Let's take a look at the 7Artisans 85mm f/1.8 for Nikon Z-mount and compare it to the official Nikon 85mm f/1.8s lens. 7Artisans sent me this lens, but had to agree to my collaboration terms. They had no say in any content I produced and were not allowed to preview anything.
Check the lens out through 7Artisans official website store:
https://7artisans.store/products/af-85mm-f1-8-full-frame-lens-for-z
I am not affiliated with their website and online shop. I make no commissions through them.
See the 7artisans Photoelectric 85mm f/1.8 AF Lens through my links:
As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!
The 7Artisans lens comes with a metal casing and a metal mount. It also has a USB port in the mount for potential future firmware updates.
It's got a manual focus ring, an aperture ring, and a focus mode switch. The Nikon lens doesn't have an aperture ring.
It also has a custom button on the side, which the Nikon lens lacks. One option I tried out is to assign the "My Menu" setting on my camera so you can quickly jump to a list of user selected camera settings. It's pretty convenient!
How to change the setting on the Nikon Z5?
I took the 7Artisans lens out for a test at a local Japanese styled garden. Autofocus was quick and accurate on my Nikon Z5. This focal length can be challenging at a place like the garden I visited, but it's still a fun lens to use there.
You can see a lot more sample images in this "only photography" video I also put together:
In terms of sharpness, the 7Artisans delivers a good amount of detail in the center, though, you will notice some lens elements when strong light hits it, but nothing too distracting.
So, is it worth spending more for the official Nikon 85mm f/1.8s lens, or should you consider the 7Artisans? It depends on what you prioritize in regard to features. The Nikon lens does offer better optical quality in the edges of the frame and it has the weather gasket around the back mount.
However, if you’re okay with excellent center detail, decent enough edge performance, and want a lens that offers features like a custom button and an aperture ring, then the 7Artisans is an interesting option. Especially considering the price difference.
Check the lens out through 7Artisans official website store:
https://7artisans.store/products/af-85mm-f1-8-full-frame-lens-for-z
I am not affiliated with their website and online shop. I make no commissions through them.
See the 7artisans Photoelectric 85mm f/1.8 AF Lens through my links:
As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases!
Build Quality and Features
The 7Artisans lens comes with a metal casing and a metal mount. It also has a USB port in the mount for potential future firmware updates.
 |
| The Nikon lens is on the left. |
It's got a manual focus ring, an aperture ring, and a focus mode switch. The Nikon lens doesn't have an aperture ring.
 |
| The official Nikon lens and the 7Artisans lens together. |
It also has a custom button on the side, which the Nikon lens lacks. One option I tried out is to assign the "My Menu" setting on my camera so you can quickly jump to a list of user selected camera settings. It's pretty convenient!
 |
| Using the custom button on the lens. |
How to change the setting on the Nikon Z5?
- Custom button: Lens Fn button
- Custom Settings Menu tab
- f Controls
- f2 Custom controls
- In the Z5 this is the 4th item in the left list ("Lens Fn button")
Other aspects of the lens:
- The 7Artisans has a 62mm filter thread and the Nikon’s is 67mm). It’s slightly lighter at 452g versus the Nikon’s 470g. Both lenses have internal focusing.
- The adjustment rings on the 7Artisans require a bit of force to rotate compared to the Nikon lens. If you want to control the aperture through the camera, you can set the aperture ring to "A".
- The 7Artisans lens has a 11-bladed aperture compared to Nikon’s 9 blades. It does make a moderate difference in bokeh point source light shape. The 7Artisans are rounder though at times there appears to be a bit more texture to those "bokeh balls".
Outdoor Testing and General Impressions
I took the 7Artisans lens out for a test at a local Japanese styled garden. Autofocus was quick and accurate on my Nikon Z5. This focal length can be challenging at a place like the garden I visited, but it's still a fun lens to use there.
 |
| Close up detail at f/8 with this chipmunk. |
 |
| Another example from the 7Artisans lens at the garden. |
You can see a lot more sample images in this "only photography" video I also put together:
In terms of sharpness, the 7Artisans delivers a good amount of detail in the center, though, you will notice some lens elements when strong light hits it, but nothing too distracting.
 |
| Flare and sunstars are present at smaller apertures. (diffraction spikes) |
Indoor Lens Tests and Comparison
I used pin-point autofocus to get the most accurate focus possible. Perfect focus between the two lenses plays a huge role in getting a good test result. I'd say there is enough variance that it's tough to judge exact details. Even simply swapping the lens can make for a difference in the result. My quick release system has some play to it.
Accuracy on the Nikon Z5 in AF-S seems comparative. I'd even consider giving a win to the 7Artisans lens in my limited use so far. Eye and face detect AF accuracy appeared to be more consistently focused on the eye for the 7Artisans lens in my portrait tests.
At f/1.8, the 7Artisans and Nikon lenses are very close when it comes to center sharpness, so much so that it's hard to tell any difference even zoomed in at 400 percent.
There is more detail in the Nikon lens photos when you focus on the edges of the image. It's not a dramatic difference, but it's definitely visible when zoomed in.
When it comes to bokeh, the 7Artisans does have a slight edge due to its 11-bladed aperture. The background point source lights can be a bit rounder in shape on the 7Artisans compared to the Nikon lens.
At smaller apertures like f/2.8 and f/5.6, the Nikon lens continued to show more detail at the edges, while the two lenses are extremely similar in the center. There are examples in the linked video.
Here are my full notes while examining the test images. I don't have a hosting solution to offer full sized images. I've considered signing up for Flickr Pro, but that would turn into a long term expense that my work currently isn't popular enough to support.
 |
| The two lenses in he center at f/1.8 (7Artisans on the right) |
 |
| On the side of the images at f/1.8 (7Artisans on the right) |
There is more detail in the Nikon lens photos when you focus on the edges of the image. It's not a dramatic difference, but it's definitely visible when zoomed in.
 |
| They are similar but there are some instances where the Nikon "bokeh balls" are not quite as round. |
When it comes to bokeh, the 7Artisans does have a slight edge due to its 11-bladed aperture. The background point source lights can be a bit rounder in shape on the 7Artisans compared to the Nikon lens.
At smaller apertures like f/2.8 and f/5.6, the Nikon lens continued to show more detail at the edges, while the two lenses are extremely similar in the center. There are examples in the linked video.
Here are my full notes while examining the test images. I don't have a hosting solution to offer full sized images. I've considered signing up for Flickr Pro, but that would turn into a long term expense that my work currently isn't popular enough to support.
- f/1.8 center
- Extremely similar. I'd say it's so similar that it's within testing errors on my part.
- f/1.8 center bokeh
- The 7Artisans lens is somewhat more catseye shaped, but not by much in this specific test. It also has slightly more texture and definition inside the point source lights.
- f/1.8 left side
- Focus might not have been perfect. There is more detail in the Nikon lens, but in the center the 7Artisans lens looks better so it makes me think it might be somewhat related to focus differences.
- The field of view between the two is different. The Nikon lens has more being shown. Is it focus breathing? Is it simply a slight difference in actual field of view considering the camera mount should have not changed position unless I accidentally moved it while swapping lenses... (not likely).
- f/1.8 face
- Focus was slightly off and/or I was in a different position that changed the results. There is a difference in detail of the eyebrows as well as the glasses frame around the eyes.
- I took two photos from the first set. Closer focus and they look extremely similar where the focal point was.
- Detail seems close enough between the two.
- f/2.8 center
- The 7Artisans lens might have a very slight edge to the Nikon lens. Though, it could be very slight focus point differences.
- f/2.8 center bokeh
- The 7Artisans lens has rounder background point source lights, so the aperture at f/2.8 is more of a circle. The Nikon bokeh balls are cleaner inside with less definition.
- f/2.8 left side
- Again, more detail in the official Nikon lens.
- Corners seem overall better on the Nikon lens.
- f/2.8 face
- Exposure triangle result is the same for these two in aperture priority.
- The Nikon lens focused slightly forward closer to the eyebrow. The 7Artisans lens is basically perfect focus. This tiny focal point difference made a noticeable difference in detail of the eyeball.
- f/5.6 center
- Extremely similar. Any differences could be up to slightly different positioning or focusing.
- f/5.6 center bokeh
- Very similar. The 7Artisans lens in some spots has rounder background point source lights.
- f/5.6 left side
- The Nikon lens has a bit more detail.
- The 7Artisans lens might have slightly less color fringing. Though by the Saitama patch, the 7Artisans lens was worse on the white border of the patch.
- Bokeh is slightly more rounded on the 7Artisans lens.
- Different FOV, look at the far edges to see more is in view with the official Nikon lens. Maybe focus breathing differences?
- f/5.6 face
- I think focus is slightly off. The Nikon appears to have less detail, but it focused more toward the eyebrow instead of the eye itself.
- f/8 center
- Extremely similar...
- f/8 center bokeh
- Extremely similar...
- f/8 left side
- The Nikon lens appears to have more detail and less distortion in the corners. It also has less darkening in the corners. I have all lens corrections off in the software.
- f/8 face
- The camera used different ISO settings between the lenses. I adjusted white balance and EV compensation. They look very similar.
Final Thoughts: Is the 7Artisans Lens Worth It?
So, is it worth spending more for the official Nikon 85mm f/1.8s lens, or should you consider the 7Artisans? It depends on what you prioritize in regard to features. The Nikon lens does offer better optical quality in the edges of the frame and it has the weather gasket around the back mount.
However, if you’re okay with excellent center detail, decent enough edge performance, and want a lens that offers features like a custom button and an aperture ring, then the 7Artisans is an interesting option. Especially considering the price difference.