7Artisans 35mm f/1.2
Announced January 1, 2018
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Mediocre
The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 is a compact, metal-bodied manual lens that offers an affordable entry point for those seeking a fast aperture and distinct rendering. While it provides a fun, character-filled shooting experience, it suffers from significant optical flaws including poor corner sharpness, heavy distortion, and intense flaring.
Weighted from 10 reviewer scores
Pros
- Extremely compact and lightweight metal construction
- Highly affordable price for an f/1.2 aperture
- Smooth, well-dampened manual focus and aperture rings
- Pleasing bokeh and unique, character-filled rendering
Cons
- Poor optical performance including softness, low contrast, and field curvature
- Significant barrel distortion and vignetting
- Prone to extreme flaring and color shifts
- Difficult physical handling and manual focus operation
- Launch price $145 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 35mm f/1.2
- Mount & coverage Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Canon EF APS-C
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 35 cm
- Filter thread 43mm
- Weight & size 150g (5.3 oz) · 36 mm (1.42 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 10 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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[T]his lens's tiny size is quite nifty and fun, and its bright maximum aperture and low price is impressive, but the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 stands accused of a string of crimes against image quality, the verdict being guilty as charged on most accounts.
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This is technically definetly not the greatest lens but it was fun to use and gave me many shots I like.
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It’s far from optically perfect, but has a charm in the way it renders that I really like. [...] But even if I can’t, the rest of the way it renders is right up my street.
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At the end of the day, guys, I highly recommend the 7artisans photo electric 35mm f/1.2 lens. For the money, $145, you really can't beat what you're getting, in my opinion.
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Add on top of that the absolutely ridiculously low price, the small form factor and the very nice build quality, and I would not hesitate to recommend this lens to every Fujifilm X shooter who is looking for something a bit different. I’m quite sure you’ll love it, quite a lot.
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With the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2, bokeh, color, and contrast rendering are just awesome for a sub-$200 lens. Its biggest flaw is the vignetting with the color ring shift, so I wouldn’t recommend this lens for landscapes or architecture.
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I'm fairly certain that this is one of the best deals for Fujifilm lenses right now, so if you're on a really strict budget, this is one of the few options that still gives you ultra shallow depth of field at a very cheap price.
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[...] while the image quality was a bit dodgy at f/1.2, it wasn't that terribly bad, and when I balanced it against the sheer fun of using the lens, it became really not that big of an issue for me.
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Lens, I like the bokeh, it's nice. I like the super small form-factor, it's very easy to pack with you. I like the fact that it's all metal or aluminum construction, it feels nicely built in the hand.
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$140 for an f/1.2 is just—it's a steal, and it's really fun, and I find myself using this lens a lot, especially when we're just out and about town.
