TTArtisan’s AF 35mm F1.8 II now comes in a limited “Orange Pop” finish, and it’s an appealing option for mirrorless shooters who want a small, bright standard prime without spending a fortune. Compact, lightweight and designed for everyday use, this lens aims to blend practical handling with pleasant image rendering — the kind of tool that works equally well on the street, while traveling, or covering fast-moving motorsport scenes.
What you get
– Native mounts: Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z (also usable on many full-frame bodies in APS-C / crop mode).
– Weight: roughly 176–193 g, depending on mount — light enough to carry all day.
– Optics: 10 elements in 7 groups, including 2 high-index and 2 ED elements.
– Aperture: f/1.8 maximum; minimum focus distance 0.4 m.
– Accessories: rear lens cap and a center-pinch front cap for quick on-the-move shooting. The silver variant ships with two lens hoods; the Orange Pop/black options differ in included accessories and hood mounting options.
Design and handling
The AF 35mm F1.8 II mixes metal and plastic in a compact barrel with a tactile focus ring. Its small size moves the center of gravity closer to the camera body, which improves balance and makes handheld shooting more comfortable — especially useful when you’re crouched by a car or hopping from shot to shot on the street. The Orange Pop finish adds personality without making the lens feel fragile or heavy.
Optical performance and rendering
The optical formula emphasizes practical correction and contrast rather than extreme complexity. By using high-index and ED glass, TTArtisan reduces colour fringing and preserves micro-contrast, helping highlights look more natural and improving subject separation. At f/1.8 the lens gives usable low-light capability and a pleasing background blur that isolates subjects — handy for portraits, detail shots of interiors or engine bays, and editorial work. Stopping down slightly brings extra depth of field and sharpness when you need it.
Practical close-up use
With a minimum focus distance of 0.4 m, the lens lets you frame tight detail shots without switching to a macro — ideal for badges, gauges or textured surfaces. On APS-C bodies the field of view roughly matches a 53mm full-frame lens, offering a natural perspective that’s versatile for both documentary and portrait-style work.
Autofocus, stabilization and firmware
The AF system blends an STM stepping motor with a lead-screw motor for smooth, relatively quiet focusing. That combination favors predictable transitions — useful when tracking moving subjects or recording interviews at events. The lens supports modern subject-detection features on compatible cameras (eye, animal and vehicle detection), though compatibility varies by body; continuous AF (AF-C) is not supported on older Sony models such as the ILCE-3000 and ILCE-3500, so double-check if you rely on tracking for high-speed shooting.
There’s no in-lens stabilizer; instead the design pairs well with cameras that offer in-body image stabilization (IBIS). That keeps the lens lighter and better balanced while still benefiting from the camera’s stabilization for panning, low-light work, and steady handheld video.
Firmware updates require a Type-C cable with data transfer capability and are supported on Windows and macOS. Note a macOS caveat: direct USB-C to USB-C connections can be problematic for updates — TTArtisan recommends using a USB-A-to-Type-C cable with a hub or adapter to avoid failed transfers.
Who this lens suits
– Street and travel photographers who want a compact, characterful 35mm that won’t tire them out after a long day.
– Motorsport and event shooters who need a bright, quick-handling lens that pairs with a body offering IBIS and reliable subject detection.
– Anyone after an affordable prime that balances usable bokeh, decent close-focus capability and straightforward handling.
Buying notes and availability
The Orange Pop limited edition is available from the official TTArtisan store and has started appearing at major retailers such as Amazon and B&H. Differences in supplied accessories and bundled hoods depend on the colorway, so check what’s in the box before you buy. Also confirm that your camera model supports the autofocus features you need, and ask retailers about firmware update paths and return policies if you plan to rely on subject tracking for fast action.
What you get
– Native mounts: Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z (also usable on many full-frame bodies in APS-C / crop mode).
– Weight: roughly 176–193 g, depending on mount — light enough to carry all day.
– Optics: 10 elements in 7 groups, including 2 high-index and 2 ED elements.
– Aperture: f/1.8 maximum; minimum focus distance 0.4 m.
– Accessories: rear lens cap and a center-pinch front cap for quick on-the-move shooting. The silver variant ships with two lens hoods; the Orange Pop/black options differ in included accessories and hood mounting options.0