TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95

This 2022 TTArtisan prime pairs a 50mm focal length with an f/0.95 maximum aperture. It comes in versions for Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Leica L, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon Z and Sony E. All six share the same optical design.

Pick the version made for your camera, because each one fits only its own mount. The Canon RF version covers APS-C. Other versions list different sensor formats, so check the details for yours.

That speed suits portraits, street work and dim interiors. Focusing is manual only, and the lens has no stabilization or weather sealing. You give up those automated helpers for a very wide aperture, so it rewards patient, deliberate shooting.

The lens weighs 14.5 oz (411 g), light enough for long handheld sessions. The Canon RF version measures 2.36 in (60 mm) wide and 2.44 in (62 mm) long, so it stays small on a mirrorless body.

Filters screw directly into the 58mm thread, so a polariser or ND filter needs no adapter.

On the APS-C versions, the 50mm focal length frames like a short telephoto. That view flatters portraits and tightens street scenes. Subjects fill the frame from a comfortable working distance.

The f/0.95 maximum aperture is the lens's main draw. It captures candlelit rooms, night streets and dim venues without pushing ISO settings high. You can also keep shutter speeds reasonable where flash is unwelcome.

At portrait distance the aperture throws backgrounds out of focus, isolating a face against busy surroundings. That shallow focus is demanding. Wide open, only a sliver of a face stays sharp, so turn the manual ring slowly and confirm focus with peaking or magnified view. Stop down a little and depth of field relaxes, so focusing becomes much easier.

Ten aperture blades help keep the opening round when you stop down, smoothing out-of-focus highlights. That roundness shows most in evening lights and foliage behind a subject. Closest focus is 1.6 ft (50 cm), enough for head-and-shoulder portraits. Our optics specification score for the lens is 76 out of 100.

The feature list is short. There is no image stabilization, so at slower shutter speeds camera shake is entirely your responsibility. The wide aperture helps in dim light, but stopped down or in deep shade, brace yourself or use a tripod.

There is no weather sealing either. Rain, spray and grit have a direct path inside, so keep the lens covered or bagged in rough conditions.

The front glass also has no fluorine coating. Smudges and fingerprints need careful wiping rather than a quick brush-off, so carry a clean cloth. Brush off dust first, then wipe gently.

Eight elements in six groups make up the optical path. The Canon RF version contains no aspherical or low-dispersion elements, so the design uses conventional glass throughout. That keeps the construction straightforward. All focusing work passes through the manual ring rather than a motor.