If I could use only one lens in my camera 📷

In over 20 years of photography, I ended up finding a nice balance between performance and user experience with Fujifilm. While other brands like Leica may be more popular about the user experience thing, Fujifilm cameras always performed well to me and with a nostalgic feel when comes to those tactile dials that I love or the color rendering of film simulations.

However, when the subject comes to lenses, Fujifilm lenses are great but mostly auto-focus lenses. And here begins my journey searching for a manual-focus lens on third party brands that could help me to extend my experience getting closer to that analog photography shooting style.

Image taken with TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 lens @ 1/400, ISO 200 - Fujifilm Xpro-3 camera

First, how auto-focus lens may differ from manual-focus lens?

Auto-focus and manual-focus lenses serve distinct purposes in photography, each offering unique advantages depending on the shooting scenario.

An auto-focus lens simplifies the focusing process by automatically adjusting the lens elements to achieve sharp focus on the subject when the shutter button is pressed. This feature allows photographers to concentrate more on composition and timing, making it ideal for fast-paced or unpredictable environments like wildlife or sports photography.

Conversely, manual-focus lenses require the photographer to adjust the focus ring manually to achieve sharpness before capturing the image. This method demands greater control and precision, which can be beneficial in situations where auto-focus may struggle, such as low-light conditions, macro photography, or creative shots requiring selective focus. The camera typically provides feedback (such as a beep or on-screen indicator) to confirm when focus is achieved.

Understanding the differences between these two focusing mechanisms can help photographers choose the right lens and technique for their desired outcome, ensuring every moment is captured with clarity and intent.

Image taken with TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 lens @ 1/250, ISO 800 - Fujifilm Xpro-3 camera

How difficult may be to get good photos with a manual-focus lens?

Like any manual task, practice leads to perfection. This is where the true challenge lies, making the use of manual-focus lenses both exciting and deeply rewarding; at least from my perspective. Mastering manual focus requires patience, precision, and a keen eye, but the results are unparalleled. Each shot becomes a deliberate creation, a moment truly captured by your own hand, allowing for a more intimate connection with your subject and the art of photography itself.

This type of lens or photography technique is becoming increasingly popular because it demands that the photographer fully engage with the process, often having only a few seconds to manually adjust the camera settings. This challenge enhances the photographer's skills and results in more intentional and thoughtful compositions, capturing moments with precision and creativity. The manual setup encourages a deeper understanding of exposure, focus, and timing, making each shot a deliberate act rather than a quick click.

It’s like racing a manual car: no disc brakes, no power steering, no automatic shifting, no traction control. What truly makes the difference is the driver’s skill and how he manages the power of his machine. Similarly, in photography, it’s the photographer’s expertise and control over the camera that capture timeless, striking images. Just as a skilled driver reads the road and maneuvers with precision, a skilled photographer understands lighting, composition, and timing to create moments that last forever.

How can perfect focusing be achieved with a manual lens?

In the past, photographers using an optical viewfinder had to manually align the focus by positioning specific elements such as dots, squares, or grids - centrally within the viewfinder. These focus aids helped ensure that the image was sharp and properly composed before capturing the shot. This method required skill and attention, as the photographer had to interpret these indicators accurately to achieve precise focus. Today’s advanced autofocus systems have largely automated this process, but understanding this foundational technique remains important for appreciating the evolution of photographic technology.

In today’s cameras equipped with digital displays, the traditional process of framing and composing an image is simulated rather than mechanically viewed. Despite this shift, some brands continue to use optical viewfinders, such as Leica, or hybrid solutions that combine optical and digital elements, like Fujifilm. These options cater to photographers who prefer the classic experience of looking through a lens (or viewfinder) while benefiting from modern technology. This blend of old and new ensures that timeless photographic techniques remain accessible in the digital age.

In my case with the Fujifilm Xpro-3, the use of "focus peaking" is an excellent choice for ensuring sharp focus. This feature highlights edges in red lines when the subject is in focus, making it easier to achieve precise focus manually. While Fujifilm offers several focusing aids, including digital split image and contrast detection, focus peaking stands out for its clarity and speed, especially in situations requiring quick adjustments. This technique is particularly useful in capturing sharp, timeless moments, aligning perfectly with my photography commitment to preserving memories with precision.

Image taken with TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 lens @ 1/1250, ISO 640 - Fujifilm Xpro-3 camera

Does an image captured with a manual-focus lens shows better quality?

Not necessarily. Quality can sometimes be hard to measure because it often depends on personal taste. What is important or valuable to one person may not hold the same value for others.

For the sake of this post, let's just say all lenses exhibit what is called clinical behaviour, which depends on several technical aspects such as good sharpness, faithful colours, image consistency, and more. On top of that, there is one more aspect identified as lens character: a sort of "signature" that may set a lens apart from others or produce images not easily replicable by other lenses. This character may be inherent to the lens's design, the brand, a specific lens model, or even a particular single lens (called copy).

Some characteristics shown by those lenses may sometimes be perceived as imperfections as well; for example, a warmer amber tone resulting from the coatings, a softer or creamier image rendering, peculiar color or background reproduction, occasional image flaring effects, or other behaviors less typical of lenses manufactured with high-end production standards. To keep it simple, these imperfections can add a certain indescribable charm to photos - a kind of "je ne sais quoi" quality. While some people may consider these traits undesirable, others find them delightful, producing unique, organic images.

Some brands or models of lenses are currently in high demand because "organic look" images have become more popular compared to those with a cleaner, perhaps easier-to-work-with appearance, which can sometimes look too perfect or sterile. This organic look can be achieved using older vintage lenses or modern ones produced by brands focused on creating products with a distinctive signature and character. Brands known for top-quality products, such as Voigtländer, continue to grow in popularity by producing lens models like the Nokton or Color-Skopar, which are comparable in quality to lenses such as the Sony G-Master or Canon L series. However, the latter are preferred by photographers who want to avoid the unpredictability of character lenses and choose more "reliable" lenses that deliver the required results more quickly.

But I would say that when it comes to price, a manual-focus lens has a significant advantage compared to an autofocus lens.

So what's that price point like?

Well, let’s say any reasonable manual-focus lens, in terms of its physical characteristics, is always much cheaper than a similar autofocus lens. There are rare exceptions, such as a Carl Zeiss Jena or a Leica Summilux (among others). Those are exceptional and pricey exceptions, but back to this world: a Fujifilm 27mm f/2.8 autofocus lens may cost around €400, while a TTArtisan 25mm f/2 manual-focus lens may cost €100 (or less).

Image taken with TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 lens @ 1/500, ISO 5000 - Fujifilm Xpro-3 camera

Is the image quality so different?

I personally like to use this type of lens for street and documentary photography. To me, this genre is sometimes a form of artistic expression, it’s about documenting life and capturing the spontaneity of a moment that conveys visual intensity. Dealing with the distinctive and unpredictable is part of what fuels my passion for this process.

That’s why I prefer the more organic character and look produced by this type of lens. To answer the question: yes, there may be flaws such as misfocus, excessive lens character, vignetting, or image softness. All of these can, of course, compromise the final image quality.

But lenses are not inherently better or worse because they are manual-focus or autofocus; their performance depends on the technology and optical investment involved in their design and construction.

We can often minimize a lens's weaknesses through proper techniques, such as maintaining a slower shooting pace, using a flash, selecting a narrower aperture, or simply finding a better angle to capture the same shot.

I would like to share some thoughts about vintage or entry-level manual-focus lenses. Using inexpensive manual-focus lenses can be a lot of fun. At the same time, you can expand your lens collection and explore additional focal lengths without having to spend a fortune these days.

TTArtisan APS-C 17mm F1.4

The lens I brought today is the one I would choose to own if I could only afford one lens for my bag.

It is a TTArtisan brand lens, made in Shenzhen, China, with a focal length of 17mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.4.

I easily ordered this lens online from the TTArtisan page, and it was delivered to my home in just one week, packaged very nicely.

This lens costs around €100It is fully manual focus. When discussing the focal length, some calculation is needed because Fujifilm cameras use APS-C sensors. Therefore, we multiply the lens focal length by 1.5 to get the equivalent focal length on a full-frame camera. For example, 17mm × 1.5 = 25.5mm. From now on, let's consider this lens as belonging to the 28mm range category (similar to the 35mm, 50mm, and so on).

Going wide…

Image taken with TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 lens @ 1/250, ISO 1250 - Fujifilm Xpro-3 camera

I personally find the 28mm focal length to be impressive for street photography. It is slightly on the extreme side of the wide-angle spectrum, but it’s not an ultra-wide lens by any means. Using a 28mm lens challenges the photographer to carefully explore the framing around the subject. Images captured with this focal length often turn out very interesting, as this framing style helps tell a compelling story.

But the use of the 28mm lens is not always widely agreed upon all photographers. The most common or popular focal lengths in street photography are perhaps 35mm or 50mm. With the 35mm range, the focus is more on the context (documentary style), while the 50mm range emphasizes the subject more (portrait style). The 28mm can be a bit more angular, but I will explain next why I am so obsessed with focal lengths close to 28mm:

Without a doubt, when I photograph a trip or walk the streets, I am especially interested in the context as a whole, in what surrounds me and appeals to the senses. Perhaps I am more of a documentary photographer; I enjoy exploring street markets, observing busy people, showcasing the history, and sharing the life of a city, town, or place. I like to seek out unique or different moments in people's daily lives or routines and to find perspectives that catch my eye.

To me, the 28mm lens is like a radar; it allows me to capture a wide scene if I take a step back, and to focus on details if I step closer. With the 28mm, I can photograph an entire street and buildings, but I can also take a portrait or capture a family at dinner, telling the whole story.

I couldn’t do any of this as efficiently with just a 35mm (or other) lens, although I love the 35mm focal length. On the other hand, I also consider any focal length below 28mm to be more prone to distortion, especially when there are people in the frame. All of that makes the 28mm a versatile and perfect focal length, at least to me. I can even take a photo at 28mm and then crop it to 35mm, but I cannot do it the other way around.

Small and compact!

That being said, the TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 is a great lens that fits the bill. It is small and compact, making it an excellent budget or entry-level option that delivers very good image quality for the price.

When used with a more closed aperture (f/4 to f/8), it is sharp from the center to the corners of the image. At wider apertures (f/1.4), it is a fast lens with overall good performance in low light, showing good image quality in the center of the frame and, as expected, slightly less sharp on the edges, but I would say acceptable.

Used wide open, it starts showing some vignetting too, but that can be easily corrected in post.

The copy of this lens I own shows some moderate flaws, such as occasional flare when exposed to direct sunlight. Sharpness may be a bit soft when wide open, but all of this is expected and acceptable, with good overall image detail. I found good contrast and micro-contrast, especially when shooting black and white with ACROS+R Fujifilm film simulations.

Solid metal build

Some technical data: This lens has a corresponding 81º viewing angle, consists of 9 optical elements arranged in 8 groups, and features a diaphragm with 10 blades.

It demonstrates excellent build quality; primarily metal and glass, with a smooth focus ring that is not too loose, and a clickable aperture ring with sufficient stiffness for my preference.

The minimum focal length is approximately 20cm, which is acceptable for a lens with these characteristics. It weighs around 250g, measures 54 x 62mm, and uses 40.5mm screw-in filters, although I don’t feel the need to use any filters.

In conclusion, this lens is more challenging for me to use than an auto-focus lens but it can produce razor-sharp images when used properly. I love this lens because of its small size, excellent image quality, and the enjoyment I get when using it.

At the end of the day, even though photography is not about the gear, we often develop a connection with it because it allows us to create images that resonate with us.

For me, the images from this small lens are full of character; they are also images with soul.

I recommend the TTArtisan 17mm f/1.4 to those who have the will and patience to explore the more technical aspects of photography, as it can be extremely rewarding and fun.

In my opinion, TTArstian just made a good quality product without breaking my bank account.

This is a personal opinion based on my experience using this lens and is not sponsored or supported by the TTArtisan brand.