105mm Macro sharpness expectation.

[Len Shepherd]

There seem to me 3 issues.

The first is are you (as distinct from anybody else) happy with the price difference and the significantly different set of features. Price seems your main concern.

Second, as I explained earlier, you are shooting at two different apertures for DoF and possible sharpness and need to stop down the Nikon two extra stops compared to the Artisan to get comparable depth of field with a possible different Nikon resolution in the bank note comparison
Additionally exposure differs by about half a stop.

Third zooming in on my calibrated monitor on a relatively small image (a forum posting limitation) there is a moderate though useful resolution advantage to the Nikon - that might change if identical (for exposure) apertures are used.

If you want to primarily get to 2:1 and mainly work from a tripod with manual focus the Artisan has a good feature set.

If you want to limit to 1:1 without accessories, to sometimes hand hold with VR, to have AF, to have what is known to be a good portrait lens, to do focus stacking via the camera menu and based on your posted tests to have the highest resolution then the Nikon has a good feature set.

 

[Lee R]

There seem to me 3 issues.

The first is are you (as distinct from anybody else) happy with the price difference and the significantly different set of features. Price seems your main concern.

Second, as I explained earlier, you are shooting at two different apertures for DoF and possible sharpness and need to stop down the Nikon two extra stops compared to the Artisan to get comparable depth of field with a possible different Nikon resolution in the bank note comparison
Additionally exposure differs by about half a stop.

Third zooming in on my calibrated monitor on a relatively small image (a forum posting limitation) there is a moderate though useful resolution advantage to the Nikon - that might change if identical (for exposure) apertures are used.

If you want to primarily get to 2:1 and mainly work from a tripod with manual focus the Artisan has a good feature set.

If you want to limit to 1:1 without accessories, to sometimes hand hold with VR, to have AF, to have what is known to be a good portrait lens, to do focus stacking via the camera menu and based on your posted tests to have the highest resolution then the Nikon has a good feature set.

They were both at 5.6 actually in those images. The DOF is not equivalent on the TT artisan. I don't know why that is, I'm sure someone with much better optics design knowledge than me can probably explain why. Both were at the same distance. You also need to slow shutter a few stops to get the same exposure as the Nikon at the same F stop.

I think the Nikon's sharper wide open, you can see a *tiny* bit more detail at 5.6 on both in the Nikon but it is slight, that might increase a *tiny* bit at f/4 as I think it's peak is F/4. But that TT Artisan is right there with it and once you apply the DCP the colors/contrast are very similar.

Really if I never had the TT Artisan I don't think I would even be thinking any of this and be happy with the Nikon. It's the 3x the price I expected a clear win for the Nikon for optics with its reputation and am just stunned a bit by this inexpensive Chinese lens that's basically matching it for resolution and image quality.

I'll likely end up keeping both and using the TT Artisan for tabletop at 2:1 only because the Nikon's easier for everything else, has VR and weather sealing. Focus stacking is pretty amazing as well.

I do plan on dropping by where I bought the Nikon and asking If they don't mind me popping the Rental 105 on and just doing some quick side by side shots to verify the one I have is not a bad copy. I don't think it is, I just think the TT artisan is that good. They have similar amounts of lens elements inside.

The Chinese lens makers are really getting quite competitive.

 

[Len Shepherd]

They were both at 5.6 actually in those images. The DOF is not equivalent on the TT artisan. I don't know why that is,

As I explained earlier in the thread at 1:1 magnification the Nikon which is not a symmetrical lens shoots with f2.8 DoF.

To get close to identical DoF to the Artisan at f5.6 set the Nikon to f11.
You should then get a similar shutter time with both lenses.

The Chinese lens makers are really getting quite competitive.

Agreed.

 

[O]

Chinese lenses versus high priced Nikon Canon Sony Fuji Olympus lenses.

The Chinese manufacturers can be very competitive and give mainstream end users 90% of what some of the overpriced high margin branded lenses can.

I mean a lot but not all of branded lenses are made in China in whole or in parts then assembled in Taiwan or Japan or where ever.

B and H carry a lot of cheaper of brand or home brand lenses.

We need to remember many buyers are not professionals nor serious enthusiasts looking at micro differences and ultra-perfect outcomes.

Instagram, Face Book Tik Tok U Tube are the platforms that are used by 90% of the population be it text pictures video, that's where the unit sales volume market flows.

Chines off brands can get into the branded market, the branded market cant get into the Chines brands.

When you look at the majority of the mainstream users novice etc, they often don't know or can’t see or even care about CA Distortion deadly sharpness ultra-fast speed ultra-high iso.

They are happy with a kit lens as we would cry and pine for a 24-70 F2.8 or 24-120 F4..........at worst.

I feel we will see more Chines off brand or generic products under many different brands in the future.

One can jump a plain, go to a manufacturer in China, select a generic lens have it branded with your own name and logo, your in business, the only job then is to market it.

Copy right in China's manufacturing circles means copy it right, LOL only joking.

Ever tried to fight a copyright issue in China ?

Hey China is the affordable manufacturing capital or the world, a world that is much dependent on. They will only get better an better and mind you they already make some really good cool stuff.



Only an opinion

 

[Lee R]

The Chinese manufacturers can be very competitive and give mainstream end users 90% of what some of the overpriced high margin Branded lenses can.

I mean a lot but not all of branded lenses are made in China in whole or in parts then assembled in Taiwan or Japan or where ever.

B and H carry a lot of cheaper of brand or home brand lenses.

We need to remember many buyers are not professionals nor serious enthusiasts looking at micro differences and ultra-perfect outcomes.

Instagram, Face Book Tik Tok U Tube are the platforms that are used by 90% of the population be it text pictures video, that's where the volume market flows.

Chines off brands can get into the branded market, the branded market cant get into the Chines brands.

When you look at the majority of the mainstream users novice etc, they often don't know or can’t see or even care about CA Distortion deadly sharpness ultra-fast speed ultra-high iso.

They are happy with a kit lens as we would cry and pine for a 24-70 F2.8 or 24-120 F4..........at worst.

I feel we will see more Chines off brand or generic products under many different brands in the future.

One can jump a plain, go to a manufacturer in China, select a generic lens have it branded with your own name and logo, your in business, the only job then is to market it.

Copy right in China's manufacturing circles means copy it right, LOL only joking.

Ever tried to fight a copyright issue in China ?

Hey China is the affordable manufacturing capital or the world, a world that is much dependent on. They will only get better an better and mind you they already make some really good cool stuff.



Only an opinion

The Chinese brands are amazing value for the performance they offer. Time will tell on build quality but you really can't go wrong with a lot of them for not a lot of money. One of the xmas gifts was a TT artisan 50mm F/2 which is a $65 lens. I'm honestly very excited to try it out. It's an all metal lens and all manual. From what I've read it performs well beyond the price tag.

I'm all about rendering on lenses, total sharpness is not what I'm after in shorter focal length primes.

 

[O]

The Chinese brands are amazing value for the performance they offer. Time will tell on build quality but you really can't go wrong with a lot of them for not a lot of money. One of the xmas gifts was a TT artisan 50mm F/2 which is a $65 lens. I'm honestly very excited to try it out. It's an all metal lens and all manual. From what I've read it performs well beyond the price tag.

I'm all about rendering on lenses, total sharpness is not what I'm after in shorter focal length primes.

The amount of margin in making branded lenses is phenomenal, and that's the industry.
Chinese lenses will only get better.
You make a good point on durability, but at these prices you can afford to throw them away and buy another two of the same LOL.

 

[Tiago C]

Suggestions of good objects easy to get?

I’m not a professional reviewer with expensive standardized charts. The tiny print on a dollar seemed easy for anyone to have and the tiny cotton fibers difficult to clearly resolve. I wasn’t trying to resolve the ink.

Nice examples! Thanks for the thread