TTArtisan just dropped an affordable 35mm f/1.4 tilt lens for creative slices of focus

While mirrorless brands have been steadily churning out standard lenses, some specialty optics are harder to find – like tilt-shift lenses. But shooters using APS-C or Micro Four Thirds cameras have a new option to choose from: TTArtisan has just unveiled the Tilt 35mm f/1.4 lens.

The TTArtisan Tilt 35mm f/1.4 enables creators to play with creative slices of focus. Tilt lenses are popular for making real-life scenes look like miniatures, while the ability to tilt the plane of focus can also be used to keep slanted objects in focus or, alternatively, to add a narrow slice of focus to a portrait.

(Tilt-shift lenses allow for a slice of focus and perspective control, but the TTArtisan Tilt 35mm appears to be a purely tilt option without the vertical shift for perspective control.)

The TTArtisan Tilt 35mm f/1.4 can tilt in either direction, while the rotating base gives creators more flexibility in where that slice of focus is situated in the frame. With the lens fixed in a straight position, the optic functions like a typical 35mm prime lens – albeit with manual focus only.

While mirrorless photographers are gradually gaining access to more specialty lenses like tilting optics, the TTArtisan Tilt 35 creates a multi-mount option at a lower price point. The APS-C lens is available in Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Sony E and Micro Four Thirds mounts.

The TTArtisan Tilt 35mm f/1.4 is designed with a full metal body. Inside, the optics are designed with 7 elements in 6 groups, along with an 11-blade aperture. The lens weighs around 12 oz / 350g, with slight variations depending on the mount.

The tilt-shift lens is manual focus only, but is capable of focusing on objects as close as 13.8 inches / 0.35m from the front of the lens.

The TTArisan Tilt APS-C 35mm f/1.4 lens retails for $169 on Amazon, which is about £127 / AU$263. That falls under the cost of the brand’s previous full-frame 50mm tilt shift lens, which sits at $229 / $229 / AU$349.

We gave that lens four stars in our TTArisan Tilt 50mm f/1.4 review, for price and aperture, but knocked off some points for mediocre sharpness and colored fringing.

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