Thanks for the review Damian. I bought this lens to compare it with the Mitakon I love. My verdict: quality of construction, handling, size and weight differences are insignificant. The Mitakon is half a stop brighter than the 7artisans, at equal conditions. The Mitakon's angle of view is a few degrees wider, although both are supposed to be 35mm. Both lenses have strong fringing at 0.95: red on 7artisans and green on Mitakon, it's a matter of taste. Both lenses' focus is decentred, I may be unlucky with my copies. The Mitakon is generally sharper in the centre, especially when you shoot from a distance, wide open. I need to carry on with my tests, if I had to conclude today, I would keep the Mitakon but would recommend the 7artisan for its value for money. Both are great lenses, but as someone else said, the Fuji XF35mm 1.4 remains kind anyway.
I used this lens. Speed is about T/1.3-T/1.4, so this is similar to 'TRUE' 35/1.2 lens. And 7artisans 35/0.95 is just a bit faster than my Nikon 35/1.4G at F/1.4 and equal to my TTartisans 50/1.2 at F/1.2.
@@DamianBrown At first, there is only 1/3 E.V. difference between F/0.95 and F/1.4 with 7Artisans 35/0.95. But the difference must be more than 1 E.V. (1.4*1.4)/(0.95*0.95)=2.17 times (more, than 1 E.V., not 1/3 E.V.). So F/1.4 mark, or F/0.95 mark on this lens is fake. At second, difference between F/1.4 with Nikon 35/1.4G and F/0.95 with 7Artisans 35/0.95 is only 1/3 E.V. (I've tried those lenses on the same camera). At third, there is no exposure difference between F/1.2 with TTArtisans 50/1.2 and F/0.95 with 7Artisans 35/0.95. So real T-stop is T/1.4. Such T-stop is common value for lenses with F/1.2.
I recently purchased the Risespray (rebranded 7Artisans) for US$190, on AliExpress. Hard to beat this lens on price/performance/quality at 35/f0.95, IMO. It comes with a faux-suede leather pouch and a set of 4 filters.
@@DamianBrown 1x UV filter and 4, 6, and 8 pointstar filters. I do keep the UV on the lens, mostly for just protection of the front glass element. I have no idea what the pointstars can be used for...if at all.
@@DamianBrown By eBay I had a 20 € discount for a sale, so the price it was 192 € and free shipping, finally I payed 201€ (9 € for DHL shipping) + 83 € in taxes to Spain, a week later was cheaper in Amazon...
Got to have it. Oh, another thing: manual focus is often faster than auto focus, once you get the hang of it. This is why: you can focus on any part of your frame at any time! You don't have to recompose or move the focus point all the time. Try it out, you'll love it.
Well yes and no - mostly no for me. 2 weeks of vacation shooting later I can say that the lens is really fun to use, but generally this is going to be the one I'll mount if efficiency isn't that important. Why? I got it to shoot wide open, as most people will - Usually portraits. That means you probably want to hit the eye closer to the camera and to do that you'll want to magnify the area where you want your focus to sit. 1) Zoom in 2) use joystick to get to the right area 3) focus. That's 2 (in my eyes) necessary steps to have a chance of getting the focus right, as focus peaking alone won't help much. You still have to be very quick doing all this, especially when shooting kids - so many moments gone because I hit the shutter a fraction of a second too late. So eventually it was a more forgiving experience using my Viltrox 56mm autofocus lens - not perfect either, but simply the better tool for capturing the moment. especially if you shoot from extreme angles using the screen.
As much as I like the concept and price range of this lens, IMO 7artisans have used some pretty dirty tricks to promote it. The 1st one is the nice leather-like case that had been sent bundled with the lens to all the YT reviewers, which in reality is not the part of the retail set. On top of that please note that 95% of reviewers received for testing pieces marked as samples - I am quite sure these had been triple checked in terms of quality control by the 7artisans team before sending the to reviewers. I am also pretty sure that as far as the real production units are concerned, we should expect far from perfect QC process, as usually with "made in China" products that are not produced for the A-brands like iPhone/Samsung/Fujifilm etc. Thanks for the nice review!
Ye I hear what you're saying. I've tried their lenses bought directly off Amazon too and while they haven't had a funky case, the quality has been excellent. At least the few I've bought.
is it just me or is the Mitakon lens bigger than this 7Artisans making it even more appealing? my only concern is going wide open and shooting around and not exactly sure if the images are actual "sharp" or i missed the focus OR thats the nature of the wide open lens ?
Great review, and I'm now convinced to get one. Love my 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2, for its small size, the 0.95 looks a little bigger so may suit my X-T4 rather than my X-T30
Good review, was looking at the Mitakon but the 7Artisans seems pretty much the same. Good music by the way maybe you should do a video on your music collection too.
@@DamianBrown creamy bokeh ... Performs best at f.1.6 - 2.8 ..sharper and just amazing background separation ...tricky for video shoots though where a subject may run out of focus so will have to take some skills...overall amazing for the price
I bought a 7-Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 Fish Eye micro 4/3rds . Its great ! It came in a neat box but no fancy case ! Thats the only bad thing I can say about it.
Having a Russian lens that's declicked I'm not thrilled with them, but for cheap lenses I can work around it. I have a 23mm 7artisans I have trouble getting on focus so I'm kinda iffy on them in general at open apertures based on my personal sample of one for $40 eBay special.
The first days are hard, then you get control in the aperture ring, I did some modifications in the lens, cheap ones just because the lens it is completely in metal...
@@keystonebrotherb Not really, that solution it is obvious but the problem is you are going to get the lens barrel always dirty, I am working in something more effective, not as cheap as a rubber band, but cheap, in fact I have two cheap solutions, one of them is effective, the other one I have to make it through a professional, test it and maybe I am going to get the answer, maybe I am wrong but I am working on it...
I hate declicked aperture rings, I wish all these chinese manufactories weren't using them, I've had a couple really interesting lens I would like to try but can't justify the price for when it's something I won't rely on because I have to check the settings everytime we move.
@@21daystill thats cool but I would argue that the majority of people that shoot fuji are stills first and it's odd to me that there isn't an option for clicked aperture or even a way to turn it off and on.
try the 7artisans 28mm f1.4 rectangular hood, all you have to do is use waterproof sandpaper to sand down the flange circumference a little bit, 15mins to 20 mins job,sand it down little by litte, try to fit it as you go along, stop sanding once the hood can fit to your lens , i just did this mod yesterday, the 28mm f1.4 hood is quite well build,and comes with a metal front cover also,
I received that lens two weeks ago and I am surprisedly happy with it, I was planning to get the Fujinon 35mm 1.4, well I am going to buy it later, but that one, the 7artisans is awesome, at all apertures, I tested at f:0.95 naturally but even at f:4 and closer apertures and wow, really nice. I did some cheap modifications, maybe I will make a video to show it and, maybe I get a solution to lock the aperture ring, I am not sure if it is going to work but I will trie it. I use it in my X-E3 most of the time and in my X-H1 too, after the Canon FD 70-210mm f:4 ( a lens that I recommend, for the price in second hand market and for street photography), so if you want to see recent images with that lens, I put the link here, 500px.com/p/xavierminguella?view=photos .
I bought finally the 35 1.4 and it is great, but I just use it with my X-E3 because in the X-H1 the 7 artisans it is very funny to use. At 1.4 it is sharp the Fujinon and not really noisy at use for stills...
Thanks for the review Damian. I bought this lens to compare it with the Mitakon I love. My verdict: quality of construction, handling, size and weight differences are insignificant. The Mitakon is half a stop brighter than the 7artisans, at equal conditions. The Mitakon's angle of view is a few degrees wider, although both are supposed to be 35mm. Both lenses have strong fringing at 0.95: red on 7artisans and green on Mitakon, it's a matter of taste. Both lenses' focus is decentred, I may be unlucky with my copies. The Mitakon is generally sharper in the centre, especially when you shoot from a distance, wide open. I need to carry on with my tests, if I had to conclude today, I would keep the Mitakon but would recommend the 7artisan for its value for money. Both are great lenses, but as someone else said, the Fuji XF35mm 1.4 remains kind anyway.
Thanks for that Axel, I think a lot will appreciate this comparison!
I used this lens. Speed is about T/1.3-T/1.4, so this is similar to 'TRUE' 35/1.2 lens. And 7artisans 35/0.95 is just a bit faster than my Nikon 35/1.4G at F/1.4 and equal to my TTartisans 50/1.2 at F/1.2.
Thanks for sharing. What did you measure T stops with? Comparison or something else?
@@DamianBrown At first, there is only 1/3 E.V. difference between F/0.95 and F/1.4 with 7Artisans 35/0.95. But the difference must be more than 1 E.V. (1.4*1.4)/(0.95*0.95)=2.17 times (more, than 1 E.V., not 1/3 E.V.). So F/1.4 mark, or F/0.95 mark on this lens is fake.
At second, difference between F/1.4 with Nikon 35/1.4G and F/0.95 with 7Artisans 35/0.95 is only 1/3 E.V. (I've tried those lenses on the same camera).
At third, there is no exposure difference between F/1.2 with TTArtisans 50/1.2 and F/0.95 with 7Artisans 35/0.95.
So real T-stop is T/1.4. Such T-stop is common value for lenses with F/1.2.
i love this lens, i tend to use it more now, and i have both Fuji 35mm lenses. but the 35mm f1.4 is still king
That XF is a classic
Really 1.4 better than 0.95
I recently purchased the Risespray (rebranded 7Artisans) for US$190, on AliExpress. Hard to beat this lens on price/performance/quality at 35/f0.95, IMO. It comes with a faux-suede leather pouch and a set of 4 filters.
Nice! What filters did you get?
@@DamianBrown 1x UV filter and 4, 6, and 8 pointstar filters. I do keep the UV on the lens, mostly for just protection of the front glass element. I have no idea what the pointstars can be used for...if at all.
There are Risepray 35/0.95 and Kaxinda 35/0.95, which are identical to 7Artisans 35/0.95 and cost only 190$
Outer design looks different to me but fair play if turns out to be a bargain.
The case doesn't ship with retail units, only the sample copies.
Well that really sucks. Thanks for the info
Yes, it is a kind of "Viltrox" packaging...
That is annoying. I'm testing a discount code that I've just been sent, to kinda take the edge off the disappointment.
@@DamianBrown By eBay I had a 20 € discount for a sale, so the price it was 192 € and free shipping, finally I payed 201€ (9 € for DHL shipping) + 83 € in taxes to Spain, a week later was cheaper in Amazon...
Got to have it.
Oh, another thing: manual focus is often faster than auto focus, once you get the hang of it. This is why: you can focus on any part of your frame at any time! You don't have to recompose or move the focus point all the time.
Try it out, you'll love it.
Exactly!
I had no choice but to use manual focus for years when I started photography. Shot professionally with manual focus gear for a good while
Well yes and no - mostly no for me.
2 weeks of vacation shooting later I can say that the lens is really fun to use, but generally this is going to be the one I'll mount if efficiency isn't that important.
Why? I got it to shoot wide open, as most people will - Usually portraits. That means you probably want to hit the eye closer to the camera and to do that you'll want to magnify the area where you want your focus to sit. 1) Zoom in 2) use joystick to get to the right area 3) focus. That's 2 (in my eyes) necessary steps to have a chance of getting the focus right, as focus peaking alone won't help much. You still have to be very quick doing all this, especially when shooting kids - so many moments gone because I hit the shutter a fraction of a second too late. So eventually it was a more forgiving experience using my Viltrox 56mm autofocus lens - not perfect either, but simply the better tool for capturing the moment. especially if you shoot from extreme angles using the screen.
Another great, honest and practical review, thanks so much!
Thanks, I appreciate it!
As much as I like the concept and price range of this lens, IMO 7artisans have used some pretty dirty tricks to promote it. The 1st one is the nice leather-like case that had been sent bundled with the lens to all the YT reviewers, which in reality is not the part of the retail set. On top of that please note that 95% of reviewers received for testing pieces marked as samples - I am quite sure these had been triple checked in terms of quality control by the 7artisans team before sending the to reviewers. I am also pretty sure that as far as the real production units are concerned, we should expect far from perfect QC process, as usually with "made in China" products that are not produced for the A-brands like iPhone/Samsung/Fujifilm etc. Thanks for the nice review!
Ye I hear what you're saying. I've tried their lenses bought directly off Amazon too and while they haven't had a funky case, the quality has been excellent. At least the few I've bought.
kermitage, I have this lens and there was no quality issue.
@@fredbloggs545 Yeah, that definitely confirms the perfection of the 7artisans' QC process XD
@@kermitage
I'd take comments from people who actually have it over those that haven't.
I ordered it just now, excited! Thank you for the review!
Enjoy!
+1, I will recieve mine in 2days)
Dude, I have the same teddy bear - a present from my dad some 44 years ago. Tripped me out
Really?! I'm very slightly, barely, younger than you so I bet it was the same production batch, I have no idea where my parents got it. That's crazy!
I was told last night that it was from mothercare
New kid on the block to checkout > Voigtlander 35mm f0.9 NOKTON Aspherical Fuji X Mount Lens Black
Looks very very interesting!!!!
is it just me or is the Mitakon lens bigger than this 7Artisans making it even more appealing?
my only concern is going wide open and shooting around and not exactly sure if the images are actual "sharp" or i missed the focus OR thats the nature of the wide open lens ?
It's not as tricky as it sounds to be fair! You'd get some cracking shots from it.
Good review. The min focus is very inviting. Will wait when it's available here in Asia.
Considering it's made over there you'd think they'd at least make some available.
Great review, and I'm now convinced to get one. Love my 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2, for its small size, the 0.95 looks a little bigger so may suit my X-T4 rather than my X-T30
Thanks Rod. I like it on my T4
Good review, was looking at the Mitakon but the 7Artisans seems pretty much the same. Good music by the way maybe you should do a video on your music collection too.
I've been suggested that a few times, so thanks! Not sure how I'd put it together but definitely noted!
Great review... Got the TT artisan 50mm 1.4 recently...
Thanks. What do you think of it?
@@DamianBrown creamy bokeh ... Performs best at f.1.6 - 2.8 ..sharper and just amazing background separation ...tricky for video shoots though where a subject may run out of focus so will have to take some skills...overall amazing for the price
Ordered 1 today on AliExpress for just $209, it doesn't get any cheaper than that. The price will go up after the hype increases I think.
Brilliant price
No mucking about now Damien. Love the fairy lights mate, they suit you
Ha :D I might have to bring them out for another video
I bought a 7-Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 Fish Eye micro 4/3rds . Its great ! It came in a neat box but no fancy case ! Thats the only bad thing I can say about it.
Apparently this isn't the typical retail case for this one as I was lead to believe it was!
I’d rather have it like sigma. Option to turn the click on or off. One can dream.
That would be cool! I think it's unlikely we'll even get a simple clicked aperture but we can dream even about that :D
Im still hoping Sigma will make a 35 Mil for the x mount. Nice review!
I think a lot are waiting to see what they will do!
Nice review!
Thank you!
Having a Russian lens that's declicked I'm not thrilled with them, but for cheap lenses I can work around it. I have a 23mm 7artisans I have trouble getting on focus so I'm kinda iffy on them in general at open apertures based on my personal sample of one for $40 eBay special.
I hear that, I guess it can happen especially at a budget end :(
I go out currently with the new TTARTISAN 35mm 1.4 and great 👍 for me bit to much ...
Good choice!
I been considering this lens. But that declicked aperture ring would bug, I mean I suppose you could just tape it at f0.95 🤷♂️
The first days are hard, then you get control in the aperture ring, I did some modifications in the lens, cheap ones just because the lens it is completely in metal...
Ye it's a bit annoying like most non click lenses at this end of the market.
If u had to choose,which 1 would u suggest....This or Fujifilm XC 35mm f2 ?
I don't really put them side by side because of user experience and light gathering capabilities. Straight IQ wise, this.
@@DamianBrown Is the image quality as good as XC 35mm f2 ?
yes
The Mitakon 35mm/0.95 has the same control layout, and I constantly change the aperture unintentionally while focusing.
There is a solution, easy to get it, I promise.
Rubber band
@@keystonebrotherb Not really, that solution it is obvious but the problem is you are going to get the lens barrel always dirty, I am working in something more effective, not as cheap as a rubber band, but cheap, in fact I have two cheap solutions, one of them is effective, the other one I have to make it through a professional, test it and maybe I am going to get the answer, maybe I am wrong but I am working on it...
I'm not the only one then :)
How is the focus breathing
would be perfect if there's a program to trade in with the 7art 35mm f/1.2 version 😉
:D
Oh, that lens is a bargain and amazing! Just make it a present.
As I am a Nikon user I wonder what the Z mount one would be like?
Could be interesting!
@@DamianBrown might see after Christmas 🎅🎅
how does it compare to the mitakon 35mm f0.95?
Not 100% sure, I comment on it in the video I think.
I hate declicked aperture rings, I wish all these chinese manufactories weren't using them, I've had a couple really interesting lens I would like to try but can't justify the price for when it's something I won't rely on because I have to check the settings everytime we move.
Rubber band.
You kinda get used to it, but it's definitely not my thing.
For someone of us who shoot videos it's essential.
Of course it’s essential. That is why I manufacturers make them that way.
@@21daystill thats cool but I would argue that the majority of people that shoot fuji are stills first and it's odd to me that there isn't an option for clicked aperture or even a way to turn it off and on.
Where I can buy a lens hood for this lens? 🤔
Good question!
try the 7artisans 28mm f1.4 rectangular hood,
all you have to do is use waterproof sandpaper to sand down the flange circumference a little bit,
15mins to 20 mins job,sand it down little by litte,
try to fit it as you go along,
stop sanding once the hood can fit to your lens ,
i just did this mod yesterday,
the 28mm f1.4 hood is quite well build,and comes with a metal front cover also,
the 7artisans 28mm/f1.4 rectangular hood is available from b&h for $27.5
also, use waterproof sandpaper 800# -1000#
What's with the banding on the rear lens element at 1:40?
coating/ lights. Whatever it is has zero negative effect on the image.
Re: de-clicked aperture, a small piece of electrical tape will keep it wide open.
Indeed, good tip.
Done this on mine, Scotch tape to keep it wide open!
I would like to see how it compares with the Mitakon 35mm f/0.95. Lovely lens, but I sold it in the end as it just wasn't quite sharp enough.
Good idea
I got the Sony mount.
How is it for you?
So What's with the black tape on the camera?
Just for discretion :)
I received that lens two weeks ago and I am surprisedly happy with it, I was planning to get the Fujinon 35mm 1.4, well I am going to buy it later, but that one, the 7artisans is awesome, at all apertures, I tested at f:0.95 naturally but even at f:4 and closer apertures and wow, really nice. I did some cheap modifications, maybe I will make a video to show it and, maybe I get a solution to lock the aperture ring, I am not sure if it is going to work but I will trie it. I use it in my X-E3 most of the time and in my X-H1 too, after the Canon FD 70-210mm f:4 ( a lens that I recommend, for the price in second hand market and for street photography), so if you want to see recent images with that lens, I put the link here, 500px.com/p/xavierminguella?view=photos .
Enjoy! I think you'll love the XF when you get it but yes I agree, this is a really nice lens.
@@DamianBrown I know, I love the XF 18mm f:2R so, the 35 it is the same kind of lens just with a higher aperture...
Awesome combo, used it for years
@damianbrown so from what I can tell from the comments, you would suggest the Fujinon 1.4 over this, correct? If correct, may I ask why?
I bought finally the 35 1.4 and it is great, but I just use it with my X-E3 because in the X-H1 the 7 artisans it is very funny to use. At 1.4 it is sharp the Fujinon and not really noisy at use for stills...
I hate de-click lenses!!
I think a lot of us aren't fans of them :(
Hate!!!! Declicked lenses!!!!!!!!
Seems to be the cheap route these days :(
The bokeh looks bad
I guess it's subjective