7Artisans 35mm F5.6
Launch MSRP
$139- Weight
- 154g
- Filter
- —
- Min focus
- 0.30m
- Max mag.
- 0.14×
- Formula
- 5E / 4G
- Released
- 2021
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x ED
- Aperture range
- f/5.6 — f/5.7
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 154g
- ⌀ × length
- 62.0 × 29.0mm
- Filter
- —
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- —
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.30m
- Max magnification
- 0.14× (1:7.1)
Optical character
The 35mm F5.6 is a body-cap-sized full-frame pancake: about 29mm deep, around 150g, with a fixed f/5.6 aperture and no aperture ring. It is built for street and travel shooting where you set zone focus and forget it. Turning the focus ring past infinity to the LOCK position closes a built-in metal shutter over the front element, so you do not need a lens cap.
The optics are 5 elements in 4 groups, including two ED elements. Close focus is 0.3m and 7Artisans quotes distortion of 2% or less. There are no electronic contacts and no filter thread. Because f/5.6 is the only aperture, exposure has to be controlled with shutter speed and ISO.
Reviewer consensus
Testing on a 61MP full-frame body found excellent centre sharpness and only average corners, low distortion with slight pincushion, moderate chromatic aberration and visible vignetting. Subjects placed in the centre or on the thirds look crisp and contrasty, which suits its street-photography purpose.
Flare is the weak point. With the sun in or near the frame there is strong ghosting and veiling flare that cuts colour and contrast. The metal build and the precise, well-damped focus ring are rated very good, and the integrated cover is seen as a practical touch.
Owner sentiment
Owners love how small it makes an A7-series body and treat it as a lens that is always on the camera for walks and travel. The front cover and the zone-focus distance scale are popular, and the low street price makes it an easy impulse buy.
The complaints are the fixed f/5.6 aperture indoors, flare in backlight, soft corners, and the small focus ring. Some buyers expected an f/5.6 lens to give more background blur than it does.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Tiny 29mm-deep pancake, about 150g
- +Built-in front cover, no cap needed
- +Sharp centre on high-resolution bodies
- +Low distortion
- +Inexpensive
Weaknesses
- −Fixed f/5.6, no aperture control
- −Strong flare and ghosting
- −Average corners, visible vignetting
- −No filter thread or EXIF
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 6.8
- Bokeh Rendering
- 5.5
- Autofocus Speed
- MF
- Flare Resistance
- 5.2
- Build / Sealing
- 7.8
- Value / Size
- 8.3
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 35mm |
| Category | Wide |
| Maximum aperture | f/5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/5.7 |
| Construction | 5 elements in 4 groups |
| Special elements | 2x ED |
| Aperture blades | 3 |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Manual Helicoid |
| Minimum focus | 0.30m |
| Max magnification | 0.14× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 154g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 62.0 × 29.0mm |
| Filter thread | None |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Launch MSRP | $139 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- 7artisans.store/products/35mm-f5-6
- 7artisans.com/prod_view.aspx
- 7artisans.co.uk/products/35mm-f-5-6-pancake-lens
- sonyalpha.blog/2021/04/23/7-artisans-35mm-f5-6/
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