7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 Mark II Review: A Sub-$100 Fast Prime for APS-C

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Fast prime lenses usually cost a lot, and the cheap ones are often slow. The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 Mark II sits in between. It’s a manual focus, all-metal prime for APS-C mirrorless cameras with an f/1.2 maximum aperture, and the official 7Artisans store was selling it for $97.30 (down from $139) when we checked. It’s also one of the lenses listed in the store’s best-selling collection.

For this 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review, we went through the official listing and specification table, checked which mounts and versions are actually in stock, and compared it with the other 35mm options 7Artisans sells. The aim is to show what you get for under $100 and where the compromises are.

Quick Specs

Price: $97.30 (regular $139); $107–$111 with a 46mm filter bundled
Format: APS-C (about 52.5mm full-frame equivalent on Sony, Fuji and Nikon bodies)
Mounts: Sony E, Fuji X, Nikon Z, Canon EOS-M, Panasonic/Olympus M43
Aperture: f/1.2 to f/22, clicked aperture ring, 10 blades
Optics: 6 elements in 5 groups, multi-layer coating
Minimum focus: 0.28m (about 11 inches)
Angle of view: 43.9° on APS-C
Filter thread: 46mm
Weight: 218g, metal construction
Focus: Manual only, no stabilization, no electronic contacts

7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II Review: What Stands Out

f/1.2 for under $100

The headline is the aperture. At f/1.2, this lens lets in a lot more light than a typical f/1.8 kit prime. That makes a real difference indoors and at night, and it gives you a shallow depth of field for portraits and close-ups. 7Artisans says the Mark II uses a redesigned optical formula for better sharpness than the original version, plus multi-layer coatings to reduce flare and ghosting.

A “normal” focal length on APS-C

On an APS-C body, 35mm gives roughly the view of a 50mm lens on full frame. That’s the classic everyday focal length: wide enough for street and travel, tight enough for head-and-shoulders portraits. On a Micro Four Thirds camera, the 2x crop makes it closer to a 70mm equivalent, which is more of a short portrait lens.

10 rounded blades for smoother bokeh

Ten aperture blades is a high count at this price. More blades keep out-of-focus highlights rounder when you stop down a little, which helps the background look smoother.

Built for manual shooting

This is a fully manual lens. There’s a clicked aperture ring, a focus ring, and depth-of-field and distance scales engraved on the barrel, so you can pre-focus or zone focus for street photography. The body is metal, and at 218g it’s light enough to leave on the camera all day.

What to Know Before Buying

No autofocus and no electronic contacts. Your camera won’t record the aperture in EXIF data, and on many bodies you’ll need to enable “shoot without lens” (or similar) in the menu. Focus peaking and magnification help a lot.
Wide-open softness is normal. Like most fast budget primes, expect a softer, glowier look at f/1.2 with sharper results from around f/2 to f/2.8. That’s typical for this class rather than a specific flaw.
No weather sealing or stabilization. Use in-body stabilization if your camera has it.
Stock is limited by mount. When we checked, Sony E, Fuji X and Nikon Z were available with white markings, and Nikon Z also with red markings (with a filter bundle). Canon EOS-M, M43 and the silver body were sold out.

Versions and Bundles

The store lists the lens in “White”, “White version silver” and “Red” bundles. Based on the product photos, White and Red refer to the color of the engraved markings on the black lens, while “White version silver” is the silver body. You can also add a 46mm filter: MRC-UV, CPL, White Soft or Black Mist, which raises the price to between $107.09 and $110.59.

A Black Mist filter is a popular pairing if you want a softer, cinematic look for video. A CPL is the practical pick for outdoor shooting, cutting reflections and deepening skies.

How It Compares With Other 7Artisans 35mm Lenses

Lens	Price (official store)	Focus	Best for
MF 35mm f/1.2 Mark II (this one)	$97.30	Manual	Low light and shallow depth of field on a budget
MF 35mm f/1.4 APS-C	$69.00	Manual	The cheapest fast 35mm in the range
MF 35mm f/0.95 APS-C	$149.25	Manual	Even more light; Nikon Z and Canon EOS-R only
AF 25/35/50mm F1.8 APS-C	$125.00	Auto	Shooters who want autofocus
AF 35mm F1.4 APS-C (Fuji X)	$169.00	Auto	Fuji users who want a fast autofocus 35mm

The 35mm f/1.2 II hits the middle of the range. It’s about $28 more than the f/1.4 version for an extra half stop of light and the Mark II optics, and about $52 less than the f/0.95. If you can’t live without autofocus, the AF F1.8 or the Fuji-only AF F1.4 is the better choice, but you give up the f/1.2 look.

Who It’s For

APS-C mirrorless owners who want their first fast prime without spending a lot.
Street and travel photographers who like zone focusing with engraved scales.
Portrait and lifestyle shooters who want background blur.
Video creators who already focus manually, though note the aperture ring is clicked rather than smooth.

Who It’s Not For

Anyone who needs autofocus for kids, pets, sports or events.
Full-frame shooters: this is an APS-C lens and will vignette heavily on a full-frame sensor.
Pixel peepers who want edge-to-edge sharpness at f/1.2.
Canon EOS-M and M43 users right now: those mounts were sold out when we checked.

Pricing, Shipping and Warranty

The lens costs $97.30 on the official 7Artisans store, a 30% discount on the $139 regular price. Shipping is free on orders of $150 or more, so a single lens will usually carry a shipping charge shown at checkout. Orders to the US, EU and Brazil ship from local warehouses when stock allows, and 7Artisans says duties and taxes are already included for those regions. Orders are dispatched within 48 hours.

Returns and exchanges are accepted within 14 days of receipt for unused items in original packaging. The warranty is 12 months against defects in materials or workmanship. Note that warranty service is free but the buyer pays shipping and materials.

Pros and Cons

Pros

f/1.2 aperture for under $100
Metal build at just 218g
10 rounded aperture blades
Distance and depth-of-field scales for zone focusing
Five mounts and optional filter bundles
Duties included for US, EU and Brazil orders

Cons

Manual focus only, no electronic contacts
Expect softer images wide open
Limited stock for some mounts and the silver version
Single lens doesn’t qualify for free shipping
Short 14-day return window

FAQ

Is the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II full frame?

No. It’s designed for APS-C sensors. It also mounts on Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Does it have autofocus?

No. It’s fully manual focus with a clicked aperture ring.

What filter size does it use?

46mm.

What is the difference between the White and Red bundles?

Based on the product photos, it’s the color of the engraved markings on the lens. The “White version silver” option is the silver body.

How close can it focus?

0.28m, or about 11 inches.

7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II Review: Bottom Line

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 Mark II gives APS-C shooters a genuinely fast, well-built normal prime for less than many kit-lens upgrades. You get f/1.2, a metal barrel, ten aperture blades and proper focus scales, and in return you accept manual focus and a softer look wide open. If you enjoy slowing down and focusing by hand, it’s one of the best-value ways to get that f/1.2 look. Check that your mount is in stock before you get attached.

That wraps up our 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review. See current mounts, bundles and pricing on the 7Artisans official store.

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