7Artisans AF 35mm F1.8 (Nikon Z)

Testing showed a lens that is sharp across most of the frame wide open and near excellent at f/8. Coma is very well controlled for night-sky work, both kinds of CA are small, and bokeh is better than average, with a gentle glow in transitions and occasional swirl. Close up and wide open it is a little soft, which flatters portraits. Distortion is a mild pincushion and easy to correct.

The main weakness is flare, which is poor and slightly worse stopped down. Vignetting is about 2.2 EV at f/1.8. On Nikon Z bodies the STM autofocus is dependable for general work but hesitates at the closest distances and with eye-AF in low light, and it is audible as a light clicking in AF-C, which makes it less suited to video with on-camera sound.

Owners see it as one of the best-value full-frame 35mm AF lenses for Nikon Z, praising the sharpness and metal build at $299. Many pair it with first-party or third-party 85mm primes as a two-lens kit.

Common complaints are flare in backlight, AF that can be indecisive close up or with tracking, audible focus noise, and a size closer to f/1.4 lenses than to compact 35s. Weather sealing beyond the mount gasket is minimal.