7Artisans AF 35mm F1.8

The 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8 is an autofocus prime for full frame mirrorless cameras, sold for Sony E, Nikon Z and Leica L mount. The 35 mm focal length is a common choice for documentary, street and everyday work, and the f/1.8 aperture adds room for low light and moderate subject separation. Not to be confused with the 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8 LITE, which is a separate APS-C lens in the same series family.

Optical design

7Artisans lists 11 elements in 8 groups with two aspherical elements, two high-refractive elements and one ED element. The aperture runs from f/1.8 to f/16 and the angle of view is 64 degrees. The minimum focus distance is 0.4 m. According to the manufacturer the design is meant to hold up on sensors of 60 megapixels and above, and it claims suppressed focus breathing for video.

Autofocus and handling

The autofocus is driven by an STM motor with eye and face detection. The aperture ring is stepless and switches between automatic and manual operation, which suits video. A customizable function button and Type-C firmware updates are included. There is no image stabilization in the lens.

Build and size

The lens has a metal body. For the Sony E version 7Artisans specifies about 426 g without caps, 72 mm diameter and 94 mm length. The filter thread is 62 mm. We have no manufacturer weights for the Nikon Z and L versions. A listing on a large online marketplace shows a different weight, which we treat as an error because it contradicts the manufacturer.

Where it fits

There is no predecessor in our database. Competitors with autofocus and f/1.8 include the Sony FE 35mm F1.8 at 280 g, the Samyang AF 35mm F1.8 FE at 210 g, the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.8 at 340 g on Sony E and 370 g on Nikon Z, and the Panasonic Lumix S 35mm F1.8 at 295 g for L mount. All of them are lighter than the 7Artisans lens, which at 426 g trades size for its larger optical construction.

Pros and cons

Pros

• f/1.8 aperture at a versatile 35 mm focal length
• Two aspherical, two high-refractive and one ED element
• Stepless aperture ring, Fn button and Type-C firmware updates
• Available for three full frame mounts
• Metal construction

Cons

• About 426 g, much heavier than rival 35 mm f/1.8 autofocus lenses
• 72 mm diameter and 94 mm length are large for the focal length
• No stabilization
• Minimum focus distance of 0.4 m
• No manufacturer weights for Nikon Z and L versions

Verdict

The 7Artisans AF 35mm f/1.8 is a capable-looking spec sheet in a larger body than most competitors. It makes sense for shooters who prefer its control layout and firmware update path and who do not mind the weight. Those who want a compact 35 mm for full frame will find lighter lenses from Samyang, Sony and Panasonic in our database.