7Artisans MF 25mm f/1.8

This 2017 prime is a small, manual-focus wide lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras. It comes in Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon Z and Sony E mounts, so choose the version made for your system.

The 25mm focal length suits street photography, interiors and everyday documentary work. At f/1.8 it gathers light for evening streets and dim rooms. It also handles travel days when you want one light lens on the camera.

The main trade-off is focusing. There is no autofocus motor, so you focus by hand. That rewards slow, deliberate shooting over quick grab shots, and it suits photographers who enjoy setting each frame themselves.

The Canon EF-M version weighs 5 oz (143 g) and measures 1.81 in (46 mm) across and 1.26 in (32 mm) long. It barely changes the feel of a small mirrorless body. Other mount versions differ in these measurements.

The lens takes screw-in filters. Any filter attached directly must match the 46mm thread.

On an APS-C sensor, 25mm gives a mild wide view. It frames street corners, small rooms and cafe tables without the strong stretch of a wider lens. Two or three people fit comfortably at conversational distances.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture is the lens's main practical draw. It keeps shutter speeds workable indoors and after dark. Focused close on a subject, it also softens a busy background, which helps separate a face from a crowded street. At f/1.8 the depth of field is shallow, so place focus carefully on the eye or detail that matters.

Focusing is manual, with a dedicated ring. Most mirrorless cameras offer focus peaking or magnified view, which makes accurate focus quick once you build the habit. Fast-moving subjects still take patience.

Twelve aperture blades keep the opening nearly round when stopped down, so background lamps render as smooth circles rather than polygons. Closest focus sits at 0.6 ft (18 cm), close enough to frame a plate of food or a small shop item tightly. The optics specification scores 74 out of 100.

The lens has no image stabilization, so nothing inside it corrects camera shake. The wide 25mm view makes handheld framing easier to hold steady than a long lens would. For evening work, steady hands or a nearby wall become part of the technique.

Weather sealing is absent too. Light rain or dust can reach the moving parts, so keep the lens dry and carry a sleeve in changeable weather. There is no fluorine coating either, so fingerprints and dust on the front glass need prompt, gentle cleaning. None of this rules out outdoor use. It simply asks for basic care.

The optical formula is simple, with 7 elements in 5 groups. It uses no bi-aspherical, super-low-dispersion or extra CA-reduction glass.

The Canon EF-M version focuses internally, moving elements inside the barrel as you turn the ring. The construction specification scores 23 out of 100.