Using unique lenses can add artistic flair to your shots, and the TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 Swirly Bokeh lens is one of those options, offering a distinctive, swirling bokeh effect. This lens, designed for full frame mirrorless cameras, doesn’t prioritize sharpness but instead provides an out-of-focus background with a swirling, almost dreamlike quality that can add depth and style to certain images.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this excellent video review examines the unusual features of the TTArtisan 75mm f/1.5 Swirly Bokeh lens. Frost explains that this is a “special effect” lens, crafted not for sharpness but for its characteristic bokeh pattern. At wide-open apertures, especially on full frame cameras, the lens creates a swirling effect in the background, primarily around the corners. Frost notes that this effect is strongest at f/1.5 and becomes less pronounced at smaller apertures like f/2.8, where the bokeh becomes more conventional. This lens is ideal if you’re aiming for a soft, stylized look rather than tack-sharp precision.
The build quality of the TTArtisan 75mm is generally solid, with a metal construction, smooth manual focus, and click-stop aperture ring. However, there are some quirks. Frost points out that this lens uses the M42 screw mount, an older format, which requires an adapter for modern mirrorless cameras. This choice might seem unconventional, but adapters for M42 lenses are readily available, making it adaptable to most camera systems. While it’s a fully manual lens with no weather-sealing, it’s designed to provide a tactile, hands-on shooting experience that appeals to photographers seeking more creative control.
When it comes to optical performance, Frost emphasizes that sharpness is not the selling point here. At f/1.5, the center of the image is noticeably soft, though contrast remains decent. Moving away from the center, you’ll notice strong softness and low contrast, especially in the corners. Sharpness improves somewhat as you stop down, reaching a peak at around f/4, although the corners remain somewhat soft even at smaller apertures. This characteristic makes the lens more suited for artistic portraits or experimental shots rather than detailed, high-resolution work.
One of the highlights of Frost’s review is the lens’ bokeh, which is the key attraction. The swirling bokeh effect can add an almost surreal quality to images, making subjects pop against a textured, motion-filled background. Frost compares the effect to other swirly bokeh lenses, noting that while it’s not the strongest he’s seen, it’s certainly eye-catching and offers good value for the price. The lens also exhibits some minor chromatic aberration and flaring, but Frost remarks that these effects can add to the overall artistic appeal of the images. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
