Artra Lab Nonikkor 11mm f/1.8

Focal length: 11 mm
Aperture: f/1.8
Weight: 350 g
Filter diameter: 62 mm
Min. focus distance: 18 cm
Length: 55.48 mm

Overview

The Artra Lab Nonikkor 11mm f/1.8 is a manual focus ultra-wide prime for APS-C mirrorless cameras. It combines a fast f/1.8 aperture with a short minimum focus distance, which makes it interesting for landscapes, architecture, astrophotography and close-up environmental shots. According to Artra Lab, it is offered for Nikon Z and Fujifilm X and covers APS-C only. The Nikon Z version appeared in November 2024.

Optical design

The lens has 13 elements in 9 groups and a 10-blade diaphragm. Artra Lab states that the design includes high refractive and aspherical glass and aims at low distortion and good edge to edge sharpness. The listed angle of view is 97 degrees in the specification table. The aperture range runs from f/1.8 to f/22. On a camera with a 1.5x crop the focal length corresponds to about 16.5 mm on full frame.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual with a smooth ring, according to Artra Lab. The minimum focus distance is 0.18 m, which lets the front element get very close to the subject while the wide view still shows the background. The lens takes 62 mm filters, which is a useful feature for an ultra-wide, since ultra-wide lenses often have no filter thread at all.

Build and size

The body is aluminium alloy with a brass mount. The lens is 66 mm in diameter and 55.48 mm long, and it weighs 350 g. That is compact and light for a lens with 13 elements.

Where it fits

An aperture of f/1.8 is fast for an ultra-wide prime, and Artra Lab markets this lens as an enthusiast tool. Artra Lab's Latalumen 14mm f/2.8 V2, also in this database, is another wide-angle option from the same maker. For fully automatic operation, the camera makers' own wide-angle zooms and primes are the alternative, at the cost of speed.

Pros and cons

Pros

Fast f/1.8 aperture for an ultra-wide
Close focusing at 0.18 m
62 mm filter thread
Compact and light at 350 g
Metal body with a brass mount

Cons

Manual focus only
APS-C coverage only

Verdict

The Nonikkor 11mm f/1.8 suits APS-C shooters on Nikon Z and Fujifilm X who want a fast, wide lens and are comfortable focusing manually. Its main strengths are the large aperture, the close focus distance and the usable filter thread.

Technical Specifications

min focal length: 11 mm
max focal length: 11 mm
max f (min zoom): f/1.8
max f (max zoom): f/1.8
min. aperture: f/22
Elements: 13
Groups: 9
Weight: 350 g (0.77 lb)
Filter diameter: 62 mm
min focus distance: 18 cm (7.09 in)
Length: 55.48 mm (2.18 in)
Diameter: 66 mm (2.6 in)

Simulate depth of field and angle of view

Which cameras does the Artra Lab Nonikkor 11mm f/1.8 fit?

The Artra Lab Nonikkor 11mm f/1.8 is designed for APS-C sensors. On APS-C Nikon Z cameras its field of view equals 17 mm in full-frame terms. Full-frame bodies use it in APS-C (crop) mode, recording only part of the sensor and fewer megapixels.

Nikon Z cameras

Full frame (in APS-C mode):: Nikon ZR, Nikon Z5II, Nikon Z6III, Nikon Z8, Nikon Zf, Nikon Z9, Nikon Z5, Nikon Z6II, Nikon Z7II, Nikon Z6, Nikon Z7
APS-C:: Nikon Z50II, Nikon Z30, Nikon Z fc, Nikon Z50