The 7Artisans 85mm f/1.8 AF lens for full-frame E-mount cameras is available now for just $299, making it among the most affordable 85mm prime lenses for Sony mirrorless cameras.
The lens promises good sharpness at the focal point, pleasing bokeh, and swift autofocus performance. 7Artisans also notes that the lens is compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry and handhold.
An optical formula with some interesting inclusions underpins the promised high image quality. In total, there are 10 lens elements across seven groups. Of these elements, two are ED lenses, and a pair are high-refractive-index lenses. 7Artisans says the lens delivers “high-resolution” images with good control over optical aberrations.
For bokeh, the maximum f/1.8 aperture, given the 85 mm focal length, enables a shallow depth of field. The lens also has an 11-bladed aperture diaphragm to deliver circular specular highlights.
For the ultimate in bokeh, all else equal, photographers should get as close as possible to the subject. In the case of the 7Artisans 85mm f/1.4 AF, the minimum focusing distance is 0.8 meters (2.6 feet), allowing for very close-up headshots. The lens also works alongside specialized autofocus modes, like eye- and face-detect autofocus.
Concerning the compact and lightweight design, the lens weighs 438 grams (15.4 ounces) and is 96 millimeters (3.78 inches) long. The lens has a 62mm front filter thread.
It is a reasonably small and lightweight 85mm f/1.8 lens compared to some other third-party options, but 7Artisans’ new lens is not the lightest or smallest choice for E-mount. For example, the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens, currently on sale for $548, is 67 grams (2.36 ounces) lighter and 14 millimeters (0.5 inches) shorter. Granted, its list price is also twice as much, so it is reasonable to expect a superior physical design.
It’s impossible to know at this point if the new 7Artisans lens can go toe-to-toe with the $550 Sony lens in terms of image quality, but in PetaPixel‘s experience, 7Artisans lenses are often optically impressive, even if they do occasionally fall a bit short in the autofocus performance department. That said, the lens includes a USB-C port built into its lens mount, enabling photographers to update the lens firmware, thereby improving its performance.
The 7Artisans 85mm f/1.8 AF lens promises strong performance at a relatively affordable price, and the lens is available to order now. It can be purchased through 7Artisans itself, via Pergear, or on B&H. Both 7Artisans and Pergear appear to be shipping the lens now, while B&H expects it to arrive in one to two weeks.
Image credits: 7Artisans