7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 Mark II Lens for Sony

7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II Overview

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is a manual focus prime lens designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras, serving as an updated version of their popular original 35mm f/1.2. Known for its extremely fast maximum aperture, compact size, and affordable price point, this lens appeals to photographers seeking significant light-gathering capabilities and creative shallow depth-of-field effects.

Overview of the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II:

The 35mm focal length on an APS-C sensor provides an equivalent field of view of approximately 52.5mm (on 1.5x crop sensors like Fujifilm, Sony E) or 56mm (on 1.6x crop sensors like Canon EF-M/RF-S). This makes it a "normal" or "standard" prime lens, offering a versatile perspective that closely mimics human vision, making it suitable for a wide array of photographic genres.

Key Features:

• Extremely Fast f/1.2 Maximum Aperture: This is the defining characteristic of the lens.

  • Exceptional Low-Light Performance: The very wide aperture allows the lens to gather a significant amount of light, making it ideal for shooting in challenging low-light conditions without excessively high ISO settings.

  • Ultra-Shallow Depth of Field (Bokeh): The f/1.2 aperture enables incredibly shallow depth of field, allowing photographers to isolate subjects dramatically from busy backgrounds, producing creamy, dream-like bokeh. This is a highly sought-after aesthetic for portraits, still life, and creative photography.

• Manual Focus Design: As a manual focus lens, it encourages a more deliberate and artistic approach to photography. The focus ring is typically smooth, offering a tactile experience that many photographers appreciate, especially for video work where manual focus can be more precise.

• Compact and Lightweight: Despite its fast aperture, the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II maintains a relatively small and lightweight profile. This makes it a great "walk-around" lens and an excellent companion for smaller mirrorless camera bodies, enhancing portability for street photography, travel, and everyday use.

• Solid All-Metal Construction: Following 7Artisans' tradition, the lens often features an robust all-metal barrel and mount, giving it a durable, premium feel that belies its affordable price. This sturdy build ensures longevity and resistance to wear and tear.

• Optical Design (Improvements in Version II):

  • The "II" designation typically indicates refinements over the original version. While specific element counts can vary, improvements often focus on better control of aberrations (like chromatic aberration) and enhanced sharpness, especially wide open. The goal is to maximize optical performance while retaining the unique "character" (such as swirly bokeh) that fast, affordable primes are known for.

  • It typically uses a multi-blade aperture diaphragm (e.g., 10 blades) to ensure pleasing, rounded bokeh even when stopped down slightly.

• Click-less Aperture Ring (Common in Manual Lenses): Many manual lenses from brands like 7Artisans feature a de-clicked aperture ring, which allows for smooth, stepless aperture adjustments. This is particularly beneficial for videographers who need seamless exposure changes during recording without audible clicks.

• Affordable Price Point: One of the most attractive aspects of 7Artisans lenses is their accessibility. The 35mm f/1.2 II offers a taste of extreme wide-aperture photography without the high cost associated with first-party or premium third-party f/1.2 lenses.

Ideal For:

• Portrait Photographers: For stunning subject separation and beautiful background blur.

• Low-Light & Night Photographers: Excellent for capturing scenes in dim conditions, including astrophotography (though 35mm on APS-C isn't super wide, it works).

• Street Photographers: Its discreet size and versatile focal length make it perfect for candid street shots, especially in challenging lighting.

• Videographers: The manual focus, de-clicked aperture, and ability to create cinematic depth of field are highly valued for video production.

• Artistic & Creative Photographers: For those who enjoy the unique rendering and character that a very fast, affordable manual prime can offer.

• Budget-Conscious Photographers: Provides exceptional value for its performance.

In essence, the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is a remarkable lens that punches above its weight, delivering impressive light-gathering capabilities and sublime bokeh in a compact, well-built, and highly affordable manual focus package for APS-C mirrorless camera users.