TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air § 03 Head to head
TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air vs Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO
TTartisan 17mm f/1.8 has a wider field of view. Laowa 17.5mm f/1.7 is 0.2 stops brighter maximum aperture.
Both lenses are made for the Sony E mount: the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air is a 17mm f/1.8 prime, and the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO is a 17.5mm f/1.7 prime. On paper the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.
TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air 
Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO 01
Key differences
Why is the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air better than the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO?
- Wider field of view (17mm vs 17.5mm)
- 409 g lighter (161 g vs 570 g)
Why is the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO better than the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air?
- 0.2 stops brighter maximum aperture (f/1.7 vs f/1.8)
- Longer reach (17.5mm vs 17mm)
- Focuses 16 cm closer (0.02 m vs 0.18 m)
- Has a physical aperture ring
- More aperture blades (11 vs 6)
- Covers a larger sensor format (full-frame vs APS-C)
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Which should you buy?
- landscape For landscape photography, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air has the edge: it goes wider, to 17mm against 17.5mm.
- architecture For architecture, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air has the edge: it goes wider, to 17mm against 17.5mm.
- low-light For low-light shooting, the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO has the edge: its f/1.7 aperture gathers more light than f/1.8.
- astrophotography For astrophotography, the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO has the edge: its f/1.7 aperture gathers more light than f/1.8.
- macro For macro photography, the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.02 m.
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Specification
| Specification | TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air | Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 17mm | 17.5mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.7 ◆ |
| Minimum aperture | f/16 | f/5.6 |
| Lens type | Prime lens | Prime lens |
| Format | APS-C | Full frame |
| Weight | 161 g ◆ | 570 g (20.11 oz) |
| Dimensions | — | 127.5 x 70.2 mm |
| Minimum focusing distance | 0.18 m (7.09 inches) | 0.022 m (0.87 inches) ◆ |
| Image stabilization | No | No |
| Aperture ring | No | Yes |
| Aperture blades | 6 | 11 ◆ |
| Optical construction | 14 elements / 10 groups | 17 elements / 12 groups |
| Filter size | 52 mm | — |
| Lens mount | Sony E, Fujifilm X | Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-Mount, Nikon F, Canon EF, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds |
| Released | 2026 | 2026 |
| Price | $148 list price | — |
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which lens has the brighter aperture, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air or the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO?
- The Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO opens to f/1.7, against f/1.8 on the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air, 0.2 stops brighter.
- Which is lighter, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air or the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO?
- The TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air weighs 161 g, 409 g less than the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO (570 g).
- Which focuses closer, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air or the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO?
- The Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO focuses down to 0.02 m, against 0.18 m for the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air.
- Do the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air and the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO have image stabilization?
- No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.
- Is the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air or the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO better for landscape photography?
- For landscape photography, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air has the edge: it goes wider, to 17mm against 17.5mm.
- Is the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air or the Venus Optics LAOWA Aksen 17.5 mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO better for architecture?
- For architecture, the TTartisan AF 17 mm f/1.8 Air has the edge: it goes wider, to 17mm against 17.5mm.
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