TTArtisan announced a compact and affordable 250mm f/5.6 telephoto reflex lens for full-frame cameras.
To achieve its lightweight design and $298 price point, TTArtisan has opted for a reflex lens design, otherwise known as a “mirror lens.” These types of lenses are relatively unusual, although not unheard of, in the modern age.
A reflex, mirror, or “catadioptric” lens became quite popular during the heyday of film photography thanks to its small, lightweight build and ability to capture distant objects. The lens design uses curved mirrors and refracting optics to achieve a longer focal length with less glass, keeping the size and weight down.
There is a “downside” to the design — although TTArtisan seems keen to market it as a benefit — donut-shaped bokeh. For the mirrors to work, the central area of the optical path must be blocked by a secondary mirror array. This doesn’t impact in-focus areas as much as one might expect, given that there’s something in the way, but it significantly changes bokeh. It’s an interesting-looking style, to say the least.
Alongside this unique disadvantage, mirror lenses offer reduced contrast and sharpness, all else equal. They also have no means of adjusting the aperture, so they are fixed-aperture lenses. The new TTArtisan 250mm prime is always at f/5.6.
TTArtisan has also embraced reflex lenses’ vintage charm by giving its new 250mm f/5.6 a “retro look.” It looks like a lens from the 1970s or 80s, complete with the old-school diamond knurling on the (large) focus ring.
The lens is designed for the M42 mount, although this is a very adaptable mount and can be easily used on Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Sony mirrorless cameras, among others. It sports six elements across five groups and can focus as close as two meters (6.6 feet). The lens weighs around 380 grams (13.4 ounces) and ships with a metal lens hood.
Sample Images
Pricing and Availability
The TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 reflex “donut bokeh” lens is available to order now from Pergear and TTArtisan for $298. It is also in stock on Amazon, although it is priced a bit higher at $319.
Image credits: TTArtisan. The sample photo used in the featured image is by Simon’s utak.