7Artisans' ultra-fast manual focus prime providing extreme shallow depth of field at f/0.95.
The 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 is a manual-focus APS-C prime for mirrorless mounts, offering an extreme f/0.95 maximum aperture that provides very shallow depth of field and low-light capability well beyond the f/1.4 and f/1.8 alternatives in the same focal length category. At f/0.95 on APS-C the lens delivers a 50mm-equivalent field of view with depth of field at portrait distances equivalent to approximately f/1.4 on full-frame — providing subject separation and background rendering comparable to a fast full-frame normal prime. Available in multiple mount versions including Fujifilm X, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, and Canon EF-M. There is no electronic coupling on most versions — it is fully manual.
The optical design uses 11 elements in 8 groups. Twelve aperture blades produce smooth, rounded bokeh across the full aperture range — the high blade count is intentional for the wide-aperture subject-separation use case. The 52mm filter thread is standard. At 369g the lens is moderate for an f/0.95 prime. Minimum focus distance of 0.37m. There is no autofocus — focus is fully manual. Most mount versions have no electronic contacts, meaning no EXIF data, no AF confirmation, and no stabilisation coupling. The 50mm-equivalent field of view on APS-C suits portraiture and environmental photography.
The 35mm f/0.95's practical case is the extreme maximum aperture: at f/0.95 on APS-C, subject separation and background rendering exceed what any autofocus APS-C prime can achieve. For portrait and available-light photography where the manual focus workflow is acceptable — or where the shallow depth of field is used deliberately for artistic framing — the f/0.95 provides a distinctive aesthetic. The lack of AF and EXIF requires a deliberate manual-focus technique; focus peaking and magnification on mirrorless bodies mitigate this.
On the used market the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 is affordable for an f/0.95 prime. Condition checks: focus ring smoothness (manual focus is the primary control), aperture ring click consistency, front element for marks, and confirm the mount version matches the target body. Most versions lack electronic contacts — confirm whether the specific copy provides EXIF output before purchase if that matters. Compatible with the mirrorless mount specified at purchase — not interchangeable between mount versions.