Review of 7artisans Photoelectric 25mm F/18 Lens for Sony E
7artisans 25mm F1.8: Good center, poor corners, dandy build quality MF prime
12
Long story brusk - information technology appear the 7artisans 25mm F1.8 lens is rebrand - slight update to the Zonlai/Discover 25f1.8. The biggest update is placing the focus ring upfront and the clickless aperture ring by mount. All shots are SOOC JPG.
Sharpness
Heart sharpness is very adept even wide open and hard to discern betwixt the 7artisans vs. my Sony FE28mm F2.0. However corners are a complete different story. They are very soft wide open with vignetting and progressively get better to F8 - where it'south pretty much gone.
Colors - Other attributes
Colors seem pretty good - nice dissimilarity. You can compare to my FE28F2.eight and xviii-105 in a follow-up postal service. Seems to do well with CA - probably ameliorate than the 18-105 zoom. There is some barrel baloney. Also it does flare if you shoot at an bending to the sunday.
Build Quality
Excellent metal body and solid experience. E-mount fit is snug with a solid click in identify - no jerk or play at all. Glass is coated with regal tint.
Focusing
I got this lens to do transmission focusing to come across if I volition ever invest in more expensive MF lens like Rokinons or even Loxia. This is a minor lens, not quite pancake, but only sticks out 32mm. Then the focus ring is small, but turns smoothly with a right corporeality of resistance. Turning range is effectually 120 degrees or third of a turn. Personally I wish information technology made a half plow as the required micro adjustments wide open up are miniscule.
Discontinuity Command
Discontinuity ring is clickless, which is a bit of annoyance - unless you're doing video. I as well think the aperture markings are off, based on the shutter speeds and the size of opening (though magnification from forepart element may distort my eyes). F8 appears closer to F6ish. The smallest aperture marking is F16 - but again the shutter speed and size of the opening will seem its closer to F20.
Conclusions
I'one thousand merely started to play with this and MF. Definitely ameliorate than MF past wire using AF Sony lens. But even though 25mm is adept for street photography - I can run across it being a challenge for me to catch focus fast plenty. Value for the money @$69 shipped- I think it's hard to beat for a 37.5mm equiv fast prime. I call up this would platonic nifty 50mm equiv on M43 equally the corner issues should ingather out nicely - in fact I think this was designed for M43 with APS-C equally an afterthought. On APS-C, it's a fleck more limiting due to the bad corners. I'll come across how things goes, but I call up I will use this lens in 2 ways:
ane) Wide-open bokeh contextual subject shots. Something like these:
ii) Walkaround general daytime landscapes @F8 or up. I really didn't test many shots at F8 - I was walking around using F4 as I just pixel peeped dorsum on the calculator and yous tin see from the shots below, the trouble with the corners.
I don't call up there's much use for this lens between F2-F6. Either shoot broad open up with creamy bokeh or stop it down for landscapes. Not really annihilation in between.
I'll reply with a follow-up postal service with more comparison shots between 7artisans, FE28mm F2, and xviii-105 @ 25mm at unlike apertures. This one is getting long already.
Sony a6000 Sony Eastward 35mm F1.8 OSS Sony E PZ eighteen-105mm F4 Chiliad OSS Sony FE 28mm F2 Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN (Due east/EF-1000 mounts) +ii more
Hin Man • Senior Member • Posts: 2,552
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.eight: Expert heart, poor corners, cracking build quality MF prime number
2
Thank you for the reports. I talked nigh the pros and cons of the like original Zonlai 25mm f/1.8 in this page
https://www.talkemount.com/threads/zonlai-25mm-f-one-eight-in-e-mount.15601/page-four
Pros:
+ very pocket-size size and lightweight
+ no need for whatever adapter, no actress bulk from whatever dslr adapter
+ very skillful focal length for street shooting
+ excellent close upwards
+ reasonable build
+ flare resistance very reasonable
+ bokeh shine and pleasing
+ precipitous in the middle
+ love the focus handling once I add together a focusing tab
+ great lens for b&westward piece of work with emphasis in the middle
Cons:
- corners tin can be a problem but I do get acceptable pictures from time to time in casual landscape shots in outing
- quite severe vignette particularly at wide apertures, erstwhile not possible to correct
- somewhat wearisome in colour and dissimilarity, I find well-nigh pictures requiring work in mail processing
- difficult to get used to the manual focusing, I apply a focusing tab with Sugru to assistance
- focusing band and discontinuity ring also close together, easy to motion aperture ring unintentionally while focusing, the problem is negated with a sugru focusing tab
To help with focusing, I use a DIY Sugru to mold a focusing tab on the focusing ring, information technology helps me quite a bit.
My zonlai copy has the focusing ring in the back. The addition of the Sugru focusing tab aid me with finer precision and avoid mistake in turning the wrong ring.
I encourage owners of Artisan to explore b&w and close focusing shots with the lens.
Thank you,
Hin
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.8: Good middle, poor corners, keen build quality MF prime
1
Great task
It´s important keep in mind that the toll is really cheap.
I think information technology´s worth the money
QuietOC • Veteran Member • Posts: v,719
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.viii: Good center, poor corners, corking build quality MF prime
Samsunguser wrote:
Great job
It´southward important keep in heed that the cost is really cheap.
I think it´s worth the coin
There is 1 much cheaper option (I paid $18) and at to the lowest degree one somewhat cheaper option that might be better .
E 16-fifty PZ, Green-band APS-C 25mm F1.8 C-mount, Find 25mm F1.eight, Mini 25mm "F1.8" C-mountain, Neewer 28mm F2.8
I would like to see more variety in focal lengths. I am sure 25mm is pop since information technology is a 50mm equivalent on 4-Thirds.
Pentax Q7 Sony a7R Four NEX-5T Sony a77 Two Sony DT 16-105mm F3.v-v.6 +97 more than
ttan98 • Senior Member • Posts: ii,414
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.viii: Good middle, poor corners, great build quality MF prime
Hi,
I own a Zonlai 25mm and 35mm, you are a hard mark/reviewer I would give the 25mm amend score than you more like 4 stars for quality and toll weighting. Y'all judge this lens wide open up in all circumstances for a lens at this depression price. You should conduct a like review for much more expensive lenses from Leica or any branded lenses . considering their cost would you give them 4 or more stars?
Comparison: 7artisan 25f1.8, FE28f2.0, 18-105f4
As promised here'southward a follow-upward comparing shots betwixt 7artisans 25mm f1.8, Sony FE28mm f2.0, Sony PZ eighteen-105 f4.0.
As mention in my previous post center sharpness for the 7artisans is very good and I tin't tell any departure from the FE28mm (edit - closer await and the FE28 is sharper at all apertures) and also a tad better than the 18-105 zoom (edit - pretty close). Just the corners you can obviously encounter the problem.
Comparison @F2
Comparison @f2.viii
Comparing @f4
Comparison @f8
Comparison @F16
Sony a6000 Sony E 35mm F1.viii OSS Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Sony Fe 28mm F2 Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN (East/EF-M mounts) +two more
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.viii: Good center, poor corners, great build quality MF prime number
ttan98 wrote:
Hi,
I own a Zonlai 25mm and 35mm, y'all are a hard marker/reviewer I would give the 25mm better score than you more like 4 stars for quality and price weighting. You estimate this lens wide open in all circumstances for a lens at this depression toll. You lot should conduct a similar review for much more expensive lenses from Leica or any branded lenses . considering their price would y'all give them 4 or more stars?
Perchance I am a difficult reviewer. Just being honest. I didn't just approximate wide open. I posted just equally many shots stopped down. And I simply follow-up with with a cease downward comparison all the way to F16. One of the principal outcome I have is the corners don't go much meliorate until F8, which makes F2-F7 not very useful.
For value yeah information technology is 5 stars. Only I don't weigh it maybe as strongly every bit others. For the cost, information technology'southward difficult to get something better.
I'thou taking off 1 start of the bad corners. And other ane/two star for the aperture markings being inaccurate and the fact that this lens is really only best used wide open up for bokeh effect of stopped down to F8 or above.
Sony a6000 Sony Eastward 35mm F1.8 OSS Sony Eastward PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Sony Iron 28mm F2 Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN (Eastward/EF-Thou mounts) +2 more
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.8: Proficient middle, poor corners, groovy build quality MF prime
Thanks Hinman, your original review of the Zonlai and inspiring photos helped make my decision to get the 7artisans a endeavor.
Sony a6000 Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 Yard OSS Sony Fe 28mm F2 Sigma 16mm F1.iv DC DN (East/EF-Chiliad mounts) +two more
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.8: Good center, poor corners, neat build quality MF prime
I merely returned this lens. It's good for the speed and focal length only the vignetting is too much for my taste. Information technology was almost a perfect inexpensive lens though.
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.8: Good center, poor corners, cracking build quality MF prime
silverspoon wrote:
I but returned this lens. It'southward practiced for the speed and focal length but the vignetting is as well much for my taste. It was almost a perfect inexpensive lens though.
Yeah - it's shut. Im OK with the vignette, the smudgy corners bothers me more. Information technology'll definitely be perfect on on M43. Non sure what to do myself My FE28mm doesn't get that much employ - even though information technology's the best IQ lens I have - meliorate than the 35f1.eight. I was kinda gambling to see if the 7artisans is something I'll apply as much as the FE28mm...mainly as a walkaround landscape lens...and to also lens MF. Not convince that MF is for me either.
Information technology doesn't make that much sense for me to accept 25mm, 28mm, and 35mm all fast primes. Merely I'm keeping the 35f1.viii equally the OSS makes a large deviation in depression-light even thought is I don't similar the FL every bit much.
Sony a6000 Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS Sony E PZ xviii-105mm F4 G OSS Sony FE 28mm F2 Sigma 16mm F1.four DC DN (E/EF-Chiliad mounts) +ii more
SLN001 • Veteran Member • Posts: iii,767
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.eight: Good center, poor corners, neat build quality MF prime
Really in that location already are a variety of focal lengths available in this lens format. The Meike brand (aforementioned folks from Prc who have been making camera accessories) Have a grouping of modest, manual focus APS-C lenses in E mount-two.0/l, i.seven/35, 2.viii/28, ii.eight/12, 3.5/8-and some, if not all, are likewise bachelor under the Neewer make.
The 50, 35 and 28 are all nether $80.00 while the 12 and 8 are more expensive.
-- hide signature --
Steve
Only an Armadillo on the shoulder of the data superhighway.
Sony a7 II Samsung Galaxy Note x.1 +2 more
Hin Man • Senior Member • Posts: 2,552
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.viii
5
I am aware of corner and vignette issues. The compactness of the lens proceed its usage loftier in my bag. I have been using my Zonlai over 1 twelvemonth and I however like information technology. I am biased in my opinion as I always adopt smaller and lighter gear.
Some of my memorable pictures with the original Zonlai 25mm f/ane.8 and Sony A6000
Interesting flare, edited to upwards the color
I always like its close up
just the heart bokeh rings are round, shot in Vegas
Valley Of Fire -- Slot Canyon
Edited in Aurora HDR
brackets shots, edited in Aurora HDR
I bring forth this lens for nigh of my hiking trips. When one stop down enough, the issues on corners and vignette are improved and quite usable in my view
Thank you,
Hin
QuangFoto • Regular Fellow member • Posts: 386
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.8
1
Nice shots. My copy should exist here in a few days. Your photos make me happy.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Panasonic FZ1000 Sony RX10 IV Nikon D60 +20 more
Hin Homo • Senior Fellow member • Posts: 2,552
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.8
QuangFoto wrote:
Nice shots. My copy should exist here in a few days. Your photos make me happy.
Cheers! When fourth dimension allows, delight report back how the lens works out for you lot. As mentioned earlier, I add a focusing tab using Sugru. The addition of a focusing tab helps me on focusing and with better precision.
Cheers,
Hin
QuangFoto • Regular Fellow member • Posts: 386
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.viii
1
This 7artisans 25mm f/1.8 lens is compact. Overall, it looks and feels nice on my black A6000. I think its effective focal length on this APS-C camera is good every bit a walk-around lens. It's sharp enough for me, and the very trivial vignetting effect when broad open is not every bit bad equally I thought.
When I gear up my photographic camera to ISO-Automobile, the starting time option on the list, which takes 3 shots and combines them, and with f/one.viii I tin can really go some good night shots.
I'thousand going to utilise information technology to shoot the car evidence event coming up next month.
Hither are some quick shots I took every bit soon as I got information technology unboxed.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 Panasonic FZ1000 Sony RX10 IV Nikon D60 +xx more
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.8
can anyone ostend if the Focus and DOF Scale on this ane is accurate?
I have this lens only I'm not quite sure if I am setting my zone focus correctly (still learning virtually this) or the scale is a bit off?
tried out a measuring record though seems like focus is a scrap off.
thanks!
Sony a6000 Olympus E-M5 II Sony East 35mm F1.eight OSS Sigma 18-35mm F1.eight DC HSM Art Sony Due east PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS +2 more
JohnNEX • Senior Member • Posts: 2,557
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.8
redeleon wrote:
tin can anyone confirm if the Focus and DOF Scale on this i is accurate?
I take this lens merely I'm not quite sure if I am setting my zone focus correctly (still learning nearly this) or the scale is a bit off?
tried out a measuring record though seems like focus is a scrap off.thanks!
On these cheaper MF lenses the markings are actually just a guide. My Samyang lenses are a chip off. Not bad just not exact.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Sony Blastoff NEX-half-dozen Sony a6500 Catechism EF 70-300mm f/4-five.6 IS USM Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS +10 more
Reiper • Forum Fellow member • Posts: 94
Re: some samples from Zonlai 25mm f/1.8
Is focusing loose in your lenses as well? I have Find version and focusing is very sensitive. When I get what I want in focus information technology is easy to rotate the band slightly by accident, like when removing mitt from the lens or even sneezing.
I never had such a problem with legacy manual lenses or samyang 12.
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.8: Skilful eye, poor corners, peachy build quality MF prime
For more images with 7Artisans 25mm f1.8, please visit my Facebook folio on the albums "On the street" in B&W & Color, "The light inside" in B&Due west & Color, "Thessaloniki: A Lover's City" in B&West & Color.
https://world wide web.facebook.com/pg/DValmasPhotography/photos/?tab=albums
Approximately 90% of those images, on those albums, are made using 7Artisans 25mm f1.8 lens with Fuji XE-1camera.
-Enjoy them...
PC Great britain • Regular Member • Posts: 108
Re: 7artisans 25mm F1.viii: Proficient middle, poor corners, great build quality MF prime
Thanks for a corking review Smoothmoose!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For a Micro 4/3 photographer - tHe real comparing here should be between:
[1] the seven-artisans 25mm f1.eight
[2] a 14-42mm Lumix or Zuiko kit lens
[3] a legacy 28mm f2.8 lens on a lens adapter
+++++++
The kit lens from either Lumix or Zuiko is excellent at wide to mid range - information technology only falls off in resolution near the 40mm zone. The kit has AF, anti-shake mechanics, signals baloney and vignetting correction to the photographic camera body (and to programmes such as DXO if yous shoot in RAW). So why buy a manual lens then?
So to me - The merely reason is to get an image that the kit zoom cannot go.
+++++++
The primal prototype gain is DEPTH OF FIELD - every bit the faster lens isolates the bailiwick meliorate.
So what is the advantage of the £50 GBP / $threescore USD 7-artisans over a 28mm f2.viii legacy lens from eBay?
+++++++
DOF - at 1 chiliad focus altitude:
At F1.8 = 13cm
At F2.8 = 21cm
At F4.five (kit zoom at mid range)= 34cm
DOF at 2m focus distance
At F1.8 = 55cm
At F2.eight = 89cm
At F4.5 (kit zoom at mid range)= 153cm
+++++++
So the extra 8cm of DoF at a one m focus (a headshot) or 44cm at 2 metres focus (Head and torso) comes at a cost:
[1] money - there are first-class "generic" 28mm F2.viii lenses from Komine, Tokina etc sold nether a wide variety of brands that sell for £ten/$15 on auction sites. Even a fantastic SMC Pentax or Canon FD won't be costing more than the 7-artisans. All come up in at less than 25% of the price of a new Lumix or Zuiko 20-25mm AF lens (and recall those have no in-lens stability control).
[2] Click-stops: the legacy lens will have clickstops, essential for photography through the viewfinder. For video - clicks add noise unless you have an external microphone (whih of grade yous should exist using).
[3] optical quality - even the humblest Vivitar or Hoya 28mm volition outperform the vii-artisans. Both demand a expert lens hood to perform at their all-time (and remember to buy a telephoto length one as this is for M4/iii crop gene use)
[4] mechanical quality - equally above
[5] size - well this is where the seven-artisans wins - simply, for transmission command with a viewfinder the seven-artisans puts the control rings very shut to the camera body. I find that a legacy lens with adaptor puts the discontinuity and focus rings exactly under my left hand fingers - so easier to employ in practise.
[6] vignetting - This is bad on the 7-artisans until you stop down 2-3 stops (denying the just advantage to this purchase!). I find that the 35mm full frame capabilities of a legacy lens on Micro 4/3 cuts out the edge distortion improve than with APS or c-mount lenses. Recall that an MFT camera volition employ just 25% of the image surface area of a full-frame lens. This explains why LENSHOODS are a must - and the longer the better as 75% of the glass is simply at that place to cause internal reflections and ghosting which custs image quality and contrast. I cannot emphasise enoght this last point - which seems to correct almost of the bug that reviews seem to complain about. I similar the safety extending lens hoods which you can fix to the field of view of each lens.
[7] DoF - well if this really is your disquisitional need - then but become a legacy 50mm F1.viii lens (becomes a 100mm equivalent on an MFT camera) and at 2 meters focus distance the DoF volition exist only 8cm while the kit zoom at 42mm will accept a DoF of 37cm at F5.six and 2 metres focus point.
+++++++
Then for me - unless the 8cm gain in Dof with a headshot is a dealbreaker - my advice is leave your old film camera kit and have a go with the old engineering before you pay up for a new lens ------- unless the vignetting, field edge distortion and "toy camera" await is what you want - simply then, just add an online filter in post-processing and have a much more controlled version of the aforementioned.
Is it worth information technology to get a manual focus lens in the modern era? Well despite all the nagatives I seem to take lined up in comparison with your kit zoom lens - the simple fact of having immediate control of aperture and fine focus seems to requite a spur to my inventiveness - a finding echoed in countless other postings on the DP Review site. Simply more of the photo'southward turn out to exist keepers.
Do yous just need an old 50mm F1.7 or 1.8 then? No, the l-56mm equivalent view of the 7-artisans or a legacy 28mm gives a more than neutral geometry to pictures - i more advantage to your artistic range.
My choice? Well since my initial blitz of trying it out, the Chinese small format lens sits in the camera pocketbook and is increasingy existence left at home - while my Cosina 24mm F2.8 macro-focus lens (with a big "telephoto" length lens hood) sees lots of use. And your choice................?
All-time wishes to you all - Paul C
Source: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4188156
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