7Artisans AF 27mm F2.8 STM Review | A Solid Prime for Under $130

Photographer Dustin Abbott shares a deep dive review of the 7Artisans AF 27mm F2.8 prime lens for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras. A solid lens for less than $130? f | Read the Text Review: tinyurl.com/7A27Review | Visit the Image Gallery: tinyurl.com/7A27Pics | Purchase the 7Artisans AF 27mm F2.8 @ Vitopal tinyurl.com/Buy7A27 | B&H Photo bhpho.to/3xSMpEr | Adorama howl.me/cl662ckFXN7 | Amazon amzn.to/3UAAILC | Amazon Canada amzn.to/3JAmyUs | Amazon UK amzn.to/4d8OMmx | Amazon Germany amzn.to/3QfQp84 | Amazon France www.amazon.fr/dp/B0D2H5G8C5 | Amazon Italy www.amazon.it/dp/B0D2H5G8C5 | Amazon Spain www.amazon.es/dp/B0D2H5G8C5
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Table of Contents:
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0:00 - Intro
1:28 - Build and Features
4:32 - Autofocus
5:24 - Video
6:36 - Image Quality Summary
10:42 - Conclusion and Pricing
12:04 - Detailed IQ examination
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Keywords: 7Artisans, 7Artisans 27mm, AF, 27mm, F2.8, STM, 7Artisans AF 27mm F2.8, Full APS-C, Review, Sony a6700, a6000, a6400, Sony a7RV, Review, Hands On, Dustin Abbott, Real World, Comparison, Sharpness, Bokeh, Flare Resistance, Autofocus, Image Quality, Sample Images, Video, Photography, let the light in, weathersealing, #letthelightin, DA

[@bizpixvegas7651]

Thank you Dustin for this review. These "cheap" lenses are getting really good. I just picked up a used Viltrox 20mm f2.8 for my Sony and I am really impressed with the quality of the images it produces. Pretty soon, we are all going to buy these inexpensive lenses and forget about expensive alpha lenses! I also like the fact that these lenses are really light and compact.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

They are definitely getting very, very good.

[@SoCalPresa]

Always a treat good sir!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Thank you.

[@Mrbenbarbie]

Dustin, have you done a video about processing raws -> DNGs ... And the pros and cons of doing so depending on Sony raw, vs Fuji raw, vs canon etc within Lightroom. Id really like to get a handle of a standard best practice because as it stands sometimes I convert and sometimes I don't... Just depends on the image but I don't know why some seem to look better after DxO or not

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've talked about it in the past, and have gone both routes. I'm still a bit undecided myself.

[@Mebtaku]

This lens is tempting as my “system” is lacking any everyday shooting focal length and would sit nicely between my 13 and 56mm 😊 what makes me curious about this lens is this seems to give that classic rendering I discovered with some other 3rd party lenses like Rockstar 14mm for example- terribly decentered but when it was sharp this thing delivered quite interesting 3D effect while on small aperture, hard to explain but worked a treat on my x-trans 1 sensor

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Definitely could be an interesting addition.

[@GadgetAddict]

I bought this lens by mistake. I thought I ordered the TT 😅 Anyway, it seems okay. Not great, but okay. The autofocus actually seems better than the samples I've seen from the TT. But It doesn't play well with the touch to focus on my ZV-E10 🤷 It seems really sharp on objects that are close to the lens, but quite a bit softer on things further away - i.e. my face. You can definitely feel the focus motor constantly moving around while you hold the camera.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

You're not the first to be confused by those two brands!

[@miroslavutekal111]

Samyang AF 24mm f/2.8 or 7Artisans AF 27mm f/2,8 ? 🤷 . . .to Sony a5100.

[@glennn.3464]

This lens is really performing well above its price class. The only thing I could nitpick is the aperture blades. I don’t mind if 7Artisans went with straight blades instead of rounded ones if they were going for a more pronounced sun-star effect. I just wish they had used a few more of them. Otherwise, a super good performance for such a budget lens. Thanks for another great in-depth lens review.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Yes, I agree on the aperture blades.

[@marcp.1752]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Me too, i wished for 10 straight aperture blades, and weather sealing, and a aperture ring. Well, one could only dream, can't we? Not at this price level. But it's insane - how good these lenses have become, just within the last 5 years or so. Thanks for your comprehensive review - as always, Dustin. Great work !

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

@@marcp.1752 That's the truth. we can nitpick at what's missing, but the reality is that this is a pretty impressive lens.

[@marcp.1752]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Exactly, for such a low budget price.

[@Toglander]

Hi Dustin, can we please get some first party lens reviews? The Sony 16-35 f/4 PZ has been out for a year along with a litany of Sony primes. We’d love to know he these compare to the competition, even within their own lineup.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've got some other Sony reviews coming, though not the 16-35. I can't tell you when I'll get to that one, as I'm already scheduled several months out.

[@marcp.1752]

I'd say this is the *best* current walk around lens (41mm) for Sony APS-C gear atm, for the asking price.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It's definitely a pretty good one for the money.

[@marcp.1752]

@@DustinAbbottTWI Yes, my copy is ordered.

[@AnthonyJGianotti]

I just want one of these companies to release a manual lens with a gasket at the mount and electronic contacts. At the prices these sell for I would love exif data and if I flood the lens oh well at least the body is protected.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It looks like that step is going to get skipped by most of these brands.

[@metalgear1288]

Do you prefer this lens or TTartisan 27mm f2.8?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I actually haven't tested the TTArtisan

[@marcp.1752]

I do think - this new 7A 27/2.8 AF does render really better, no strong vignetting, like the TTA 27/2.8, and a unique look, as Dustin said, an interesting look, how it renders images. I'd say, this is the top #1 always on walk around lens prime on your Sony APS-C camera, if you're onto a budget - and like it's rendering style. Same goes for any old Sony Nex or A-series. /error fix

[@phucvo_special]

i saw this len sharpness at F2.8 more than TTart, vignetting, egde purple and flare are controlled better. But i can not find the len profile or firmware support from 7art website. I consider it after more video review. Thank you @Dustin for detail review this new len.

[@marcp.1752]

@@phucvo_special My copy came yesterday, but still..have to find my camera for it, haven't used it >= 5 years. Lens profile & FW updates would come at a later point. Build quality is nice, it does come into a nice box, incl. is also a 7A soft lens pouch, also matching USB cable - which my TTA 27/2.8 is lacking into the box. It does look fine - the metal ring is fine damped (for electronic focus control)

[@McFunson]

​@@marcp.1752 Out of interest, if you're not on a budget, what similar sized 27mm apsc options are there that perform better than this?

[@vidgrod695]

great breakdown and tbf looks like a great cheap lens, am kinda shocked

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I was pleasantly surprised as well.

[@npdady]

I hope this will be released for fuji

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I fully anticipate it will be.

[@lienstimothee2304]

Will you make a video to try if it can resolve the 40MP ?

[@marcp.1752]

The Design is much more E-Mount Sony-esque, the TTA 27/2.8 AF - whileas optically being inferior to this new 7A 27/2.8 AF - is the better choice for Fujifilm, from the size and appearance. Albeit, Sony APS-C users have a better 27mm vs. the TTA, for sure.

[@Jwitherow1964]

Good shot of Nala

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Thanks

[@swonghobby]

I wonder if this is the same company as TT artisan? Chinese companies do that alot. Credit multiple company names and sell the same products from the same manufacturer. Anyway. If it is. I had bad experience with it. Returned it. 1st copy came is, it didn't auto focus. The 2nd copy, the numbers on aperture ring did not match the system numbers. 1/2 of a stop off. Sharpness is ok.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

They are not the same company and this is not the same lens as the TTArtisan. You can't have had and returned this lens, as it was just released to the public yesterday.

[@djxcel23]

Nice

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

It really is for the money.

[@amermeleitor]

Seems beeter than the TTartisan 27mm f2.8 pancake 🤔

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I haven't tested that TTArtisan lens, so I don't know.

[@Tai_youu]

@@DustinAbbottTWIyou should review it and compare both im stuck between both rn.

[@molybdnum]

So ... is this the same thing as the TTArtisans one? Either these guys or TTArtisans really need to change names to disambiguate. TTArtisans' 27mm f2.8 (came out a year ago at the same price) has the *same optical diagram* but one more aperture blade and - somehow - a different MTF chart, with an aperture ring and a USB-C lenscap design instead of a built-in port. I don't know if they share a factory or what, but something's going on there and it diminishes my ability to trust either brand when they're publishing different charts for the same re-housed glass. I'd say the TTArtisan is a clear winner because of the physical aperture ring and (supposedly) better performance, but I've had issues with the AF locking up my older Sony bodies.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I've never known any TTArtisan and 7Artisan product to be the same. They are completely different companies. If there are two different MTF charts, then there are certainly two different optical designs.

[@dandjsh7978]

So you just saw the same focal length and aperture and assumed they were the same lens 😂