I'm still waiting to see if TTA will make this in Black........If so, then for sure I'll add it to my stock of 28mm's..............

[Dennis]

1 hour ago, petermullett said:

I'm still waiting to see if TTA will make this in Black........If so, then for sure I'll add it to my stock of 28mm's..............

Actually, all my lenses are black. A Leica fellow was selling his 28 Ultron II at a reasonable price. But I said not when I realized it was chrome 
But because there isn't a black version of the 28TTA (yet), I still thinking of the current chrome version anyhow. As an exception. Anyway, I will paint it or black-tape it, lol!  

[pippy]

1 hour ago, Dennis said:

...I will black-tape the wide-open aperture 🙂 So the f8 will be probably my only aperture to choose from. Not sure how will be the difference in sharpness, details, DoF, and vignette again the diffraction if I decide to shoot at f11. I would have to do some tests. But using a lens at one specific aperture only is not a limitation but liberation for me. Does it make sense what I'm saying?...

What differences you will encounter will depend on how, exactly, you plan to use the lens.

Sharpness is (IMX) not a problem.

The ability of the lens to render fine detail is superb regardless of distance.

According to the majority of DoF scales I've seen when a 28mm lens is set at f8 and is focussed at a distance of 2.5m everything from roughly 1.5m to infinity is within acceptable focus...

Vignetting will be more noticeable when shooting wide-open and at close quarters but even then I can't say I've ever noticed it being present never mind 'An Issue' with my snapping habits.

Diffraction is an interesting one and from my snapping the results are inconclusive. At f11 I didn't notice anything untoward at all so nothing remotely to worry about. Stuff shot at f16 / f22 don't seem to have quite the same crispness - mainly towards the far edges - but how much of that is down to my trying to pull a ridiculous amount of focus (as I was); how much is due to diffraction and how much is down to inherent optical design aberrations / weaknesses is hard to say but, that said, I wasn't taking pics to test out this aspect of the lens. Then again; DoF at f11 with a 28mm lens is so deep that this point is (almost) academic.

Please bear in mind that the shooting day in question was simply a 'Daddy-Daughter-Happy-Snap-Day' with both of us just enjoying being out taking photographs and not 'real photography' so having fun - and not Perfect Image-Making - was the primary aim...

Philip.

[Dennis]

5 minutes ago, pippy said:

Diffraction is an interesting one and from my snapping the results are inconclusive. At f11 I didn't notice anything untoward at all so nothing remotely to worry about. Stuff shot at f16 / f22 don't seem to have quite the same crispness - mainly towards the far edges - but how much of that is down to my trying to pull a ridiculous amount of focus (as I was); how much is due to diffraction and how much is down to inherent optical design aberrations / weaknesses is hard to say but, that said, I wasn't taking pics to test out this aspect of the lens. Then again; DoF at f11 with a 28mm lens is so deep that this point is (almost) academic.

Please bear in mind that the shooting day in question was simply a 'Daddy-Daughter-Happy-Snap-Day' with both of us just enjoying being out taking photographs and not 'real photography' so having fun - and not Perfect Image-Making - was the primary aim...

Philip.

I agree. This is a lens much more for snapping than for commercial work, Which is the beauty of it. One can use a trusty Leica M body (film or digital) for many things: documentary, landscapes, portraits, PJ, and much more... And according to the type of shooting, one can pick a specific lens, but using the same camera. The magic of the M-world.  So IMHO the TTA, for its price tag, size, and weight (and characteristics), makes more sense than other 'boring' lenses. 

It's fascinating the diffraction topic. I always set a 'limit' of f8 because of it, but I never measured the possible differences between f8 and f11... Despite the ' worst ' diffraction, does the lens at f11 gain more in DoF and sharpening, with better corners and more minor vignette? Is this measurable? I have no idea. 

[pippy]

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3 hours ago, Dennis said:

...Despite the ' worst ' diffraction, does the lens at f11 gain more in DoF and sharpening, with better corners and more minor vignette? Is this measurable? I have no idea. 

IMX with this lens diffraction isn't remotely an issue at f11. Not at all. Sharpness is superb - even in the corners - and there is no (IMX) noticeable vignetting. FWIW here is a 100% crop from the absolute extreme top-left corner of an image shot (with same kit as before) at f11;

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This 'stuff' wasn't even my focus point(!) which was actually the centre of the facade of the building seen here just creeping into frame on the right hand side of image. If this is as 'soft' as the lens can render at the extremes of frame then I'm happy to say it's good enough for my requirements.

Philip.

 

Edited March 15, 2022 by pippy

[Dennis]

3 hours ago, pippy said:

IMX with this lens diffraction isn't remotely an issue at f11. Not at all. Sharpness is superb - even in the corners - and there is no (IMX) noticeable vignetting. FWIW here is a 100% crop from the absolute extreme top-left corner of an image shot (with same kit as before) at f11;

This 'stuff' wasn't even my focus point(!) which was actually the centre of the facade of the building seen here just creeping into frame on the right hand side of image. 

Philip.

 

If this is true (just kidding) it's really superb. No doubt. I can't ask more from a tiny/super light/cheap lens for M... No doubt! As you said before, if one embraces what this 'kind' of lens is for, life is sweet.

I almost decided. Let's wait and think a little more, just to confirm is not GAS 

[derleicaman]

48 minutes ago, Dennis said:

If this is true (just kidding) it's really superb. No doubt. I can't ask more from a tiny/super light/cheap lens for M... No doubt! As you said before, if one embraces what this 'kind' of lens is for, life is sweet.

I almost decided. Let's wait and think a little more, just to confirm is not GAS 

Hi Dennis, FYI, we are working on a test of this lens for Viewfinder. I have a talented member photographer working on this now. I compared our test lens with my own Summaron re-issue and it is very impressive. Especially considering the price. I would say go for it. How can you go wrong for $300?
Dennis, still looking for your Day of the Dead article!

[pippy]

5 hours ago, derleicaman said:

...we are working on a test of this lens for Viewfinder. I have a talented member photographer working on this now....

No offence taken...

Philip.

[Dennis]

11 hours ago, derleicaman said:

Hi Dennis, FYI, we are working on a test of this lens for Viewfinder. I have a talented member photographer working on this now. I compared our test lens with my own Summaron re-issue and it is very impressive. Especially considering the price. I would say go for it. How can you go wrong for $300?
Dennis, still looking for your Day of the Dead article!

Awesome Bill, thank you for let us know, impressive it's a nice word to hear.

I'm sending you a DM about the article.

[NigelG]

FYI if you're ordering directly from TTA I had an email from Iris in Customer Service to say they were affected by the ongoing Covid shutdowns and direct shipping was now delayed till March 20 at the earliest. Since I already have a copy I'm not fussed about waiting for them to restart shipping to get my second but YMMV.

[NigelG]

21 hours ago, petermullett said:

I'm still waiting to see if TTA will make this in Black........If so, then for sure I'll add it to my stock of 28mm's..............

I might ask them about this but I think it's not likely.

ATM they make aluminium lens housings for M-mount and L-mount  in anodised black and (some) in silver. There is now a "titanium-coloured" option but not in L-mount. 

This 28 is AFAIK the only silver-chromed brass-bodied lens they make and IMHO is to ape the form/finish of the Summaron.

They have no black paint or black chrome lenses in their product range so I'm not sure it's likely they will make a different version.

[Huss]

3 hours ago, NigelG said:

I might ask them about this but I think it's not likely.

ATM they make aluminium lens housings for M-mount and L-mount  in anodised black and (some) in silver. There is now a "titanium-coloured" option but not in L-mount. 

This 28 is AFAIK the only silver-chromed brass-bodied lens they make and IMHO is to ape the form/finish of the Summaron.

They have no black paint or black chrome lenses in their product range so I'm not sure it's likely they will make a different version.

I emailed them about a month ago asking if they were going to make it in black.

 

They did not reply, apart from an out of office message..

[derleicaman]

16 hours ago, pippy said:

No offence taken...

Philip.

No offense meant. I have been following this thread closely. If I didn't have the new version of the 28 Summaron, I would be all over this lens. I have some of their other lenses and they are a great value. This new 28 is even better.

I am always looking for new authors for the LHSA Viewfinder. You don't have to be a member to write for it, and get your photography in print. Feel free to contact me if you would like to contribute.

[lekitr]

The lens is in stock at B&H since Friday... Don't want to do advertising but since it was recently hard to find one.

[Huss]

Waiting for a black one...

[Dennis]

Habemus 28 TTA... Well, not yet 

I found a dealer on Amazon Mexico. $333USD w/ shipping and taxes included, it sounded better than B&H.

It says estimated delivery up to May 24th. But I received a notification that was sent already 😱 No idea. I hope to get it soon.

I'll let you know (when it arrives) after a few shots.

f8 and be there, I can't wait!

Edited March 23, 2022 by Dennis

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Hallo,

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[spydrxx]

Just bot one for $280 on the big auction site. I've been comparing 21 & 35mm shots with those taken with a Canon FD 28 (SLR lens) on my Sony for several days, and decided a 28 in this price range was worth acquiring. Should be here in about 10 days. I hope I get good use out of it.

[Guest]

I like it 😉 

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