7Artisans has announced a new telephoto prime lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The 7Artisans 120mm T2.9 Macro 2x cine lens will be released for Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z and L Mount users.
Optical design
The 7Artisans 120mm T2.9 cine prime lens is constructed with 14 lens elements in 9 groups. However, the company hasn’t released details of what types of lens elements are used in the design.
The 120 mm lens is also a 2X macro lens. This means you can get some great close-ups of small objects with the lens’s 2x magnification. The close focus distance is only 11.8 inches (30 cm).
Cine lens
The 7Artisans 120mm T2.9 prime is a manual lens. As a cine lens, it also has standard pitch gears on the focus and aperture rings. These rings share the same positioning across all the 7Artisans cine lenses. This means you can switch lenses quickly without needing to reposition your follow-focus setup. Also, the 120 mm lens has a 270-degree focus throw so you can hit focus accurately.
Aperture
The 7Artisans 120mm cine prime lens has a wide maximum aperture of T2.9. Cinema lenses use T-stops as they represent the amount of light actually passing onto your camera’s sensor. F-stops are just a mathematical calculation based on the diameter of the aperture. The aperture ring on the 120 mm lens has 13 blades so should give a smooth, round bokeh in the out-of-focus parts of your images. In addition, the geared aperture ring is de-clicked so you can smoothly change your exposure while filming.
Build
The 7Artisans 120mm T2.9 Macro 2X cine prime is a compact lens. It measures 6.5 inches (165 mm) in length and is around 3.7 inches (93 mm) in diameter at its widest point.
The lens is also crafted from high-strength aerospace-grade aluminum. As a result, it’s relatively lightweight at around 36.5 ounces (1,035 g). Additionally, the metal body offers dust and splash resistance. The filter size is 82mm.
What we think
The 120mm Macro 2X cine prime is a great addition to the 7Artsians cine lens range. With its wide T2.9 aperture, you will get a good low-light performance and a razor-thin depth of field. The 2X macro magnification is also ideal for anyone who needs detailed super close-up shots. Although many zoom lenses cover this focal length, a prime lens should deliver noticeably higher image quality. Most video shooters won’t use a 120 mm telephoto prime lens on a daily basis. However, 7Artisans 120mm T2.9 Macro 2X cine prime is a great lens to have in your arsenal.
Pricing and availability
The 7Artisans 120mm T2.9 Macro 2X cine prime lens retails at $549 and is available to order now.
