7Artisans 9mm F5.6

Testing on Sony bodies found the centre sharp and contrasty from f/5.6, with the corners at their best around f/8. Flare resistance is unusually strong for such a wide lens, coma and lateral colour are well controlled, and the sunstars are well defined.

The drawbacks are heavy vignetting of about 2.3 EV that does not improve when stopping down, a slight green cast in the corners and a wavy barrel distortion that is noticeable on architecture. Against Laowa's 9mm f/5.6 it has better flare control and lower vignetting at a lower price, while the Laowa is wider, smaller, focuses closer and has less distortion.

Owners value the field of view, the solid build and the good flare control for real-estate, cityscape and astro-landscape work. The rear ND filter kit in newer boxes is a welcome extra for long exposures, given there is no front thread.

Complaints focus on the wavy distortion, which is harder to correct than simple barrel distortion, the corner colour cast and vignetting, the lack of EXIF data, and the fixed hood that makes cleaning the front element awkward.