bozaman
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2025
- Messages
- 15
L-Mount Lunacy: S5II + TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 (The Masochist's Setup)
I've been spending time with my new (to me) Panasonic Lumix S5II and a little beast I purchased as part of a early Black Friday sale: the TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 (Leica M-mount with M-L adapter). If you like having full control over your settings and feel autofocus is just too convenient for your own good, read on.The Gear & The Feel
The S5II is a fantastic bit of modern tech, and the TTArtisan is an all-metal, beautifully dense block of glass that thinks it's 1957.- Handling: Solid. The S5II grip is comfortable, but let's be honest, you're not going to be winning any drag races with this setup. It forces you to slow down — mainly because you have to.
- Aperture: Gloriously manual. You set the clicks on the lens, the camera just takes orders. It's the only way to live, provided you remember to check it. (PS - There are no electronics here, so no EXIF data ... you will forget your settings the moment you press the shutter.)
The S5II: My Manual Focus Crutches
Let's talk about the only reason this is tolerable: the S5II's focus assist tools. These are less "aids" and more "life support systems" for a photographer whose brain hasn't calculated focal plane depth since the 1990s.- Focus Peaking: A necessary evil. It ostensibly highlights what's sharp, but at f/1.4, that little highlight is about as wide as the actual plane of focus, making you doubt everything. Still, it’s better than nothing.
- Magnification: Pressing a button to punch in is crucial. It’s like putting on reading glasses for your camera. If you're shooting wide open, you're zooming in. Full stop. Don't try to be a hero.
- IBIS: Thank the engineering gods. The S5II's stabilization is doing overtime to forgive my shaky hands while I desperately turn that focus ring. Manually input the 50mm and let the camera work its magic while you pretend you're a steady-handed master.
The Verdict: Painful, But Fun
The lens itself delivers a characterful look — creamy background separation, good center sharpness when stopped down, and an f/1.4 look that screams "Look, I actually tried!"Here's the honest truth:
The Experience: Enjoyable, But Utterly Challenging. I have relied on autofocus for literally decades. Switching to this setup is like forgetting how to ride a bike, then being asked to race in the Tour de France. My keeper rate is currently somewhere between "disappointing" and "tragic." It's going to take far more time and patience to re-learn how to confidently nail focus quickly.
If you want to feel like you've truly earned your shots and you have a high tolerance for missed moments, grab a manual lens and a modern mirrorless body. Your failures will be your own, but your successes will be glorious.
Sharing several static photos I managed to capture that are reasonably in focus and somewhat interesting. No images of people this time because, well ... see above. All photos are in-camera JPG with the Leica Monochrome photo style tweaked in DXO PL9.
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