The Chinese company Shenzhen 7artisans Photoelectric Technology continues to produce affordable autofocus optics for full-frame Sony cameras. Last year, the company released the AF 85mm F1.8 “portrait lens” for $300, and yesterday, 7Artisans presented a slightly more expensive wide-angle AF 24mm F1.8 E. The manufacturer positions it for astrophotography, shooting architecture, interiors, landscapes, and portraits.
The new lens’s optical design consists of 14 elements in 11 groups, including seven special elements—2 aspherical, 2 high refractive index, and 3 extra-low dispersion—which, according to the manufacturer, help correctly display point light sources (stars) with pure colors and reduce radial flare when shooting astrophotography.
Using the 24mm lens for portrait photography allows you to create “indoor shots that fit the context of the setting.” At the same time, wide-open apertures can “transform wide-angle portraits by adding cinematic bokeh.”
Thanks to its high aperture ratio and “precise distortion control, the lens can be used for interior photography, including in low-light conditions.”
7artisans AF 24mm F1.8 is designed for modern cameras with high-resolution sensors – more than 60 MP “even with an open aperture.”
The manufacturer assures that the lens has received improved autofocus technology and promises precise operation when shooting dynamic scenes. It also “ensures professional-quality video shooting with natural detail and smoothness.” A quiet STM drive drives autofocus, eye focusing is supported, and there is an AF/MF focus switch.
The lens has a reliable metal body. It has a smoothly adjustable aperture ring, an Fn button, and a USB Type C connector for firmware updates.
7Artisans AF 24mm F1.8 Price and Release Date
The 7Artisans AF 24mm F1.8 lens is already available on Amazon. Like all optics from this manufacturer, it is affordable—$329.90 in the US or £299 in the UK.
Specifications
- Focal length: 24 mm
- Sensor format: full frame
- Mount: Sony E
- Optical design: 14 elements in 11 groups
- Special elements: 2 aspherical, 2 HR, 3 ED
- Aperture range: F1.8–F16
- Aperture: 11-blade
- Viewing angle: 83°
- Focus: Auto / Manual
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.32 m
- Body material: metal
- Filter thread diameter: 62 mm
- Dimensions: Ø72 x 92 mm
- Weight: 424 g
