7Artisans 50mm f/1.05
Full-Frame for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E & LEICA L Mirrorless
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 for Nikon Z (also comes in mounts for Canon RF EOS-R, Sony E and LEICA L, metal 58mm filter thread, 21.4 oz./606 g, 1.9'/0.57m close focus, $399). bigger. I got mine directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken
September 2022 Better Pictures Canon Sony Nikon Fuji LEICA Zeiss Hasselblad All Reviews
Sony vs. Nikon vs. Canon Full-Frame
Why Fixed Lenses Take Better Pictures
Sample Images top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
More samples at Bokeh, Macro and Spherochromatism.
These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are shot hand-held as BASIC ★ JPGs; no tripods, NORMAL or FINE JPGs or RAW files were used or needed.
Eucalyptus Tree & Ratbush, 10:57 AM, 05 January 2021. Nikon Z6 II, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 at f/1.05 at 1/8,000 at ISO 50 (L), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
Eucalyptus Tree & Ratbush, 10:57 AM, 05 January 2021. Nikon Z6 II, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 at f/8 at 1/1,250 at ISO 100, Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original © JPG file.
Introduction top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
This is a completely mechanical, all-metal manual-focus-only bokeh lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras.
It is surprisingly sharp in the center, especially at f/1.05 where no new camera-brand full-frame lens goes, but due to field curvature and other issues it's never as sharp on the sides as a slower camera-brand 50mm lens. For instance, the less-expensive Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G on the Nikon FTZ is much sharper at every aperture in the sides and corners — but the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G doesn't go to f/1.05 and they're both about as good in the center where it counts.
It's not that sharp overall if you're counting hairs. It's not for astronomy or science; it's a lens for lovers of great bokeh.
It comes in mounts for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E & LEICA L Mirrorless cameras.
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New intro top
Ultra-speed f/1.05 manual lens for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E & LEICA L full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Exquisite 13-blade diaphragm.
Short-backfocus design takes advantage of mirrorless camera mounts.
Good intro top
Very sharp and contrasty in the center at f/1.05.
Great bokeh at every aperture.
Exquisite 13-blade diaphragm.
Ultra-speed f/1.05.
Metal filter thread.
Luxurious felt-lined metal front cap.
All-metal construction to last a lifetime.
Case included.
Bad intro top
Never that sharp on the sides; this is an ultra-speed bokeh lens, not a lens for ultimate sharpness.
Completely manual focus and diaphragm operation like something from the 1930s.
Bizarre depth-of-field scale suggests much more depth-of-field than other 50mm lenses. It's calculated with about a 120 micron circle of confusion, not 30 microns as standard for this format.
No aperture click stops.
Uneven spacing between f/stops (non-linear aperture ring calibration).
Missing intro top
Absolutely no communication with the camera: no in-camera aperture setting, no automatic aperture control and no automated EXIF data.
No aperture click stops.
Mostly invisible mounting index.
Doesn't really seem like f/1.05. With an entrance pupil of 41mm, I'd peg it as more of an f/1.2 lens.
Format top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This is a full frame lens and I'm reviewing it as such.
It also works great on APS-C cameras, on which you may make the usual inferences.
Compatibility top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
It comes in mounts for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E & LEICA L Mirrorless cameras.
It can't be adapted to anything else.
Specifications top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name specifications top
7Artisans calls this the 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 APO ∅58:
APO: Apochromatic, which traditionally means fully corrected at three, rather than two, wavelengths, but I suspect this is just marketing fluff here.
∅58: 58mm filter thread.
Optics specifications top
7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 internal optical construction. ED elements.
10 elements in 7 groups.
2 ED elements.
Floating rear group.
NO aspherical elements claimed.
Corrected for visible light (400~700 Å).
Multicoated.
TTL: 98mm.
BFI: 16.1mm.
Diaphragm specifications top
|
|
At f/1.05. bigger. |
At f/5.6. bigger. |
13 blades.
Stops down to f/16.
NO clicks.
Filters specifications top
Metal 58 mm filter thread.
Coverage specifications top
Full-Frame (24 × 36mm) and APS-C (16 × 24mm).
Focal Length specifications top
50mm.
When used on an APS-C camera, it sees the same angle of view as a 75 mm lens sees when used on a full-frame or 35mm camera.
See also Crop Factor.
Angle of View specifications top
46º diagonal on full frame.
Focus specifications top
Traditional helicoid focus, with a floating rear group.
Focus Scale specifications top
Yes.
Infinity Focus Stop specifications top
No.
Depth of Field Scale specifications top
Yes.
Infrared Focus Index specifications top
No.
Close Focus specifications top
1.9 feet (0.57 meters).
Image Stabilizer specifications top
None.
Caps specifications top
Regular plastic rear cap and wonderful felt-lined front cap:
7Artisans 50mm f/1.05. bigger.
Hood specifications top
None included.
Case specifications top
Included case, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05. bigger.
Size specifications top
Dimensional drawing. bigger.
2.52" ø maximum diameter × 3.20" extension from flange.
64 mm ø maximum diameter × 81.2 mm extension from flange.
Weight specifications top
21.370 oz. (605.9 g) actual measured weight.
Rated 21.4 oz. (606 g).
Quality specifications top
Designed and made domestically in China.
Announced specifications top
Late 2020.
Included specifications to
Lens, caps, fake leather case, fuzzy bag and paperwork.
Oddly, I couldn't find a strap for the case in my box:
In the box, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05. bigger.
Packaging specifications top
Slipcase box, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05. bigger.
Box Bottom, 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05. bigger.
Model Numbers specifications top
Canon: A005B-R.
Nikon: A005B-Z.
LEICA L: A005B-L.
Sony: A005B-E.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
September 2022
$399 at B&H, $486 from Pergear.
January 2021
$486.
Performance top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
Overall Focus Breathing Bokeh Distortion Ergonomics
Falloff Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes Macro
Mechanics Sharpness Spherochromatism Sunstars
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
This is a very fast, fixed normal lens with iffy sharpness but superb bokeh in a primitive non-electronic mechanical manual-focus mount.
Focus performance top
Focus is completely manual. Turn the ring and you're done.
Feel free to use whatever in-camera assistance you like, like focus-confirmation dots, electronic rangefinders, focus peaking or magnification. Each camera will have different features.
Focus Breathing performance top
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The front of the lens moves out and the image gets bigger as focussed more closely.
Bokeh performance top
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is excellent at all apertures.
Here are photos from headshot distance wide-open. Click any for the camera-original © files:
Made-in-U. S. A. Davis 6250 weather station, 05 January 2021. Click any for the camera-original © file.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/1.05 and get as close as possible.
Distortion performance top
The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 has a small amount of barrel distortion. It's rated as "less than 1.65%." I doubt you'd ever see it unless you're photographing brick walls, in which case you should be using a macro lens instead for its greater sharpness and lack of distortion.
For more critical scientific use (Heaven forbid), use a correction factor of +1.50 in Photoshop's lens correction filter.
7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 claimed performance. bigger.
Ergonomics performance top
|
|
For a lens this simple it manages to get a lot wrong.
The aperture settings are crowded very close together at the smaller settings, making it difficult to set precisely. The aperture ring is well damped.
The aperture ring has no clicks, so you have to stop and look very carefully to set it. You can't see the index dot if you're behind the camera because it's hidden by the aperture ring itself. Therefore if you're on a tripod at eye level and can't look down on the lens as I've shown here, you can't see the index dot and have to guess!
Focus turns smoothly with some play and some slight feel from the CNC router that carved it.
My ultra-high-resolution product photos show everything more clearly than it appears in person. In actual use the red markings are very dark red, which is almost invisible against the black barrel except in very good light. It's not bright and clear as it looks here.
The focus ridges aren't completely deburred so they are sharp, and therefore they scrape and collect dirt, spare skin and grit in the recesses between these ridges.
The depth-of-field scale suggests much more depth-of-field than other 50mm lenses. It's calculated with about a 120 micron circle of confusion, not 30 microns as is standard for this format — so don't believe it.
There is no mounting index other than a nearly invisible dot engraved on the mating surface of the mount.
Falloff performance top
Falloff on full-frame is laudably minor at f/1.05, and gone at smaller apertures. Nikon cameras, at least, can correct for this.
I've greatly exaggerated the falloff by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background; it will not look this bad in actual photos of real things:
Falloff on full-frame, Vignette Control NORMAL:
© 2021 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Falloff on full-frame, Vignette Control OFF:
© 2021 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Flare & Ghosts performance top
I see no problems with flare or ghosts.
See examples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes performance top
There are no lateral color fringes as shot on Nikon cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there.
There is significant spherochromatism at large apertures which can cause color fringes on things that aren't in perfect focus. Spherochromatism is a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes.
Macro Performance performance top
Macro gets about as close as other lenses.
At f/1.05
Spherical aberration and spherochromatism limit quality, but what are you expecting at f/1.05?
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance at f/1.05, 05 January 2021. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (5× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same large magnification would be about 10 × 15" (25 × 38cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same insanely high magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
At f/8
It's much sharper at f/8:
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance at f/8, 05 January 2021. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (5× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same large magnification would be about 10 × 15" (25 × 38cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same insanely high magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
Mechanical Quality performance top
7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 For Nikon Z. Also comes for Canon RF, Sony & LEICA L. bigger.
This Chinese lens feels just like a third-party Japanese lens from 50 years ago.
It's all metal with engraved markings and what seems like an aluminum, not brass, mount.
Focus turns smoothly with some play and some slight feel from the CNC router that carved it.
Finish
Black anodized aluminum.
Hood
None.
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Black anodized aluminum.
Hood Bayonet Mount
None.
Front Barrel Exterior
Black anodized aluminum.
Aperture Ring
Black anodized aluminum.
Focus Ring
Black anodized aluminum.
Rear Barrel Exterior
Black anodized aluminum.
Identity
Laser engraved around front of lens.
Serial Number
Laser engraved around front of lens.
Internals
Seem like all metal!
Dust Gasket at Mount
No.
Mount
Dull chromed metal, but seems like aluminum rather than brass.
Markings
All engraved and filled with paint.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Moderate clicking from the diaphragm and mild clunking from the rear focus group.
Made in
Designed and made domestically in China.
Sharpness performance top
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
This is a bokeh lens, not a lens for people who count their pixels.
It's surprisingly sharp in the center at every aperture.
It's soft or softer in the sides and corners, getting sharper as stopped down, but never perfectly sharp there.
Field curvature doesn't help; it tends to run backwards making things behind a central subject sharper towards the sides.
7Artisans 50mm f/1.05 claimed performance. bigger.
Spherochromatism performance top
Spherochromatism, also called secondary spherical chromatic aberration or "color bokeh," is an advanced form of spherical and chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral chromatic aberration. It happens mostly in fast normal and tele lenses when spherical aberration at the ends of the color spectrum are corrected differently than in the middle of the spectrum. Spherochromatism can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
It has a lot of spherochromatism, as I'd expect for an inexpensive ultra-speed lens: You can see loads of blue-green and red-magenta fringes on out-of-focus areas at f/1.05:
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance at f/1.05, 05 January 2021. bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel (5× magnification) crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same large magnification would be about 10 × 15" (25 × 38cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same high magnification would be about 20 × 30" (50 × 75cm).
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, then the complete image printed at this same extreme magnification would be about 40 × 60" (1 × 1.5 meters).
Sunstars performance top
With a 13-bladed diaphragm I can get exquisite 13- or 26-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light at most apertures. They are sharp, but since there are so many of them they aren't that bright.
Ignore the crazy rainbow effects at small apertures; these are sensor artifacts caused by taking a picture directly of the sun and exposing for the dark underside of a huge palm tree, and using that same palm tree to hide the sky to accentuate the stars.
Ignore the weird circular smear at f/1.05; I suspect that may be a Nikon Z6 II artifact; I saw the same thing with a TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Compared top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
I prefer camera-brand lenses for my mirrorless cameras because they're sharper and much more compatible electronically, and focus and exposes automatically with proper EXIF data.
If I was the sort of guy who enjoyed adapting off-brand lenses to my cameras, I prefer the TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 which costs less, is sharper, also has superb bokeh, is much better made and it easily can be adapted to any brand of mirrorless camera without having to buy a new lens if you change brands.
Recommendations top
Format Compatibility Specifications
Performance Compared Recommendations
I got my 50mm f/1.05 directly from Pergear. I'd also get it at B&H or at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
If you want great bokeh at a low price, consider this lens. If you want ultrasharp all the way out to the corners for science or astronomy, look elsewhere.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 58mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the B+W 58mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
All these filters are just as sharp and take the same pictures. The difference is how much abuse they'll take and stay clean and stay in one piece.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. Ken Rockwell® is a registered trademark.
Help Me Help You
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.