TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 23mm
Pairing a bright f/1.4 aperture with a 10-blade diaphragm, this 23mm prime delivers smooth bokeh and strong low-light results in a compact, all-metal build weighing just 361g. Its manual focus design and 35mm equivalent field of view offer deliberate creative control for street, portrait, and landscape work, with optics that remain sharp on 16MP sensors. Best for budget-focused Nikon Z APS-C photographers who prioritize bokeh and don’t mind manual focus for everyday shooting.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong macro (81th percentile) 81th
Cons
- Below average af (15th percentile)
- Below average optical (29th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q3 202560/100
Mixed reviews in Q3 2025: some find it a great value for creative photography, while others are disappointed by softness and manual focus challenges.
- Good for creative/low-light shots, but manual focus takes practice and isn't suitable for action.
- Classic rendering appreciated by some; others cite softness, especially at wider apertures.
- Great price and value for street photography and walk-around use on mirrorless cameras.
- Some buyers report disappointment and opt for sharper alternatives.
- Q1 2022100/100
Buyers praised this budget manual lens for its solid optical quality and handling, noting close-range distortion as a minor creative quirk.
- Excellent value — widely recommended as best budget wide-angle for APS-C.
- Handling superior to similarly priced alternatives on Fuji X-E2.
- Some distortion at close range, but can be used creatively.
- Optical quality adequate for 16MP sensor at this price point.
Based on 11 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 23 |
| Focal Length Max | 23 |
| Elements | 8 |
| Groups | 6 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | 16 |
| Min Aperture | 1.4 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 10 |
Build
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | No |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.8 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 43 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 200 |
vs Competition
| Spec | TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 23mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon Nikkor 2166 | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | Sony E SELP1650 | Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 23mm | 18-300mm | 55-200mm | 18-135mm | 16-50mm | 50mm |
| Max Aperture | 16 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/1.8 |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Fuji X | Nikon F | Canon EF-S | Sony E | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 358 | 92 | 255 | 515 | 116 | 369 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor | Silent Wave Motor | STM | Stepping motor | STM |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | telephoto | zoom | zoom | Wide-Angle |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTArtisan 23mm f/1.4 23mm | 14.6 | 49.5 | 64.6 | 81.2 | 29.4 | 50 | 30.3 | 34.1 | 53.1 | 35.9 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.2 | 75.5 | 96.4 | 87.8 | 74.3 | 77.5 | 30.3 | 99.2 | 83.1 | 81.1 |
| Nikon Nikkor 2166 Compare | 54.9 | 70.3 | 76.8 | 81.2 | 66.4 | 71.8 | 91.7 | 85.3 | 83.1 | 92.5 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 86.6 | 75.5 | 46.6 | 33.2 | 79.8 | 77.5 | 0 | 96 | 78 | 92.5 |
| Sony E SELP1650 Compare | 86.6 | 75.5 | 93.6 | 35.1 | 64.4 | 77.5 | 63.6 | 83.5 | 74.1 | 92.5 |
| Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime Compare | 86.6 | 96.1 | 62.8 | 95.7 | 38.6 | 93 | 86.1 | 34.1 | 50.2 | 81.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
B&H Photo 1 offers From CA$155
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.