7Artisans

7Artisans (officially Shenzhen 7Artisans Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese manufacturer specializing in optical lenses for photography and cinematography. Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, the company designs and produces third-party manual focus lenses for various mirrorless camera systems, including Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and Micro Four Thirds, as well as Leica M-mount rangefinders. The brand is recognized in the photographic industry for producing high-speed prime lenses and cinema lenses at accessible price points, positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to native manufacturer optics.

History

The company's history is characterized by rapid development within the Chinese optical manufacturing sector and a specific focus on enthusiast-level equipment.

Founding (2015) 7Artisans was established in the summer of 2015 in Shenzhen. The company was founded by a collective of optical engineers, factory production specialists, and camera enthusiasts who sought to develop independent lens formulas. The company name, "7Artisans" (or Seven Craftsmen), is derived from the founding team; while the initial group was larger, only seven members remained involved by the time the first product development cycle was completed.

Market Entry (2016) In September 2016, the company gained significant attention with the release of the 50mm f/1.1 lens for the Leica M-mount. Produced in an initial batch of 100 units, this lens provided a high-speed aperture alternative to the Leica Noctilux line at a fraction of the cost. While reviewers noted optical imperfections compared to luxury counterparts, the lens established 7Artisans' reputation for delivering distinct optical character and value [1].

Expansion into Cinematography (2020–Present) Following their establishment in the still photography market, 7Artisans expanded into video production optics. This move included the launch of the Vision Series and Spectrum Series cinema lenses. These product lines introduced professional features, such as standard 0.8 module gears and de-clicked aperture rings, to the entry-level and independent filmmaking markets [2].

Product Lines

7Artisans manufactures a wide range of optical equipment, primarily categorized into cinema optics and still photography prime lenses.

Cine Lenses The company's cine lenses are designed for video workflows, featuring unified gear positions and T-stop aperture markings.

• Vision Series: A lineup of high-speed T1.05 prime lenses designed for APS-C sensors. These lenses are utilized for low-light filming and achieving shallow depth of field.
• Spectrum Series: A series of full-frame cine lenses with a unified T2.0 aperture, allowing for consistent exposure settings when swapping focal lengths.
• Hope Series: Compact anamorphic and spherical options, including T2.1 lenses for Super35 sensors, designed for gimbal use and handheld configurations [3].

Photography Prime Lenses The photography catalog focuses exclusively on manual focus primes, often emphasizing compact designs and large apertures.

• High-Speed Primes: The company produces several ultra-fast lenses, such as the 35mm f/0.95 and 50mm f/0.95, designed for available-light photography and subject isolation.
• Ultra-Wide and Fisheye: The 7.5mm f/2.8 fisheye lens is a notable product in their lineup, widely used for architectural and creative wide-angle photography due to its sharpness and affordability.
• Macro Optics: Lenses such as the 60mm f/2.8 II provide 1:1 magnification for close-up photography, utilized for nature and product imaging [4].

Technical Characteristics

The engineering philosophy of 7Artisans differs from major camera manufacturers by prioritizing mechanical simplicity and specific optical aesthetics over electronic integration.

Feature	Description
Focus Mechanism	Predominantly Manual Focus (MF), lacking electronic contacts for EXIF data on most models.
Mount Compatibility	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Leica L, Leica M, Micro Four Thirds (MFT).
Build Construction	Bodies are typically machined from anodized aluminum with copper core components.
Cine Features	Stepless (de-clicked) aperture rings, long focus throws for precise pulling, and industry-standard 0.8 MOD gearing.
Optical Design	Utilization of high-refractive elements to achieve fast apertures (f/0.95, T1.05).

Market Reception

7Artisans is frequently cited in photography media as a key driver in the "democratization" of fast glass. Reviewers often highlight the high price-to-performance ratio, allowing photographers to acquire complete lens kits for the price of a single first-party lens.

Critically, the lenses are described as having "vintage" or "classic" rendering. Unlike modern, clinically sharp autofocus lenses, 7Artisans optics often exhibit characteristics such as lens flare, vignetting, and softer edge sharpness at maximum aperture. These traits are often embraced by users as artistic choices that add organic texture to digital imagery [5].

Sources

• 7Artisans Official About Page: https://7artisans.store/pages/about-us
• Phillip Reeve (Interview and History): https://phillipreeve.net
• RedShark News (Cine Review): https://www.redsharknews.com
• Digital Camera World (Review): https://www.digitalcameraworld.com
• Jonas Rask Photography (Lens Review): https://jonasraskphotography.com
• B&H Explora (Hands-on Review): https://www.bhphotovideo.com