TTArtisan has introduced a new 75mm f/1.5 ‘swirly bokeh’ lens designed with a classic M42 mount, paying homage to vintage photography aesthetics. This lens is versatile, easily adaptable to various modern camera mounts using an adapter, and supports popular brands like Fujifilm, Sony, Nikon, Canon, Hasselblad, and Panasonic.
This new lens, which offers full manual focus and operates entirely mechanically, draws inspiration from the iconic Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5 lens. Both its physical appearance and functional characteristics reflect a vintage charm, providing photographers with a retro experience in both handling and image rendering.
This lens produces a swirly bokeh effect, most pronounced when shooting wide open at its f/1.5 aperture. Rather than focusing on technical precision and sharpness, TTArtisan emphasizes artistic character, delivering a dreamy, dramatic sense of motion that shines in portrait photography. The lens’ unique rendering of out-of-focus areas allows subjects to stand out against busy or complex backgrounds, resulting in visually captivating images.
The optical design consists of six lens elements arranged in four groups. Two of these elements are made from high-refractive-index glass, which enhances contrast and sharpness while maintaining the lens’s unique bokeh characteristics. The 13-bladed diaphragm is exceptionally round, helping the lens achieve its characteristic smooth and circular out-of-focus highlights. Photographers can control the aperture between f/1.5 and f/16, providing flexibility for various shooting environments.
With a minimum focusing distance of 0.75 meters, the lens is tailored more for portraiture and mid-range shooting rather than extreme close-ups. Its 75mm focal length is ideal for creating flattering portraits with a pleasing subject-background separation. The wide aperture further enhances this effect, allowing for dramatic background blurring that accentuates the primary subject.
The lens is designed with a large, tactile focus ring, offering a generous 180-degree focus throw. This makes fine manual adjustments smoother and more precise. The mechanical aperture ring, placed at the front of the lens barrel, follows a thoughtful design that mimics classic lenses. From f/1.5 to f/5.6, the ring provides two clicks per stop, and beyond that, it offers one click per stop, ensuring that photographers can feel each adjustment in the field.
The lens has a 58mm front filter thread, enabling it to accept standard screw-on filters for creative control over light and color. It also comes with metal lens caps, though no hood is included in the package. Weighing in at 570 grams, the lens is built from aircraft-grade aluminum, offering a robust, durable feel in the hand while maintaining a relatively lightweight profile for its class.
TTArtisan has emphasized the artistic qualities of this lens, even calling it a “Soulful Revival, a Classic Reborn” in their promotional materials. The company highlights its ability to produce radiant flare arcs under certain lighting conditions, adding a dramatic interplay of light and shadow to images. This nod to vintage lens characteristics allows photographers to experiment with light in creative ways, channeling a nostalgic look reminiscent of photography’s golden age.
Priced at $269, the TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 Swirly Bokeh lens offers an accessible option for photographers who want to infuse their work with the aesthetics of the past. Available now through retailers such as AVShutter, this lens bridges the gap between modern digital photography and the timeless style of vintage lenses, making it an intriguing addition to any photographer’s kit.