7ARTISANS 50MM F/1.05
Proving that you can fit a quart in a pint pot, this lens packs a super-fast f/1.05 aperture rating into a smaller form than the Nikon f/1.8 lens on test, and tips the scales at a modest 606g. Typical of the growing range of 7Artisans lenses for mirrorless cameras, it’s a fully manual affair with no built-in electronics.
Like most of its stablemates, it’s also available in a wide range of mount options, including Canon RF, Leica L (also used in Panasonic and Sigma full-frame cameras), Nikon Z and Sony FE (full-frame E-mount).
With no data communication between the lens and camera body, the aperture setting requires adjustment via the lens’s stepless control ring instead of from the host camera. This precludes the effective use of program/ auto and shutter-priority shooting modes and, while the ‘de-clicked’ control ring is a bonus for shooting video, it’s less than ideal for stills.
High-tech glass includes two ULD (Ultra Low Dispersion) elements and the lens matches the Nikon on test in featuring ten elements in seven groups overall. Despite the bargain-basement price for such a fast lens, it’s impeccably turned out, with a high-quality construction featuring a sturdy metal barrel. The front lens cap is also metal, although the mounting plate on the back is made from high-grade, durable plastic. Curiously, 7Artisans doesn’t supply a hood with the lens, or even offer one as an optional extra.
Typical of manual-focus lenses, the focus ring operates with smooth precision and comes complete with a focus distance scale that includes depth-of-field markers for zone focusing. The focus peaking option of most mirrorless cameras makes accurate manual focusing relatively easy. We tested the Nikon Z edition of the lens, which also makes in-body stabilisation available if you dial the relevant details into the ‘Non-CPU lens data’ option in the Setup menu.
Considering its super-fast aperture rating, the lens retains impressive sharpness when shooting wide-open, while bokeh is deliciously dreamy. Fast lenses often suffer from noticeable axial chromatic aberration (bokeh fringing) at their widest apertures, but this one keeps it to a minimum. Another bonus is that bokeh discs from points of light retain an impressively circular profile when stopping down, thanks to a well-rounded 13-blade aperture diaphragm.
With an exhilarating turn of speed, this fast-aperture manual lens also has hands-on appeal