7Artisans MF 35mm f/0.95

This 7Artisans prime is a manual-focus 35mm lens with an unusually wide f/0.95 aperture, released in 2020. It appeals to photographers who shoot dim interiors, street scenes and natural-light portraits. The design trades zoom flexibility for that one wide opening.

The optical family comes in six mounts: Canon EF-M, Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon Z and Sony E. Choose the version made for your camera, because no single lens fits every system.

The main trade-off is focusing. The lens offers no autofocus, so you turn the manual ring yourself. That suits deliberate shooting, and it slows quick candid work.

At 13 oz (369 g) this is a light lens you can carry all day. The Canon EF-M version measures 2.44 in (62 mm) across and 2.44 in (62 mm) long; other mounts may differ. A 52mm filter screws directly onto the front thread.

The f/0.95 maximum aperture is the lens's defining feature. It admits far more light than a typical f/1.8 prime, so handheld shooting stays practical in weak indoor light. On the APS-C Canon EF-M version, 35mm frames people with a natural perspective, which suits candid shots and everyday scenes.

Wide open, depth of field becomes extremely shallow. A portrait subject separates cleanly from a busy background, but only a sliver stays sharp. Confirm focus on the eyes with magnification or focus peaking before releasing the shutter. The twelve aperture blades keep the opening round when you stop down, which softens out-of-focus highlights.

Close focusing at 1.2 ft (37 cm) lets you work close to food, flowers or tabletop objects. Depth of field grows even thinner at that distance, so the close range suits still subjects you can arrange and light yourself rather than anything that moves.

Framing follows your feet rather than a zoom ring, so plan to move around your subject. Step nearer or further back to change how much of the scene the frame holds. The optics specification scores 77 out of 100.

The lens includes no image stabilization, so nothing inside it corrects camera shake. In dim light, steady the camera on a monopod or brace it against a handy wall. When you stop down for more depth, that support becomes more useful.

There is no weather sealing, so keep the lens dry and out of blowing dust. The front element also lacks a fluorine coating, so a smudge needs ordinary careful cleaning rather than wiping away easily.

With moving subjects, manual focus is the main work, and a support cannot freeze the subject for you. Choose motion you can anticipate and follow.

The optical unit holds 11 elements in 8 groups. The Canon EF-M version uses two low-dispersion elements. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, where colors focus differently and leave colored fringes along high-contrast edges such as window light behind a portrait. The construction specification scores 15 out of 100.