7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.8 AF Lens (Nikon Z) Review
The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.8 AF delivers solid image quality for portraits at a great price, but its autofocus keeps it from being a slam dunk.
Overview
The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.8 AF is a solid, no-frills prime lens that gets the basics right for a good price. It's a fast, wide-angle lens that's perfect for Nikon Z shooters who want to shoot portraits or street photography without breaking the bank. The one thing to know? This is a manual aperture ring lens, which is a cool feature for video shooters or anyone who likes that tactile control, but it means you're giving up some of the seamless integration you get with a native Nikon lens.
Performance
The optical performance is surprisingly decent for the price, landing in the 69th percentile. The f/1.8 aperture gives you nice, shallow depth of field for portraits, and the bokeh is smooth enough. The autofocus is where you'll feel the compromise. It's in the 47th percentile, which means it's fine in good light but can hunt a bit in lower light or with moving subjects. It's not slow, but it's not snappy like a Nikon S-Line lens either.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong aperture (76th percentile) 77th
- Strong build (74th percentile) 76th
- Strong optical (69th percentile) 73th
- Strong bokeh (68th percentile) 69th
Cons
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Focal Length Min | 35 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
| Elements | 11 |
| Groups | 8 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/16 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon Z |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.9 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 62 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 400 |
Value & Pricing
At $299, it's a good value if your main priority is getting a fast aperture on a budget. You're paying about half of what a used Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S would cost. You just have to be okay with trading some autofocus performance and weather sealing for that savings.
Price History
vs Competition
The direct competitor is the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Z. It's usually around the same price. The Viltrox might have slightly faster AF, but it lacks the manual aperture ring. If you want the best image quality and AF, the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is the king, but it costs over twice as much. The Meike 35mm f/1.8 is another alternative, but performance is generally similar. For most people, the choice between the 7Artisans and the Viltrox comes down to whether you want that aperture ring or not.
| Spec | 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.8 AF Lens (Nikon Z) | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Sirui Sirui Sniper 56mm f/1.2 Autofocus Lens (Sony E, | Sigma Sigma Contemporary Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 35mm | 24-70mm | 24mm | 17-70mm | 56mm | 16-300mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.2 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Sony E Mount | Sony E | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 408 | 676 | 269 | 544 | 422 | 615 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | - | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | - | Zoom |
Verdict
If you're a Nikon Z shooter on a tight budget and you really want that f/1.8 look, this lens is a perfectly fine choice. Just go in knowing the autofocus is merely adequate. If you can stretch your budget, save up for the native Nikon lens. But if $299 is your hard limit, the 7Artisans gets you 90% of the way there for portraits and everyday shooting.