50mm f/0.95 lens options have exploded in the last few years, all offering an ultra-wide aperture at a versatile focal length in an affordable manual focus design. So, which of the options is best? This excellent video comparison takes a look at four of them: the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III, TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95, Brightin Star 50mm f/0.95, and the Venus Optics Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this great video review compares four ultra-wide aperture 50mm options: the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III, TTArtisan 50mm f/0.95, Brightin Star 50mm f/0.95, and the Venus Optics Laowa Argus 45mm f/0.95. Even though all these lenses are manual focus only, being for mirrorless cameras, they are much easier to use, even at wide apertures, compared to wide-aperture lenses on DSLRs. For example, almost every camera has focus peaking and zoom for manual focus, making it far easier to lock in a sharp image. Of course, if you are photographing fast action, you may want to consider a lens with autofocus, but for things like portraiture or astrophotography, they are well worth a look. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
I personally don’t see the appeal of f0.95, especially if the lens is soft at this tiny depth of field anyway like three of those examined in this video. Also people will have to put up with manual focusing which many won’t. I guess an f0.95 sounds more appealing than an f1.4 or f2 lens!
The appeal to me is the extra full stop of light gathering on a camera like my M9 that has abysmal ISO performance past 800. lol. But I mean, I agree, if it's super soft wide open it's a waste of time, money, and effort. I'm not saying it has to be critically sharp — especially at the right price — but it needs to be worth it, even on a budget.
I own a Voigtlander 40mm f1.2 E mount and that lens is soft wide open and only really gets sharp at f2.8. It’s a stunning lens though but I would have happily bought a smaller f1.4 or f2 version had there been one available as I don’t really use shallow dof much.