$299 dollars for a 7Artisans AF 85mm F1.8 lens. That's a good deal. But read more and share your own thoughts.
It's rare for an 85mm lens to take very good quality photos and cost so little. Unbelievably cheap 85mm F1.8 lens if you ask me.
I was pleased to test the brand new 7Artisans 85mm F1.8 lens. It is an auto-focus lens to be precise.
It is an AF that uses an already refined and well-known STM focusing system. It's fast and accurate. I didn't have any issues while testing this lens.
This cheap 85mm F1.8 lens from a Chinese manufacturer will find many fans. I can consider myself one of them. What's more, I have been following the 7Artisans brand for several years. They are taking over more and more of the market. And that's good.
More competition means more gear to choose from and better prices. We should all be happy.
The build
The build quality of this cheap 85mm lens is better than good. You can see the nice finish and attention to detail. Additionally, on the side, you'll notice a button that you can customize.
There is also an AF/MF toggle and a USB-C port for quick software updates. It is located in the bottom part of the lens.
Lens weighs 437 grams, meaning it is considered a lightweight product.
What's more, the filter size is 62mm. Certainly, you can be sure that filter prices won't hurt your wallet.
More thoughts
I tested the lens in the morning on the streets of Warsaw and honestly, the sun was perfect that day.
I did a quick 1-hour photo walk and took a bunch of interesting (for me) photos.
What I like about this lens is the nice and smooth bokeh it generates. The details in the foreground are great. I'm a big fan of 85mm lenses. Especially when it comes to cheap 85mm lenses and cheap lenses in general.
I even have a playlist with budget lenses created on my YouTube channel. Obviously, I encourage you to see it.
One more thing I wanted to mention is how this lens performs against direct sunlight.
It performs really well. The below image is a good example.
However, I didn't test this lens on a more closed aperture. From what I've heard, it can produce some sunstars but only when photographing with F16. Distortion is very low. Chromatic aberrations are low.
Finally, I will add that sharpness is excellent.
There are no real downsides at this price point.
And here is a link to my POV photo walk. Enjoy!