TTArtisan APS-C 10mm F2 10mm

The TTArtisan 10mm f/2 is a sharp, all-metal ultra-wide with a ridiculous 2:1 macro trick and a very friendly price. Manual focus only, so it's not for everyone. If you're okay with that, it's one of the best budget ultra-wides we've seen.

Sharpness is the headline here. Owners consistently mention it's sharp wide open at f/2 and even better stopped down. The 13 elements in 10 groups with 2 aspherical elements keep distortion impressively low for a 10mm. Chromatic aberrations are well controlled too. The f/2 aperture lands in the 91st percentile, which means real low-light capability for astro and dim interiors. But corners get soft at wide apertures, and the manual focus ring markings aren't always accurate. You'll want focus peaking or magnification on your camera body. The 8-blade diaphragm produces a clean octagonal starburst, which is a nice touch for night city shots.

Against the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN, the TTArtisan is wider, faster, and cheaper, but the Sigma gives you autofocus and zoom flexibility. The Tamron 28-300mm is a completely different animal, a do-everything travel zoom that can't touch 10mm on the wide end. The Meike 85mm f/1.4 II is a portrait specialist with autofocus, so it's not really a direct rival. If you want a dedicated ultra-wide prime and don't mind focusing manually, the TTArtisan undercuts most of these on price while beating them on sheer width.

At USD 169 in the US, this lens is a steal for what it does. The CAD price runs 229 to 242, and in Japan you'll see a spread from JPY 32,400 to JPY 42,582 depending on the store. In Mexico it ranges from MXN 3,222 to MXN 4,267. Shop around, because the same lens can cost noticeably more depending on where you click. For the money, you get solid optics, a metal barrel, and a genuinely fun ultra-wide experience. Just remember you're paying for glass and build, not autofocus or weather sealing.

The TTArtisan 10mm f/2 is a tiny, all-metal ultra-wide that costs less than a decent dinner for two. It's manual focus only, covers APS-C, and gives you a 105-degree field of view. For Canon RF shooters who want to try astro, interiors, or dramatic landscapes without selling a kidney, this is a very interesting little lens.

Our database puts its macro score at the absolute top of the charts, which sounds weird for a 10mm lens until you see the 2:1 max magnification and 10mm minimum focus distance. You can basically touch the front element to your subject. That's a party trick most ultra-wides don't have.

Skip this if you need autofocus for fast-moving subjects, sports, or wildlife. The 35.3 score in wildlife and sports is one of the weakest we've seen in that category. Also skip it if you want weather sealing or reliable distance markings for zone focusing. This is a deliberate, slow-down-and-think kind of lens, not a run-and-gun tool.

Buy this if you want a cheap, sharp, ultra-wide prime for astro, architecture, interiors, or creative close-up work. It's a manual lens, so you need patience and a camera with good focus aids. Beginners who expect autofocus will be frustrated. But for the price, it's one of the easiest ways to get a 105-degree view on Canon RF without spending four figures.