Review: TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 - A Modern and Affordable Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5?

Review: TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 - A Modern and Affordable Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5? TTArtisan has done it again. After previously remaking the legendary Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8—renowned for its distinctive soap bubble bokeh—they've now turned their attention to another iconic lens: the Big B, or more precisely, the Carl Zeiss Biotar 75mm f/1.5. This legendary lens, famous for its swirly bokeh, sharp centre, and 3D pop, has become something of a myth over time. While TTArtisan has never claimed to have replicated the Biotar, the lens's shape, mount choice, and, more importantly, its optical formula leave little to the imagination about what they have aimed to mimic. The Biotar 75mm is often called the "Original King of Bokeh," as the popular Soviet-era Helios 40 85mm f/1.5—known simply as the "King of Bokeh"—is rumored to be based on the Biotar’s design due to their similar optical formula. Thanks to its unique optical characteristics, limited production, and beautiful bokeh, sharpness, and 3D pop, the Biotar 75mm f/1.5 became highly sought after, eventually turning into a collector's item. Prices on the used market soared to between $1,500 and $4,500, depending on the version and condition. Now, let’s take a closer look at TTArtisan's remake of this iconic lens! *Check it out at:* TTArtisan ($269): https://ttartisan.store/products/ttartisan-75mm-f1-5/?ref=deicqj08 Amazon ($289) : https://amzn.to/4eC0kP7 *Mount adapters* M42 to Sony E adapter: https://amzn.to/4doo1JP M42 to Nikon Z adapter: https://amzn.to/3N15Oaw M42 to Canon RF adapter: https://amzn.to/3MXOzHd M42 to Fuji X adapter: https://amzn.to/3ZDY31H M42 to Fuji GFX adapter: https://amzn.to/4euDwRC *My gear (2024):* Main camera : https://amzn.to/3TkA1VD Camera grip : https://amzn.to/3TkAmaR Memory Card : https://amzn.to/3AQQ3Ae Memory Card 2 : https://amzn.to/3Xe5GZX Lens : https://amzn.to/3XwAfv7 Camera 2 : https://amzn.to/3Mr2Bk5 Memory card : https://amzn.to/3TliIn8 Small Tripod: https://amzn.to/4cOhcky *Blog Post:* https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-75mm-f-1-5-a-modern-and-affordable-zeiss-biotar-75-1-5/ *Helios 40 Review on Blog Site:* https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-kmz-helios-40-85mm-f-1-5-can-the-legend-live-up-to-its-reputation/ *TTArtisan 100/2.8 (Trioplan remake bubble bokeh reveiw):* https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-ttartisan-100mm-f-2-8-a-modern-and-affordable-trioplan/ *Sample Images:* https://images.stockholm360.net/ttartisan-75mm-f-1-5/ Timestamps: 00:00 Review TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 - A Modern and Affordable Zeiss Biotar 75/1.5? 02:22 Variations and History of Biotar 75/1.5 05:11 Handling & Build Quality 08:00 Optical Features 08:24 Sharpness near Infinity 09:20 Sharpness at Portrait Distance 10:25 Sharpness at Closeup Distance 10:47 Lenst Distortion 10:55 Vignetting 11:35 Focus Shift & Aberrations 12:07 Flare Resistance 12:39: Coma 12:53 Sunstars 13:15 Focus Breathing 13:32 Bokeh 17:28 Conclusion & Sample Images This channel contains affiliate links, for which I may receive a small commission if you purchase via the links at no additional cost. This helps support the creation of future content.