The last weeks have been highly exiting to me. 7Artisans has launched a firework of new high-end lenses and I was very lucky to get my hands on some early samples. All this started with the stunning new 7Artisans 60mm f2.8 Macro MK II. A lens that is a true update to the already very good MK I version. Read the full comparison report here: 7Artisans 60mm f2.8 Macro comparison MK I / MK II. The new macro lens was followed up by the brand new 7Artisans 50mm f0.95. A great lens with big availble light potential for street as well macro pictures. Read my first test report here: First impressions and test of the new 7Artisans 50mm f0.95. The third candidate in this row of the state of the art lenses provided by 7Artisans has been the impressive 7Artisans 25mm f0.95 lens. A lens, that has the full bandwidth of Landscape, Street and Portrait even at low light situations. See two of my reviews and first impressions over here: Street & Portrait samples the new 7Artisans 25mm f0.95 lens, The NEW 7Artisans 25mm f0.95 test with lens hood.
After testing and playing around with all these cutting edge lenses, the lens I am testing today is… “just normal”. The 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC is for me a kind reminder to my early days when I started my passion in photography. I used a Yashica TL Electro with a 50mm f1.7 lens 40 years ago. Please read my photography journey: MY PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY. The angle of view at a 50mm lens on full frame (35mm on APSC) is close to the typical way we humans are seeing the world. That is the reason why we are attracted so much to images made with this kind of lens. Having this in mind and the pleasure in my heart I had when I started my photography journey this test is for me something more than normal business, it is very emotional.
Let us start with some Technical details on this lens. The 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC will be available with E, Z, FX, EOS-M and M43 mount. The diaphragm has 9 blades and the filter diameter is 49mm. The optical construction is made of 9 lenses in 5 groups with an image angel of 43 deg. Closest focus distance is 35mm measured from the plane of the sensor. The aperture is de-clicked and the lens has a length of 42.2mm with a max. diameter of 60mm at a total weight of 228g.
Next to the specification facts there are other information many people will be interested in. Yes, also this lens has some focus breathing, not as bad as the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MK I but there is some. I guess this is the trade in if you design such a compact and light weight lens. To me in real life photography this does not really matter but for those who are busy with reproduction imaging this might be a show stopper to invest into this lens.
To me is much more important the edge to edge performance in sharpness, details and vignettes even at f1.4. My first impression, as you will see yourself on the pictures in the attached gallery, the edge to edge performance is very promising. Of course the reality I will only know when I had the opportunity to shoot on my test landscape as I have done in my 35mm comparison: 35mm third-party lens comparison for Fujifilm FX mount. I will do this detailed test very soon. I expect this lens to perform much better than the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MK I. Having this said, with lighter weight and even more compact footprint I love to shoot with the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MK I. To me this is a lens, next to all its optical limitations, with a lot of character.
My first impression of the new 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC tells me, also this lens has character and might be my next preferred always on lens. I could imagine to use this lens as the only lens for my next business trip with very small hand luggage. The build quality and finish of this lens is at the same very high level compared to all these state of the art lenses mentioned at the beginning of this article. The same anodized and polished lens mount designed to a lifetime performance, as well the well damped smooth movement of the focus and aperture ring. Perhaps I might say where the focus ring of the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MK I is a bit too loose the focus ring on this new lens is a bit to sticky. What you prefer is a very personal taste, to me sticky is better.
Now please enjoy a close look to the sample images I made and I am really looking forward to your impressions and feedback.
f1.4 
f1.4 
f1.4 
f1.4 
f5.6 
f2.8 
f8
I am very well impressed with this new 7artisans lens. I have the same setup (XPro2) and made comparison shots against these other lenses: Fuji XF35mm f1.4, Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f1.4, Leica Summarit-M 35mm Aspherical. For the shots I set a target at about 3 meters.
This new lens is designed with a double Gauss (Planar) design, not the former Sonnar formula used in other 7artisans lenses. It reduces the longitudinal aberration and makes the focus peaking easier to perceive wide open. Easier focus, more keepers.
In my quick tests I noticed that wide open this lens performs very well at center, with heavy vignette, second only to Fuji. At ff2.8 or slower it performs very close to Fuji and better than Voigtlander or Leica.
I think this is a very good performance for its price and much better than its previous competitors 7artisans 35mm f1.2 or Meike 35mm f1.7. I am curious to read your conclusions.
Hi Gustavo,
Thanks for this highly qualified feedback. I am happy that you see similarities to my findings.
In the coming days I will perform the tests on my test landscape at f1.4, f2.8 and f5.6. than we will know the fully trues.
I am looking forward to more input from you.
Greetings,
Malte
Just got mine today. Been using it with the XPro1 and all I can say is that the images from this lens have a very 3D look to them, not just when isolating subjects wide open but even when stopped down. Comparing this lens to other cheap Chinese lenses (Fujian/Newyi 35 1.6, Meike 35 1.4) this has been probably the best in its price range. Speaking of price, I got mine for 50 bucks brand new, about the same price as most CCTV 35mm lenses go for anyway.
Thanks for your feedback. I noticed this very outlined rendering of object also my self. It remembers me to an effect I love so much on pictures made with the Zeiss Touit 32mm f1.8. This budget lens is mechanical and optical playing in an other class… I am really looking forward what fine lens will be provided to us next by 7Artisans.
Very interesting (p)review and a great blog page!! I received this lens from Amazon.de yesterday and need yet see how it stands against my favourite Chinese lens so far, the Pergear 35 1.6, which seems generally sharper and balanced to me at least. However, I am little bit confused about this new 7artisans: Apart from yours, there are hardly any reviews on this lens to be found, even some of the 7artisans web pages don’t list it. Yet it is already available on Amazon, and Amazon Germany even shows a Mark II version of this lens? Would be great to know whether you have any info on what’s going on and whether there are are really two different builds available?
Hi Stephan,
Thanks for your kind feedback on my blog. All input is very welcome.
Today there are the following APSC 35mm Lenses in the portfolio of 7Artisans: 7Artisans 35mm f0.95, 7artisans 35mm f1.2 MK1 and MK2, 7artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC.
There are also the following 35mm FF lenses available from 7 Artisans: 7Artisans M35mm f1.4 WEN, M35mm f2.0, M35mm f5.6 WEN all for M-Mount and 7Artisans 35mm f2.0, 35mm f5.6 only for E-Mount.
The 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC is a new lens which is optically and mechanically better then the two version of the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MK1 and MK2.
The 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC is my new always on lens replacing the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MK1.
Please tell me more about your experience.
Greetings,
Malte
Hi Malte, thank you for the overview! I think you are really filling a gap here as I haven’t seen such a complete picture of the lens lineup so far, especially regarding the newest lenses like the 35 1.4 app-c.
I‘ve tried a bunch of Chinese lenses on my X-Pro2 and recently also on the Sony a6300: the 7artisans 35 1.2 which I love because of its character, the Pergear 25mm and 35mm lenses, which together with the Meike 28 2.8 render some of the best results I have seen so far. Worst and almost unusable IMO were the small/ older 7artisans 25 1.8 and the Neewer 35 1.2. There have been a few others as well, but the new 35 1.4 delivers the best build quality and look & feel of all of them, perhaps except of the Zonlai 22, which was almost twice the price but not much better.
I still need to shoot more with the new lens, but it seems pleasingly contrasty but not as sharp in the center wide open as the Pergear, which is really an outstanding lens in that segment. I also noticed what appears to be coma or disk-shaped halos around streetlights with the 7artisans on my Sony… not sure if it’s pure fault of the lens because I haven‘t seen that so obviously with other cheap lenses on my Fuji cameras. It‘s odd and this is simply where my wisdom ends 😊
Cheers!
Very good info. Lucky me I found your site by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve saved it for later!
Hi Malte,
Thanks for this Review. I have just ordered mine from ebay.
I already own 7artisans 35 1.2 mk1 which I like for its small size and I already sold my 35 / 0.95 again because I found it too heavy on my Fuji.XT2.
Does the new apsc 35 1.4 have the same dampened stops as focus limiters like the 35 0.95?
I like those and have never seen this in any lens before.
Hi Malte,
Thanks a lot for this great review, I found it really useful. I just got the lens and it’s fantastic, but I’m a bit concerned I got a bad copy, since I can hear some friction noise when focusing / changing aperture (sounds like metal rubbing on metal). Did you also observe this in your copy? Do you think it will disappear with use? I was thinking this may be related to poor lubrication, have you tried to disassemble the lens? Is it hard? I’m trying to decide whether to return it and ask for a new copy or try to solve it myself, since otherwise I’m liking the lens a lot so far.
Thank you!
Hi Fran,
Thanks for your feedback. All I try is to share my experience and my personal view. If you are long enough busy with a certain topic then you start to be able du judge and compare things.
The 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC has a much tighter fitting than for example the 7Artisans 35mm f1.2 MKI. This is a very loose lens. I like the tight fitting of the 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APSC a lot as it´s on my copy well damped while I turn the aperture and focus ring. Yes, due to the tight fitting I hear a little bit of friction noise but this is normal I guess and I have the feeling it reduced, as I am using the lens a lot as my preferred always on lens.
You can not compare it to the Fujinon XF lenses as those are AF lenses by wire. If you turn the focus ring there is no mechanics but it´s just a “potentiometer/encoder” that controls the focus motor.
I did not disassemble the 7Artisans lens yet but typical there are no balls and/or grease in the bearings but that are metal gliding bearings. Grease in a lens can be critical at higher temperatures to create spray in the lens glass. If you are not happy with the noise you hear from the lens while turning the focus and aperture ring I would not try to repair or grease something but I would just return the lens and get another copy.
Please keep me up to date with your findings and solution and please do not hesitate and contact me at any time when you have questions or remarks.
Kind regards,
Malte
Hi again,
Thanks for your fast reply. I was a bit concerned because the noise was a bit louder than that of my Pergear 35mm f1.6, but now that you mentioned the differences in tightness between different lenses I think that can be a good explanation. Both focus and aperture rings are perfectly dampened and move softly, the lens focuses to infinity fine and the printed scales are reasonably precise as well, so I don’t have any reason to think returning this copy for a new one will improve things much. And you are right, disassembly by a non-expert can make things worse, if anything.
I will just keep the lens and enjoy it, let’s hope it lasts long! 🙂
Best,
Fran.
Hi Malte,
thanks for the details. How is the sharpness of the image at F1.4?
Dear Geobin,
Here some images at f1.4 made SOOC with the 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APS-C. I am very happy with the details and image sharpness in the small field of focal plane. Please have a look your self.
Greetings Malte
thank you Malte!
Hi Malte,
Could you also please share a few potrait shots?
Hi Geobin,
Not easy as I normally use the 7Artisans 55mm f1.4 or 7Artisans Firefly 50mm f0.95 to shoot portraits. But after a short search I found the following two portraits I made with the 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APS-C lens.
Yes, the second image is overexposed but this has been done by purpose to make this image kind of transparently…
I will shoot next weekend some more real portraits with the 7Artisans 35mm f1.4 APS-C and post them here on the blog.
Greetings,
Malte
Thanks so much. That will be helpful