Has anyone ever taken apart or repaired a 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 lens? Or the maybe the 25/0.95, construction looks similar. Mine has recently failed - with the focus ring becoming unglued to the shaft/barrel within.
You can still focus - but there's 2 cm of play whenever you reverse direction. It has made the lens unusable for shooting live music and other types of candid action.
I had first hoped that there was a set screw that had loosened. Doesn't seem to be the case. I haven't tried disassembling the lens yet, but I can't see how the focus ring used to be attached. Glue perhaps?
I'm a semi-pro music photographer. This lens was my bread and butter, the one I kept on my camera by default. It had a few flaws like the clickless aperture ring and the focus ring turned too easily, with gravity throwing the lens out of focus in a way that was frustrating. In the middle of biggest week of my year, covering the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival, I noticed play in the focus ring for the first time. Over the next few days, the play got worse and worse and eventually the outer focus ring detached from whatever it usually hugged inside of it.
The timing could have been worse. By the end of my last paid gig of the fest, the outer ring finished detatching from what is inside it and the lens became unusable. It was the first time I'd ever experienced any kind of gear failure during a paid gig and it's got me thinking that I should start keeping a backup body and a few lenses in the car!
Until recently, this was one of my most used lenses. I love the images it produces. It reminds me of the various 50/1.4 lenses I used to use on the Sony A7 before I started shooting Fuji. It's got a lot of character, unlike the Fuji lenses I've tried/owned. But it also seems to have a limited shelf life. 👎
For the cost of entry, I would say just A) Buy another, it's probably already paid for itself several times over, or B) upgrade time. The Soon-to-be-released Voigtlander 35/0.9 would probably be a good move for you.
I have used a couple cheap Chinese lenses over the years and have always considered them disposable. If they break, I'm not surprised lol.
Those lenses are likely better made and this one (like the one you're using) is made for APS-C; it's available in Fuji mount.
Also has a stepless aperture ring, which you don't like, but all these ultrafast lenses are popular among videographers so stepless seems to be the default.
ISO1600 wrote:
For the cost of entry, I would say just A) Buy another, it's probably already paid for itself several times over, or B) upgrade time. The Soon-to-be-released Voigtlander 35/0.9 would probably be a good move for you.
I have used a couple cheap Chinese lenses over the years and have always considered them disposable. If they break, I'm not surprised lol.
Yeah, I'm considering that. Though at $200, it's not especially cheap if I'm buying one every other year vs spending $450 once on a used Voigtlander 35/1.2 and being able to resell it for $350-400 if it doesn't work for me. That said, out of all the gear I use, is it is probably the piece of equipment that has paid for itself. Out of the images I get compliments, licensing requests, and print purchases for, a disproportiate of them come from that lens.
The Voigtlander 35mm f/0.95 sounds very interesting to me! Next to no info online yet - I will keep my eyes peeled. If it goes for $599-699, I might be interested. I felt less sure about buying expensive lenses when I first start using Fuji for most of my shooting in 2021, but given how rarely I pick up my A7 bodies now I might be ready.
Those lenses are likely better made and this one (like the one you're using) is made for APS-C; it's available in Fuji mount.
I have not - I didn't know about it yet. Thanks for the heads up! The size is a bit off putting for my purposes, but I bet it portends improved performance from the 7Artisans. I shoot music and I'm usually shooting in a crowded club/bar, changing lenses as I bounce along with the crowd. Being able to fit into my back pocket is important to me.
Another alternative is the TTArtisans 35/0.9. It looks similar if a little smaller than the 7Artisans 35/0.95. I have enjoyed my other TTArtisan lenses (17/1.4 and 23/1.4) but both have serious field curvature toward the edges of the frame. I don't mind that in wider lenses, it can be great for adding depth, but in a normal where I'm working with shallow DOF more often it's more of a problem.
edit: I found BastianK's review of the TTArtisans 35/0.95 - it does indeed look like a big step up!
bjhurley wrote:
Also has a stepless aperture ring, which you don't like, but all these ultrafast lenses are popular among videographers so stepless seems to be the default.
For sure, it seems like I'm stuck with stepless aperture rings unfortunately. More bands have been wanting better video from me - so maybe it's nice to have it as an option anyway.
The Voigtlander will probably be a great lens, and yeah I'm thinking the $550-$650 range, with great resale value if it's not your cup of tea. I think one of the biggest things with lenses like this is how varied their optical characteristics render a scene, and how they handle. It's unfortunate that you enjoy how the 7A lens shoots, but it seems like it's not well built.
My most used lens when I was using A7 bodies was the CV 35/1.7 VM. I loved the look, generally like what I see from these newer Voigtlander mirrorless lenses. Definitely something I'll be watching.
I ended up ordering a new 7Artisans 35/1.2 from Amazon for $160, just to try something different. We are taking a family trip to NYC next week and I want a fast normal with some character wide open, hoping this dots the bill for now. I have been using an older Meike 35/1.4 from E mount with mounts swapped with another Meike X lens. It's a pretty nice lens actually, for the price it's excellent.
Well now I've got something to worry about with my 7artisan 35 0.95 haha
I haven't pulled mine apart, but yukosteel has a bunch of lens teardowns and DIYs for a variety of lenses. I don't believe there is one for the 7a 35 0.95, but there is one for the Mitakon 35 0.95. My understanding is the construction is a bit like the 7artisan's, so might provide some insight into what is needed.
Did you end up getting the mark 1 or mark 2 7artisan 35 1.2? I love my mark 1 and it has rendering similar to my old CV Nokton 40/1.4 that I used on an a7 for a while.
Regarding the TTartisans 35 0.95, it seems to have similar field curvature issues that their 17/1.4 and 23/1.4 suffer from. And I enjoy the TTa 23 and 17 but have to be very mindful where focus is and your framing. That said, the TTa 35 0.95 is markedly smaller than the 7a and I've been tempted to pick one up to pair with my X-E3 but it's hard to justify when I have the 7a 35 1.2 for a small, fast normal lens.
For Laowa, everything I've seen from them seems optically superior to cheaper offerings, but also much larger lenses. Their 25mm 0.95 is extremely appealing to me but the size is just too much and I know it will sit on my shelf 99% of the time.
I got the Mk 2 of the 7A 35/1.2 - so far I'm pretty happy with the images and the ergonomics. Stiffer focus ring compared to my 7A 35/0.95, which was too easy to move, shots would go out of focus if I lifted the camera above my head. The 35/1.2's aperture ring checks all the boxes for me- it's clicky at full stops, appears to be accurate, and is closer to the body than the focus ring.
I could definitely see a resemblence between the CV 40/1.4 and the original 35/1.2, from the samples I've seen. I quite liked the CV 40/1.4 on my A7, both the mechanics and the images. The Mk 2 has a different look - I was surprised how contrasty and sharp the center was wide open, expecting something a bit hazier like I saw in samples of the Mk 1.
Interesting note on the TTartisans 35/0.95. I never tested it as such, but I never noticed field curvature on the 7A 35/0.95. The new TT looks a little smaller. Like you I may stick to the 35/1.2 for now. That field curvature is a pain in the rear. Especially on the 23/1.4. There are times I don't mind it (like the first in this set) but there are also times it leaves me wanting a better fast 22-25mm lens on Fuji.
I'm curious about the new 7A 24/1.4 as well as the older 7A 25/0.95. The 7A 25/0.95 has intrigued me, but the size and weight of it put me off for my photography.
Thanks for the tip - I'll check out Yukosteel and see if there are any hints! I will try taking apart myself soon, no reason not to try it.
I'm back from a week in NYC - the 7Artisans 35/1.2 was the lens I used most. I love it, I'm pretty impressed so far. So much so I might buy a second to keep as a spare. The bokeh/backgrounds are slightly nicer/more out of focus with the 35/0.95, but when I weigh the pros and cons the 35/1.2 mk2 comes out ahead for me. Thanks again for the help all - hoping this one lasts mechanically!
Those lenses are likely better made and this one (like the one you're using) is made for APS-C; it's available in Fuji mount.
Also has a stepless aperture ring, which you don't like, but all these ultrafast lenses are popular among videographers so stepless seems to be the default.
I have this lens for Fuji and it's really incredible. It's a slightly modified version of the Mitakon/7Artisans both optically and mechanically.
Mechanically: internal focusing (and why its a bit bigger), metal bayonet hood (mine has perfect fit and finish)
Optically: chromatic aberration is improved and amber ring flares can be induced
It costs a fair bit more than the others. I was lucky and found my copy virtually unused on MPB for under $300.
