🔴 Chinese Pre-Release Lens - Affordable + Sharp! | 7Artisans 35mm f2 Mark II Review (Leica M)

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

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[@SourPlanet]

Picked this up used for $175. I got it to test used M240... But then just kept it. It's honestly phenomenal. Glad to see Leica users with some influence acknowledging the potential of lenses like this. Not everyone can pick up a Summicron- but everyone deserves a good 35!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks! Yes great value lens!

[@marcp.1752]

Picked this up brand new last Nov. 2023 für 225 EUR incl. shipping, a few das ago, it was even cheaper brand new, for 215 EUR with shipping incl. ! Used on my A7S II via K&F Pro Leica M - Sony E adapter.

[@davidkieltyka9]

I have the earlier 7Artisans 35mm f/2. It’s a very different lens to this one, being a Sonnar based design. So you get softness in the corners even at f/8 due to strong field curvature and a bit of focus shifting (noticeable only at ~f/4 at close focus distances) as you stop down. Works really well with 50 & 85mm Sonnar-based lenses if you want a lineup with a characterful and consistent look. But too quirky for an all-rounder.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks David! Interesting, I didn’t know they’d made a Sonnar. This is the complete opposite. (This is what annoyed me.. I asked them why did you make a mk2 as they didn’t seem to know). If they’d explained the v1 as you had I probably wouldn’t have ranted at the start. V2 makes sense but still they should have checked the lens design before making.

[@FFVoyager]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom the early lens is great fun - and in the day after you posted this review I've seen a couple listed on ebay which is unusual. I wonder if people are selling in order to be ready to upgrade? 😃 (They are over 20% more than I paid for mine - before 'cheap Chinese' lenses were noticed!)

[@yueibm]

Thanks for the assurance it'll pair well with my first digital Leica! Just ordered one because my Summicron DR won't work with the digital Ms.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

DR does work with some digital M's with goggles and all Ms without goggles. I use it.

[@hiramabiff885]

Update! I just received this lens yesterday. Not only did I received a complete lens cleaning kit including a very nice blower, I also received two of the the dandy lens cases which are large enough to fit my 28-35-50 Tri Elmar lens. I put the lens on my M-P240, walked out the front door and shot one image of my wife putting out her bird feeders in the rain. I went in the house and opened the DNG file in Photoshop and was poleaxed. Against the gray trees the colors of my wife and her Jimi Hendrix tie-dye shirt exploded. Resolution is incredible. If the fine folks at Leica get hold of one of these lenses a few will be opening their veins in the bathtub. This lens is going to be fixed on my Leica for a thorough workout forthcoming. The quality of this lens, focus, aperture ring and general build hold their own again ANY lens I have ever owned and I have been a photographer for 50 years.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Hiram, great to hear you love the lens. Yes the cases are nice too! (Tri-Elmar, nice!) Yes the mk2 lens is sharp wide open and gives a clean looking shot. I can see why you like it and for the money it must be the sharpest 35mm there is for Leica.

[@yueibm]

I just ordered a used one in anticipation of the delivery of my first digital Leica M (due to my Summacron DR being incompatible). Thanks for the assurance it'll pair well!

[@taigenetsudo4273]

A good reason to adapt M mount lenses to APS-C is that the focus throw is much greater between 2m and infinity. On those made with the native mounts it’s only a tiny distance. In terms of image quality for the money it’s mind blowing what the modern CNC production techniques can produce. I’m sure there will be many more great lenses in the future. They should definitely consider raising the prices even a little to pay for more research and refined designs, as people would pay a bit more in my opinion.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi great points and I agree we’ll see more in the years ahead I think! (Some Chinese lenses are really nice, they vary a lot)

[@taigenetsudo4273]

It’s an incredible time for affordable photography! Great channel and I greatly value your opinion as your work speaks for itself.

[@weizhang6979]

I had an early 7artisan 35mm f2 lens (V1). The lens was sharp and compact (aka short lens, not blocking the viewfinder if I remember right). I was bothered by it’s barrel distortion though. It’s not that I shoot brick wall all the time, I just couldn’t seem to avoid shooting images with vertical line in them with that lens. The V2 is intriguing to me, looks like it doesn’t have the barrel distortion.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Wei, the optical performance of the v2 is excellent. I think you'll be happy (Others write to me and love it).

[@LucyS565]

Great review Matt! Thanks!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Lucy!

[@brineb58]

The only M Mount camera I have is the Minolta/Leitz CL ... will it work on that?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Not sure, Ask me this weekend and I can check

[@jlwilliams]

I would guess they made this lens in M mount simply because it's a mount that adapts easily to various mirrorless cameras, but it does seem a bit lazy of them not to have tested the fit on various Leica M bodies as well! A thought re a similarly-priced alternative: Have you ever tried the Canon 35mm f/2 LTM lens from the early 1960s? It's tiny, and mine seems reasonably sharp, although I've never been able to try it for model photography… I still see quite a few of them on auction sites in the $300-ish range…

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks James, yes exactly. But if it was me I’d note down the lens width limitations before designing a lens for a system so I know it will fit. Totally agree. It was made mostly for non-Leica users. It is a good performer though. Old lenses won’t compete with this at f2. 5.6 maybe for corners. I bought the Canon twice but both times I didn’t receive it. If I see one sub £300 I’d get one.

[@MichaelTuck94]

I know the focal lengths are different but I'm open to either, I'm not big on portraits, so what would people recommend out of the 7artisans 35mm f2 or the 28mm f1.4 for street/night/travel photos? Is the extra stop worth the extra money and bigger size?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Very different lenses. I'd say 35mm v2 100% - 1 stop difference isn't worth the weight/ size.

[@MichaelTuck94]

I know, but I've been very comfortable with both my Nikon 35mm and 28mm on my F3 so I'm quite impartial to each focal length. So was unsure where to start on my m6, this is a great help thanks!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

@@MichaelTuck94 get the TTA 28/5.6. Amazing lens and cheap so can own both eventually.

[@Flying4Film]

How does it compare to the Voigtlander 35mm f2 Ultron?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Very different. This is bigger and more modern/sharp. I prefer and use the smaller Ultron

[@Flying4Film]

Thanks for the info. I think I’m going to try it out since they are on sale for $230 right now.

[@kevlarnegative]

If it comes calibrated, I'll buy it. It's looking great. Fantastic review 👍

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Mine was fine out the box

[@hiramabiff885]

I'm revising my previous comment, which I deleted. I previously stated this lens will not fit on an M-P240. After visiting 7Artisans website a very close-up photo clearly shows this lens on an M-P240, although I doubt you could slide a piece of paper between the lens and the edge of the lens and the frame selection lever. Will this be a problem? Probably not.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Same on the M2. Just fits. No won’t be an issue if it fits and doesn’t mark the camera selector lever.

[@webersteve1547]

Has this lens also to be calibrated for good focus?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Steve, mine was good out the box yes (for M240)

[@StevenMacgarret1998]

How come it cannot fit the M4-P, will it fit M4-2 then :( ??

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I can't remember exactly as an old video but some lenses don't fit all M models.

[@sunny16portraits]

Nice. I can imagine 35mm is a secondary focal length for many people hence good to have a cheap and good option out there. Unfortunately not for my M3 apparently.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Thomas, yes sorry it won’t fit your M3. Now you’ll need to buy that M6 ;)

[@stefan_becker]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Interestingly enough the 7Artisans 35mm f2 MkII fits my first generation M3 (but I think not even a sheet of paper would fit between lens and the lens lock button). Maybe they have adjusted their design very slightly in the meantime?

[@davejenx]

looks huge , have the mk1 and thats fine but just bought the skopar I don't think it will be better than that

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Skopar will have more pop. This will win in the corners wide open.

[@rexgigout1472]

“Liked.” Very useful presentation, though in my case, it does much more to convince me to try the Voigtlander Classic, rather than either “Artisan” lens. (Several 35mm Voigtlander lenses have my attention.)

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Rex! Yes the smaller Voigtländers are good lenses.

[@philmtx3fr]

Hi Matt can you confirm this lens won t fit the m4 ?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi! Sorry I can't confirm as I don't have the M4.

[@philmtx3fr]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom ok Matt I will check carefully the physical differences between the 2. On the other side I have a proposal at 300€ for a 7art 35mm f1.4. I prefer the format of the f2 (more compact) but what do you think about quality between those 2 ?

[@igeisendoerfer]

Annoying that the M-4P is not supported. How about the Voigtländer Bessar 2a?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Ingo, try to compare both cameras. It will hit the frame selector or lens release if they stick out/ have one.

[@WeiQingYu]

This lens is very good build quality and clean minimalisme desgin. Very sharp and bokeh is really good. Is that worth to upgrade to 700 usd Voigtlanger 35mm f1.7 Ultron?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

The 7A lens is super cheap and good value but I still only use the Voigtlander or LLL lens.

[@ezekielkok1848]

Will it fit the m9?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Sorry i'm not sure

[@MissChrisiInShanghai]

I used it on m9 and yes it worked well…

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

@@MissChrisiInShanghai great thanks for confirming!

[@ericrjennings]

It fits the m10. I have it.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Eric, ok phew. That makes it slightly better then.

[@CaryZhao]

What’s the viewfinder blockage like?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

@@CaryZhao see in the video, I show it. (It’s not bad)

[@ericrjennings]

@@CaryZhao without showing you a picture, I would say it's minimal. Maybe just small section of bottom right corner?

[@CaryZhao]

Thanks gents, something to think about for Christmas 😏 I’d think I’ve been rather nice all year

[@wckoek]

Among the Chinese lens I like Laowa, 7artisans are good too but they aren't a keeper to me. Unfortunately there are only ultra wide and 90mm macro for M mount from Laowa

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I've not tried Laowa yet. I rate TTArtisans lenses highly for the price.

[@makusmeier1771]

Hey Seems nice, where is the raw pictures ?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Colour ones were RAW

[@makusmeier1771]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom lovely Video. Is there a Chance of getting Some raw footage to Test ?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

@@makusmeier1771 thanks sadly not. I jump from project to project. Some photos were raw in the video

[@akirsch76]

To be honest. For me, it looks just unnecessarily large in diameter for a 35mm f2 M lens. I could share the same housing as the f1.4.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

They don't seem to have given much thought to the design to fit Leica. Good optics but designed as a generic mirrorless lens that happens to have the M mount, it seems

[@marcp.1752]

Just my thought, after the original (optically much worse) 7A 35mm F2 M, which was based onto a Sonnar lens design. But i've bought this new 35/2 Wen anyway, it's smaller than my previous 7A 35/1.4, albeit with a different rendering style, or lens character.

[@sebastiang7183]

The Chinese are making incredible lenses these days. I have a different Chinese lens, which is pretty much world class. However, it's still very much you get what you get and what you get can vary as the QC is not as tight as other countries. I got lucky.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks, yes agree they are getting better year on year

[@ofeykalakar1]

Why is an f2 35mm lens so big…that Nokton f1.4 classic is absolutely tiny as will be the new version I and I I f1.5 lenses.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes! They don't seem to have given much thought to the design to fit Leica. Good optics but designed as a generic mirrorless lens that happens to have the M mount, it seems

[@AndrejsZavadskis]

I like more TTArtisan APO-M 35mm F2 ASPH ! Check it !

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Got it, see video!

[@smartdoctorphysicist3095]

Hi it look good but! I would still use Leica or Voigtlander lens, these engineer form 7 Artisans need to go back to school, to relearn there craft better.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes, surely they write down the lens design limitations before they start. (In truth it was made for mirrorless to adapt via M adapters to other brands).

[@wanfookeong9800]

Identified findings…..already rectified or improved, possible into all Leica camera either Leica analogue or digital

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks

[@Wutbeer0]

It might be better performant than mk1 but i didn’t like a front element of this mk2 why it’s so narrow 😂

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Yes a very different design bs mk1

[@Zetaphotography]

298 is definitely under 300. It's only available as a special order and 4 weeks until delivery. LAME. Thank you for another great video

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Sorry to hear it is still not available.

[@petemcknight803]

This looks nice. Does it come with dumplings?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

You have to pay extra for those!

[@petemcknight803]

$158 on EBay now brand new

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

That's crazy! Buy 2 :)

[@blende5.693]

Well, maybe this lens is a good lens, but it comes from china and that not my way. I find myself in your last interesting video , I own 3 Leica cameras and use only Leica lenses 😊 Voigtländer and Zeiss are decently an alternative, but TTArtisan is not my brand

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks. Yes I understand. Others are the same.

[@FFVoyager]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom when I was a child there were still people were not that keen on German or Japanese things because of 'the war'. Their opinions were irrelevant too.

[@danMdan]

We are not all rich or enthusiastic enough to pay Leica's ridiculously inflated prices compared to TTArtisan's prices.

[@blende5.693]

@@danMdan I’m also not rich, but I’m happy with used Leica lenses. If a Leica Voigtländer or Zeiss lens is out of my range, I would buy a cheaper camera and a better lens. Just my way

[@CaryZhao]

I get the trepidation with Chinese lenses but there are some interesting lens makers to look out for. Light Lens Lab being one of them, they recreate rare classic lenses using the same formula & glass material (if possible), build quality is quite good from what I can find

[@jacovanlith5082]

..... 7Artisans 35 mm lens does not fit to the Leica M3 ..... Is a blind man running the R&D department ? Now I understand Made in China. I will mount a spring roll on my Leica M3.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

That was my thoughts too..

[@jc.baptiste]

I just wonder what’s the point for someone that purchased a Leica to buy cheap lenses. Is there really a market ?

[@simonkimber1152]

There is a huge market….. although most of the good cheap lenses are not this cheap

[@FFVoyager]

I have a Voigtlander 15mm, 21mm and 40mm F1.4. TTArtisan 28mm f5.6 and 28mm F1.4, 35mm f2, 50mm F1.1 an 75mm F1.25 7Artisans and a couple of 50mm f2 Jupiter lenses (1957 and 1977). All are fun to use and I have a lot of choice. The whole lot cost me about £2200. What exactly would be better about having a single 'Leica' lens? 🤔

[@Leicam10]

@@FFVoyager image quality

[@FFVoyager]

@@Leicam10why do you bother to reply to videos like this with moronic comments like that? 🙄

[@jc.baptiste]

@@FFVoyager Voigtlander does not fall into this category in my opinion. As well as vintage lens, because they have a special character. Thus, I don’t see what TTArtisan brings up in this offer, sorry.

[@UKBROOKLYN]

It may be sharp and high resolving etc etc.. But my how ugly.. I think my M9 would just spit it out of the mount...

[@FFVoyager]

What's important - how the result of photography or how you think you look?

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Haha thanks Roger. I’ve not used the mkI but the Cron copy looked nicer to me.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

I hear you but some people like both.

[@UKBROOKLYN]

@@FFVoyager Lighten up a bit.. "How you think you look?" seriously.

[@danMdan]

Stop putting ads. in the middle of your descriptions - it is intensely annoying and unnecessarily interruptive.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Hi Dan thanks. KZbin ad placement is automated for almost all channels. I've never placed any ad in any of my 280+ vids. It's automatic.

[@danMdan]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Thanks for the sympathy. I'm looking less and less at KZbin because so much good stuff is infested with ads. for things I don't need especially in these expensive times. When I want to enjoy a TV program I record e.g. a film so as I can zip past the ads. We are in a cost-of-living crisis and very few of us have any need of the expensive stuff being pushed at us from everywhere. Your videos are indeed fine but I fear the Leicas sold today will seldom be used to produce award winning material. A Nikkormat and Nikon f/1.4 lens cost me £150 recently and on eBay was an M3 with Summilux 1.4 at £5600 or thereabouts. - wow !

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

@@danMdan thanks Dan. Yes I totally understand. I’ve got 2 vintage Leics iii cameras packed (£300 Ish) and Nikon FE2 for next shoots.

[@jlwilliams]

Don't blame Matt. Even if you have a tiny channel (like mine) and don't choose to "monetize" it (i.e. don't opt to receive a cut of the ad revenue) KZbin sticks ads in it anyway. How do you think Sergey Brin paid for his super-yacht? You can use this as a drinking game at parties: Everybody has a shot every time an ad appears. You'll all be smashed in no time.

[@danMdan]

@@jlwilliams I'm not I hope blaming Matt, but the ads., which make the real good stuff almost unwatchable, especially the ones you can't dismiss after 4 seconds, but force the guff on you until it finishes, or the others which instantly interrupt a perfectly useful tutorial. Especially now when when some are having problems eating and heating; and still they pour out their promises of a great experience if you only spend on something expensive and wonderful.

[@ducgerard2361]

It s totaly stupid to buy a leica M for a high price and then use A cheap lens of low quality.... The camera is not important The lens is important!

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Thanks Duc! Film yes, digital no. I wont use this lens on my M film cameras as too big. I prefer smaller M lenses.

[@bradl2636]

No. Just no. Let’s not go down the junky Chinese lens path. Please.

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

Ha thanks Brad :)

[@justcallmesando]

Noooo... I wanted it for my M3 🥲 7Artisans please listen to this guy 🥲

[@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom]

M3 doesn’t have 35mm finder so not the perfect combination but yes would be nice if it worked.

[@justcallmesando]

@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom you are right. Nice lens though!