Unboxing 7artisans 35mm F1.2 lens

[yukosteel]

Once the 7artisans 35mm F1.2 got announced on Fujirumors I started watching their lens and exploring more details online waiting for release.
The sales started on December 28 2017, but I didn't find any good review of this lens, so decided to purchase and try it myself.
 
This noon I've received free sample directly from 7artisans factory which they generously gifted as a result of our recent cooperation ( thank you 7artisans Team! ) I'll break this review into few parts to fit more images into this review.
You can also directly read extended review version.
 
Unboxing 7artisans 35mm F1.2 lens - Part I
 
The parcel arrived fully wrapped in white film with 7artisans logo. Inside I've found carefully bubble-film packed lens black box that looks cool.
 

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The box is sealed with two factory stickers. You may check for "FX" extra sticker in the top right corner before unpacking to make sure the correct mount is delivered. It's the first lens box I got with QR code, will check it later : )
 

 
First interesting thing you will see in the box is the "Salute to shutterby" shiny phrase, warranty card and manual.
 

 
The lens is wrapped in plastic bag and secured inside high density foam (reminds me about early Fuji XF lens packaging). Lens much smaller than I expected and looks very cute. It comes with metal front cap and plastic rear cap.
 

 
The glass looks very clean, I didnt notice any visible dust. My sample has SN: A6351608 , and I see SN: A635003 on the 7artisans site, so it seems to be 1608th sample produced. Lens glass is definitely multicoated which I can see form reflections. The focus and aperture rings are rotating very smooth and not too loose.
 

Edited January 22, 2018 by yukosteel

[yukosteel]

Unboxing 7artisans 35mm F1.2 lens - Part II

 

My sample weights only 5 1/2 Oz (157g). It was a surprise to find the Torx head screws in the mount - quite unusual for budget lens. Mount also has "FX-Mount" sign for your convenience. I'd mention that screw holes and "red dot" marker have quite sharp and rough edges, which I'd like to make smooth later like they should be.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: you may see that Torx screws heads are sitting quite deep - it is causing an issue when unmounting lens from the camera. Typically I just briefly press lens-lock button on Fuji camera and release it during rotating the lens clockwise. It soesn't work with 7artisans s5mm F1.2 - you have to keep lens-lock button pressed thill the end, otherwise lock pin will be catched by the closest Torx screw location.

 

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Engraving of 7artisans 35mm F1.2 is not very deep, but it has all white color which is good for low light shooting conditions.

You can see that aperture ring is very close to the mount, which is convenient for shooting but it is not handy when mounting lens on camera.

To prevent focus + aperture ring rotation, simply hold whole body while mounting/unmounting lens.

My sample doesn't sit tight enough on Fuji X-E2s, but it's firm enough to feel comfortable and is not moving during the focus or aperture ring rotation.

 

I've noticed three Allen screws on the focus ring, and assuming they may be used to fine tune infinity focus point of the lens. However my sample is perfectly focusing on infinity with X-E2s, so I'd not worry about that, looks like "Inspection: Qualified" on the warranty card means that thing got tested.

 

Edited January 21, 2018 by yukosteel

[yukosteel]

Unboxing 7artisans 35mm F1.2 lens - Part III

 

The lens is greatly balanced on X-E2s, my fingers locate the focus ring instantly. I think it's nice idea to use such ring shape - it reminds the Leica type knob, and you can focus using single finger as well. I like that aperture ring is far so I can't accidentaly rotate it together with focus, and it's texture is very different so easy to separate.

This small lens beautifully emphasizes vintage look of X-E2s.

 

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It's really light and small lens, just like 35mm F2.5 should be. I'd compare the size with adapted Voigtlander 35mm F2.5 which I often shoot with on X-E2s.

But it's cropped glass, so 7artisans made it lighter and faster up to F1.2 in such small size. That's impressive. I often use Mitakon 35mm F0.95 MK-II for indoor or low light shooting, but that lens is heavy and two times larger. This 7artisans 35mm F1.2 is a joy to use, it really feels like I forgot to mount the lens on camera : )

 

 

[mdm]

Thank's a lot for this overview. Waiting for images and further notes.

[yukosteel]

Unboxing 7artisans 35mm F1.2 lens - Part IV

 

Made few shots today to check how the lens performs in general. I kind of knew what to expect after observing samples on 7artisans site.

This 35mm F1.2 is definitely made to be used for objects in the center of frame and manipulating background. 9 aperture blades form nice round shape on all fast aperture range up to F2.8. It's moderately soft at F1.2 even in the center, and perfroms in quite similar way Voigtlander 35mm F1.4 classic starting from F1.4. I've also noticed axial aberrations when focusing at close objects. Out of focus light sources form beautiful rings in the center but comatic aberration appears quite fast in close border areas.

 

Sharpness samples:

 

 

 

 

Random outdoor shot (at F1.2)

 

 

Upper half of the frame to show coma influence when focused

 

 

Upper half of the frame out of focus

 

One more shot on F2.8

 

 

And following are all at F1.2

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2018 by yukosteel

[yukosteel]

Number of 7artisans 35mm F1.2 owners reported that infinity focus at F1.2 is not correct. During the review I’ve assumed that three tiny Allen (or Torx) bolts on the focus ring may serve to calibrate the infinity point.

Today I decided to check that. I’ve also realized that my sample can’t perfectly focus at infinity on the very far distance (more than 200ft). And the good news is that it can be relatively easily calibrated without disassembly or sending the lens back to the factory : )

 

Here is the 7artisans 35mm F1.2 infinity focus calibration guide.

 

[rokphish]

sIMG_0343.JPG

 

 

It would look much cooler if it were all/full black... Edited January 24, 2018 by rokphish

[rokphish]

Please post more photos taken by the lens at your convenience. Thanks!

[yukosteel]

I will for sure post more images. Unfortunately the rain doesn't stop, and everything looks quite depressive around : )

 

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About the lens color, I wish they have silver version, it would fit the camera better : )

I used to have my previous X bodies black, but primary using adapted lens with high percent of silver, so this camera fits that lens better.

[sfino89]

Heya. I just received this lens in post. Whacked it on my X-Pro1, and just like the 25mm 1.8, it's not a tight mount to the body, it has movement when you turn it slightly. Just wondering if this happens with yours at all?

 

I think it's too much of a hassle to send back to China.

 

Fantastic little lens otherwise.

[yukosteel]

I have that on X-E2s as well, a little radial play of lens mount. It's not moving during the focus or aperture rotation though so I'll keep using it as is.

If you need more strurdy mount fit I'd recommend to apply thin layer of adhesive vinyl film ring to the lens mount surface ( I did that for one of my LM>FX adapter).

 

I've noticed that many non-Fujinon lens have some play in X mount, it also happened with my previous XF 50-140mm F2.8 on X-T1.

[gornik]

I got mine in the mail today. Pretty great little lens and it is amazing together with the X-Pro2 when using the OVF together with the mini EVF. I actually prefer this lens now to my Fuji 35mm F2. Its not as good optically obviously but more fun to shoot with (at least for me . Really good work from 7Artisans as I did not expect much from it to be honest. My copy also is not a tight fit but I can live with it. The bokeh is really smooth. Really great effects with Acros + strong grain where its (optical) weakness (compared to xf glass) actually becomes a strength .