Chinese manufacturer 7Artisans has launched a new autofocus prime lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. The low-cost 85 mm lens has a fast maximum aperture of F1.8.
Compact design
The 7Artisans 85mm prime lens is 3.8 inches (96 mm) in length and 2.8 inches (72 mm) in diameter. 7Artisans claims its new lens is “slightly smaller than other lenses of the same specification.” However, Sony’s standard 85 mm F1.8 lens is actually around half an inch (14 mm) shorter. At 13 ounces (371 g), it’s also lighter than the 7Artisans lens which weighs 15.4 ounces (437.5 g).
7Artisans’ new 85 mm prime lens is constructed with ten lens elements in seven groups. These include two ED (extra-low dispersion) lens elements and two high refractive index lens elements. The wide maximum aperture of F1.8 means that the lens should be good for low-light situations and give a very shallow depth of field. With an 11-bladed iris, you should also get a smooth, circular bokeh in out-of-focus areas of your image
Autofocus
7Artisans says that the autofocus on the new 85 mm prime lens uses a high speed responsive STM stepper motor. The company also says that it delivers fast and precise focus with low noise for “quiet shooting.” It also supports eye control focusing. In addition, the close focus distance is 2.6 feet (0.8 meters) making it ideal for close-ups and portrait videography.
Other features
The lens has a customizable Fn function button. You can assign this to call up function menus or perform shortcut operations. In addition, there’s a USB-C port so that you can update the lens to the latest firmware without the need for a separate lens dock. The lens also comes with a USB-A to C cable, as well as a petal-style lens hood.
What we think
The 7Artisans 85mm prime lens offers great value for money, costing around half the price of Sony’s comparable model. With its fast F1.8 aperture, 7Artisans’ new lens should also give great low-light performance and shallow depth of field. One area where other manufacturers struggle to match the performance of Sony’s own lenses is autofocusing. However, the inclusion of a USB-C port means that you can quickly and easily upgrade the firmware as 7Artisans improves the lens. If you want an 85 mm prime lens that doesn’t break the bank, you should have a look at the new offering from 7Artisans.
Pricing and availability
The new 7Artisans 85mm F1.8 autofocus prime lens for Sony E-mount cameras retails at $299. It’s available now from the 7Artisans website.
