7Artisans 25mm f/0.95 Review

This is a chunky, all-manual prime lens for Canon RF APS-C cameras. It gives you a 40mm equivalent field of view, which is great for portraits and street shots. The whole point of this lens is that massive f/0.95 aperture. It lets in a ton of light and can give you that super creamy, blurred background look.

Let's be clear: the f/0.95 aperture is the star. Bokeh performance is in the 100th percentile, so your background blur will be smooth and dreamy. Sharpness is decent in the center, especially if you stop down a bit from f/0.95. But it's all manual focus, and the focus ring is a bit stiff. You'll miss shots if you're trying to catch fast action.

At around $215, it's a lot of lens for the money if you're chasing that specific f/0.95 look. You won't find another lens with an aperture that fast for anywhere near this price. Just know you're paying for the glass and the aperture, not for any modern conveniences like autofocus or stabilization.

The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is a direct competitor. It has autofocus and is much lighter, but its max aperture isn't as extreme. The Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro is another option with autofocus and a more telephoto view, but again, you lose that f/0.95 magic. If you need a zoom, the Panasonic 14-140mm is infinitely more versatile for travel, but it's slow and can't touch the 7Artisans for portrait blur.

Buy this if you shoot on a Canon RF APS-C camera and you're obsessed with getting the creamiest possible bokeh on a budget. You need to be comfortable with manual focus. Skip it if you shoot fast-moving subjects, need autofocus, or want a lightweight, walk-around lens.