TTArtisan has dropped a bombshell in the photography world with its new 250mm f/5.6 full-frame mirrored reflex lens for the vintage M42 mount. At first glance, it might sound like just another lens, but there’s a lot more to this story.
This week, TTArtisan unveiled the 250mm f/5.6 Reflex lens, designed for the M42 mount—a screw thread mount that brings back memories of the classic Praktica analog cameras from the 60s and 70s. What’s even more fascinating is that this lens can be adapted for modern cameras, including Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, Nikon, and Hasselblad.
The M42 might also remind you of the motorway in the UK, but in the photography world, it’s a budget-friendly way to create a universal lens. All you need is a camera-specific adapter. This is especially useful for manual focus lenses that don’t rely on electronic parts, like the new TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 mirror lens. Not only does it come with a retro mount, but it also sports a classic design. Its diamond-shaped grip on the focusing ring screams vintage, straight out of the 1970s.
Built with six elements in five groups, the lens is relatively lightweight at 380 grams and has a 67mm filter thread size. Made from anodized aviation aluminum, the body is both robust and durable, yet easy to carry around. Compared to other lenses with similar specs, it’s more compact while still allowing photographers to get close to their subjects and achieve that dreamy, compressed background known as bokeh.
Speaking of bokeh, one of the standout features of mirrored reflex lenses like this one is the unique ‘doughnut’ bokeh. With a fixed f/5.6 aperture, it transforms ordinary scenes into something truly artistic, almost like abstract oil paintings. When capturing rich colors, this lens can make photos look like they were brushed onto a canvas.
The lens also boasts other impressive features: a highly reflective metal mirror with up to 98% reflectivity, multi-layer ultra-low AR coatings, no vignetting on both APS-C and full-frame cameras, and a minimum focus distance of just 2 meters. It’s a creative tool that lets photographers see everyday scenes in a whole new light.
The new TTArtisan 250mm f/5.6 Reflex lens is available now through retailers like Pergear and Amazon, priced at $298, £238, or AU $455.
TTArtisan has certainly lived up to its reputation for making quality, affordable lenses with this new release. The 250mm f/5.6 Reflex lens is a nostalgic yet innovative piece of gear that combines the best of both worlds: retro aesthetics and modern adaptability.
