TTArtisan AF 35mm f/1.8 II

This second-generation TTArtisan prime puts a 35mm lens on APS-C mirrorless cameras. It comes in Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z versions, so choose the one matching your system. The design launched in 2024 and remains in production.

The 35mm focal length gives a natural, walk-around view for street, travel and everyday pictures. The f/1.8 aperture and light build suit dim interiors and evening streets. As a prime it serves one focal length, so you frame by moving yourself. That fixed view is the main trade-off for the bright aperture and small size.

It weighs 6.2 oz (176 g) and runs 1.93 in (49 mm) long, so it stays small on an APS-C body. That lightness makes the camera easy to raise one-handed for quick candids. A 52mm screw-in filter attaches directly to the front thread. Our Physical score is 57/100.

On an APS-C sensor, 35mm frames the world much as your eye sees it. That view suits street photography, market scenes, interiors and small groups. It is an easy focal length to carry all day because it rarely demands backing up or stepping in. When you do want to step in, close focus reaches 1.3 ft (40 cm), close enough for food, market goods or shop windows.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is the real draw. It passes enough light for handheld shots in cafes, bars and evening streets. Wide open, it also separates a portrait subject from a busy background. Stop down a little and depth of field covers two or three people comfortably.

Backgrounds fall away gently at 35mm rather than vanishing, so portraits keep some context around the sitter. That balance suits environmental portraits and documentary work.

Nine aperture blades shape the opening when you stop down, helping out-of-focus lights stay round. Round highlights read as smooth blur rather than cut-out shapes. You see the effect in evening scenes, where lit windows and street lamps sit behind your subject.

The lens offers no image stabilisation, so shake correction must come from the camera body. The bright f/1.8 aperture and short 35mm focal length cover much handheld stills work. For tripod-free video and static night scenes, a stabilised body still helps.

There is no weather sealing and no fluorine coating on the glass. In rain, spray or dust, wipe the front element promptly and keep a cloth in the bag. That matches its light, compact build. Treat it as fair-weather gear for city use.

Inside, 10 elements in 7 groups include two low-dispersion elements. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, where colours focus at slightly different points and leave coloured fringes along high-contrast edges. Street scenes often put branches, wires and signs against bright sky, exactly where fringes show.

Focusing is internal, so the barrel keeps its length while the lens focuses. Nothing extends toward the subject, which helps when you work close to people or tables. Our Construction score is 38/100.