7artisans Photoelectric 75mm f1.25 First Impressions

7artisans Photoelectric 75mm f1.25 First Impressions:

Hey everyone, I’ve been trying out some new gear lately.  I’ve been using the new Leica M11, some L mount gear recently, and also some M mount lenses.  One of these M mount lenses that I’ve been using quite a bit is the 7artisans Photoelectric 75mm f1.25 lens.  Leica, of course, makes their own version, which retails for $14,295.  It’s a beautiful lens but definitely not cheap :).  In comparison, the 7artisans currently retails for just $449, which makes it much more affordable, and me, a bit more curious as to whether it is worth purchasing or not.  So, expect my full review of it soon but for now, here are my first impressions of it.

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So, let’s first take a look at the build, which I have to say, is quite impressive, especially when you factor in the price.  This lens is clearly made of metal, and feels very solid in the hands.  With a weight of 1.34 lb/608 g, the 7artisans Photoelectric 75mm f1.25 lens has the nice heft that one would expect from a typical rangefinder lens.  I don’t know about you but I like a little weight in my equipment, and to me, the 75mm f1.25 feels just about right for a lens with these kinds of specs.  Furthermore, the aperture ring clicks nicely has you rotate it, and the focus ring is buttery smooth with just the right amount of resistance to give you that nice feel.

I’m also happy to report that the size of the lens isn’t too outrageous either.  It’s a 75mm with a wide open aperture of f1.25, so don’t expect something ultra compact.  In other words, you should expect something on the larger size, if you’re after such a large max aperture.  However, this lens is still pretty manageable to use even for a full day’s worth of shooting.  As I said earlier, I had a Leica M11 with me, so I could’ve used it on a digital rangefinder but I was using it with the Panasonic S5 (review here) mostly because I was also reviewing an adapter with the camera.  The two actually worked quite well together, and I was very happy with the results.  The combo felt nicely balanced as well.

As for image quality, even without factoring in the price, the 7artisans Photoelectric 75mm f1.25 lens has been producing images are great so far.  Focusing at f1.25 isn’t easy, especially if you’re dealing with a moving subject.  The depth of field can be quite shallow, so if there’s a little movement involved, focusing can be off a bit.  When you do nail the focus, sharpness is good at f1.25.  When you stop it down, sharpness is excellent, which means if you don’t mind the extra bulk and weight, you can use this lens for pretty much all types of photography.  It’s not just a lens that’s only meant to perform well at wide open aperture.  I’ve ended up with some tack sharp images with this lens stopped down.  I also have seen some vignetting at wide open aperture, which isn’t uncommon but as you stop down, it clears up.  Color and contrast are very nice.  While this is preliminary, I’ve been impressed so far.

Of course, with a lens like this, you’re after the bokeh, and so far, the 7artisans Photoelectric 75mm f1.25 lens has really been delivering the goods.  The bokeh is very smooth and inviting.  There’s nothing that is really harsh, in my opinion.  I just love the fact that one could spend essentially less than $500, and get these kinds of results.

So, that’s about it for my first impressions.  I will try to get the full review out soon, since I am actually done using it but just haven’t had a chance to look through all the photos I’ve taken.  For $449, I feel this is a bargain, if you’re in the market for an ultra fast 75mm in M mount.  It may not be a Noctilux but it’ll get you that similar look, if that’s what you’re after, and save you a ton of money in the process.  In my opinion, the asking price really isn’t a huge investment for what this lens can deliver in terms of look.  Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for my full review!