7Artisans AF 50mm F1.8 LITE

The 7Artisans AF 50mm F1.8 LITE is an autofocus standard prime for APS-C mirrorless cameras, offered for Sony E, Fujifilm X and Nikon Z. It belongs to the LITE series, in which 7Artisans sells 25mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses with the same barrel size. On an APS-C sensor the 50mm focal length gives a short telephoto view, which suits portraits, details and everyday scenes.

Optical design

The lens is built from six elements in five groups. The nine-blade aperture stops down from f/1.8 to f/16, and the angle of view is 31.4 degrees. The front takes 58 mm filters, and the minimum focusing distance is 0.55 m.

Autofocus and handling

Autofocus is driven by an STM stepping motor, which 7Artisans describes as quiet, fast and precise. According to 7Artisans, the lens works together with the camera's eye recognition to lock onto and track eyes in portraits. Manual focus is possible through the focus ring. The lens has no stabilizer of its own, so image stabilization depends on the camera body.

Build and size

The barrel is made of metal and measures 67 mm in diameter and 51 mm in length. 7Artisans gives a weight of about 178 g for the Sony E version. The Sony E and Nikon Z versions come in black, the Fujifilm X version in black and silver.

Where it fits

The AF 50mm F1.8 LITE sits next to the AF 35mm F1.8 LITE, which is also in this database and uses the same barrel size and filter thread. For full-frame cameras 7Artisans offers the larger AF 50mm F1.8 for Sony E and Nikon Z. A manual-focus alternative with a brighter aperture from the same maker is the 7artisans 50mm F1.2, which is available for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z and Micro Four Thirds.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Light for an f/1.8 lens, about 178 g on Sony E
• Autofocus with STM motor and eye recognition support
• Metal barrel and a 58 mm filter thread
• Available for three popular APS-C mounts

Cons

• Minimum focusing distance of 0.55 m limits close-up work
• No built-in stabilizer
• Designed for APS-C only, so no full-frame coverage

Verdict

The 7Artisans AF 50mm F1.8 LITE is a compact way to add an autofocus portrait focal length to an APS-C system. Its main strengths are the low weight, the f/1.8 aperture and the STM autofocus, while the close focus limit and the lack of stabilization are the points to weigh against it.