7Artisans has announced an exciting new prime lens, a tilt-shift 50mm f/1.4 for APS-C mirrorless cameras, including those with E, X, and Micro Four Thirds mounts. Although, of course, Micro Four Thirds is smaller than APS-C.
As for the lens itself, 7Artisans’s marketing is focused primarily on creating exceptionally shallow depth-of-field images with “miniature” effects, a capability unique to tilt-shift lenses. However, it is also worth noting that tilt lenses can also go to the other extreme and capture photos and videos with a vast depth of field. Tilt-shift lenses can also help keep straight lines straight, even when pointed up or down, making tilt-shift optics a popular choice among architectural photographers.
While Canon EOS R and Nikon Z shooters can adapt existing Canon and Nikon tilt-shift DSLR lenses, respectively, Sony, Fujifilm, OM System, and Panasonic have never released a tilt-shift lens for their mirrorless camera systems, making 7Artisans’ new optic a distinctive but not unique offering.
A TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 tilt-shift lens is also available, and it works on full-frame cameras. Despite the similar name, 7Artisans and TTArtisan are not the same company. The TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 Tilt lens is available for E, X, and Micro Four Thirds cameras, plus Z, RF, and L-mount cameras. So that is something to keep in mind. The TTArtisan 50mm f/1.4 Tilt is $199.
Returning to the new 7Artisans lens, it includes seven lens elements arranged across six groups. It has a 12-bladed aperture diaphragm and weighs 364 grams (12.8 ounces). Like all other tilt-shift lenses, it is a manual focus lens, and its aperture is also controlled manually via a dedicated aperture control ring.
There is confusion in how the lens is described at the moment. Over at Pergear, the lens is listed as “FF,” meaning full-frame. Some publications have also described it as a full-frame lens.
However, on 7Artisans’ website and in the YouTube video above, the lens is described as an APS-C prime lens. That said, 7Artisans has also shown the lens on a Sony a7 III camera — a full-frame body.
While PetaPixel is confirming the lens’ image circle, photographers should proceed with the understanding that the lens is designed for APS-C image sensors for now.
The 7Artisans 50mm f/1.4 APS Tilt lens is available now for Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. The lens is $226, although if purchased through Pergear, it’s available for 10% off using the discount code “7AR50MMF1.4TILT.” The discount code expires on April 30, 2024.
Image credits: 7Artisans