7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 Review

7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 - An Acquired Taste

When a mint 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 popped up on our local used camera ‘buy and sell’ I could not resist.

On my scale, an f/1.4 lens is fast and I already own the excellent Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R.

But hold on… f/0.95 is a full stop faster and the promise of even more blurry awesome bokeh and the ability to separate my topic from the background had me enticed.

This is the second native Fujifilm X mount manual focus lens I have tested, the other being the TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2.

While the two are at different focal lengths they make for an interesting comparison from a cost perspective with the TTArtisan 50mm f/1.2 at $98.00 and the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 2.5 times the cost at $249.00.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

Introduction

Chinese lens manufacturer 7Artisans has several options for the Fujifilm X mount as well as full-frame lenses for other camera brands. 7Artisans specializes in prime lenses at affordable prices relying on design clues from classic lenses from the past, namely Leica lenses.

The lure of the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 is the ability to shoot at f/0.95. To my knowledge, the only other option for Fujifilm X shooters at f/0.95 is the Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 Mark II, currently at $449.00, and the Laowa Argus 33mm f/0.95 at $499.00.

The 7Artisan 35mm f/0.95 strongly resembles the Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 and at $249.00 it is perhaps an easier leap to make especially if you have not tried your luck with a manual focus lens before.

A couple takes in the view at the waterfront by Canada Place in Vancouver. Sample image from a 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 — Coal Harbour, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95

Handling and Specs

At 13 oz / 369 g, I love the feeling of heft in a solidly constructed lens. And yet it is small with a 52mm filter diameter. At first glance, I thought the lens mount was made of plastic but only because it is painted black. The entire lens is, however, an all-metal design, including the mount.

The overall design is quite attractive with markings for a depth of field scale, distance, and aperture. The distance scale in feet is marked with red, which I find a bit hard to see. I almost never use the distance scale so it is pretty much a none issue for me.

The rowers are ready to set out from Coal Harbour in Vancouver. Sample image from a 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 — Coal Harbour, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95

The aperture ring is very smooth but is clickless and goes from f/0.95 to f/16. A clickless aperture ring is perhaps the cat’s meow for video shooters as you can gradually dim or increase your exposure but slightly annoying for a stills shooter like myself.

Mostly because it is very easy to move out of position inadvertently and you are never really sure which aperture you are shooting at as you do not get verification in the viewfinder.

With a manual focus lens such as the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95, there are no electronic contacts to the camera which also means you will not have any EXIF information in your files.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 shown on a Fujifilm X-Pro3 — The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 in Action

First of all, I love how the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 looks on my X-Pro3. Both lens and camera are reminiscent of old-school film cameras so I feel good even before I leave home.

Secondly, I start worrying a bit. How will I nail focus at f/0.95? Manual focus only! I set out for an evening walk around sunset at English Bay in Vancouver and decided to shoot almost exclusively at f/0.95.

I have mostly used the standard manual focus assist setting and have not yet become a fan of some of the other settings such as the split-screen, prism, or focus peaking with a color. I have the rear command dial button set for focus check on my X-Pro3 as find this is the easiest button to access.

People are gathered at English Bay Beach on beautiful evening in early May in Vancouver, Canada. Sample image from a 7Artisans 35mm f/0/95 using the acros film simulation on a Fujifilm X-Pro3 — English Bay Beach, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95

7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 for Street Photography

I did two street photography sessions with the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 for this review and for both sessions I was surprised by the number of keepers I had with shots in focus. I also missed a few but as a rule, most photos were okay.

Admittedly I mostly shot static street scenes and objects like cars along my way, meaning I did have some time to focus before hitting the shutter.

For faster-paced street scenes with people moving about or any kind of action, it will take some practice before the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 will be your best friend.

A man walks through a downtown alley in Vancouver, Canada. Sample image from a 7Artisans f/0.95 — Downtown, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95

I was quite pleased with the character rendered in the street photography images from the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95. Manual focusing is not always a negative experience. You will be able to make sudden changes without relying on auto-focus settings and modes.

As mentioned above the aperture ring is very easily moved out of position. It has the same amount of friction as the focus ring and the same grooves. A few times I actually mistook it for the focus ring.

I am sure after a while this would not be the case but I stuck a piece of gaffer’s tape underneath the lens to hold it in place at f/0.95.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 with a piece of gaffer's tape keeping the aperture stuck at f/0.95 — Gaffer’s tape to the rescue when you want to keep the 7Artisans 35mm stuck at f/0.95

7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 vs. Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R

The one-stop advantage! Or is it one stop? On paper, the f/0.95 is one and one-sixth of a stop faster than f/1.4, meaning you should be able to shoot at more than double your shutter speed.

I am not sure the 7Artisans lens is faster. In my unscientific test, it looks to be more or less the same. And strangely, although the crop is slightly different in the two shots below the XF 35mm f/1.4 R gave me the same shutter speed at f/1.4 as the 7Artisans did at f/0.95 at an equivalent ISO value. I did a few other tests and the results were the same.

7Artisans 35mm f/095 test photo — 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 @ f/0.95, ISO 160

Fuji XF 35mm f/1.4 R test shot vs. 7Artisans 35mm f/1.4 R — Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R @ f/1.4, ISO 160

Why even bother with the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 if you already have the XF 35mm f/1.4 R?

While the scene above may not show it fully there are sample images in this article where I see a difference. Even with images at further distances, you can create separation and quantify the out-of-focus areas easier at f/0.95. The difference should be even more pronounced if you come from a Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR.

You may not be a fan of f/0.95 bokeh and perhaps find it too excessive. If you plan to shoot mostly between f/1.4 and f/16 there is little point in the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 and you may as well pick one of the Fujifilm XF 35mm lenses. At 6.6 oz / 187 g the XF 35mm f/1.4 R is about half the weight of the 7Artisans.

For me, it is not a question of one or the other. The XF 35mm f/1.4 R would always be my first pick but I see the 7Artisans as that ‘one extra stop’ and like a breath of fresh air in addition to a lens that I already have.

You can read my review of the XF 35mm f/1.4 R here:

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R - Review

7Artisan 35mm f/0.95 - Image Quality

The qualities I am looking for in a lens such as the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 are better described with words like character, dreamy, and film-like than corner-to-corner sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy.

I am surprisingly pleased with the results and yet I have not done side by side comparison as I found it a bit pointless.

Had it been a $2,490.00 lens I would have viewed this with more critical and skeptical eyes. But we are talking $249.00 for the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95.

There is vignetting at f/0.95 but at no point was it over the top and I never felt the need to correct it in post-processing. Sometimes vignetting adds to the character of your photos.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 delivers what I expected which is images shot at f/0.95 with a look and feel that I otherwise would have difficulties creating with other tools in my bag. The XF 35mm f/1.4 R may come close but it is not quite the same.

A blue BMW waits at a downtown Vancouver intersection while a cyclist rounds the corner. Sample photo from a 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 — Downtown, Vancouver, Fujifilm X-Pro3, 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95

7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 - Conclusion

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 is not replacing my Fujifilm choice at 35mm. Nor would I buy this before I already had one of the Fujifilm 35mm lenses.

The Fujifilm autofocus lenses offer so much more convenience. Not only do they have autofocus but they provide a better experience shooting the full aperture range of a lens.

And the Fujifilm lenses have EXIF info going to the camera which is very handy for getting read-outs in your viewfinder and for tracking shooting information in post-processing.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 mounted on a Fujifilm X-Pro3 — The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 shown on the Fujifilm X-Pro3

In the same breath shooting the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 is a different experience almost like shooting a film camera with a manual focus lens.

The experience is more tactile with a solidly built lens like this. The combination of my Fujifilm X-Pro3 and the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 feels very robust and does not tip the scale of what I find too heavy which is something I really appreciate.

It may be an acquired taste shooting at f/0.95 exclusively but think of it as a different paintbrush and with a bit of patience I think you can create unique images with this lens.

In the looks and appearance department, the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 reminds me of a Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4, a lens that cost $5,195.00, and a lens I would love to have in my bag.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 may not be a match optically or aesthetically but while you are out snapping photos it may be comforting to know you still have $4,946.00 in the bank. Sorry Leica fans, I couldn’t help myself. :)

Pros

Unique look with dreamy bokeh at f/0.95
Great build quality
Looks great on Fuji cameras

Cons

Manual focus
No electronic contact with the camera
Somewhat soft images at f/0.95

Please see more sample images below.

Price / Availability

Thank you for reading my review. If you are planning a purchase and would like to support us, you can do so, at no additional cost, by using the affiliate link below. A small commission goes to us and helps us keep the wheels turning at 5050 Travelog.

Check the current price at B&H Photo

7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 - B&H Photo

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7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 - Sample Images

Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos, especially Classic Neg. and Acros.

Please click to view larger images.