Review 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8

According provided by 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8 lens huge thanks Vitaly Piligrim (Instagram).

Navigation

1. In short
2. All 7Artisans lenses
3. Main Specifications
4. Assembly
5. Focusing
6. Image quality
7. Sample Photos
8. My experience
9. All Sony APS-C E cameras
10. All original lenses for Sony APS-C E
11. Price
12. Results
13. User Comments
14. Add your review or question on the lens

Please note that the 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8 is available in different mounts. This review shows the 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8 version for mirrorless cameras Sony E with APS-C sensor (for cropped cameras). At the same time, 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8 is also available with mounts Fujifilm x, Canon EF-M, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Leica L and Micro 4 / 3.

In this review, I will abbreviate the 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8 lens 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro.

In short

7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro is a modern macro lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensor. It is possible to shoot with a maximum magnification of 1: 1. Has good quality of the created image. A very popular model, one of the best selling lenses from 7Artisans. The center of the frame is sharp already at F / 2.8.

Interestingly low price, all-metal body, 10 aperture blades and a fairly comfortable working distance when shooting at 1: 1 magnification.

Of the shortcomings, first of all, one can single out the poor mechanical implementation of the movement of the lens unit.

History

The 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro lens was submitted 5 2019 June year.

20 May 2021 was announced continuation model - 7Artisans 60mm 1: 2.8 Macro II.

All 7Artisans lenses:

Autofocus for APS-C:

1. 7Artisans 25 mm F/1.8 AF [E, Z, X, APS-C]
2. 7Artisans 27 mm F/2.8 AF (announcement) [E, Z, X, APS-C]
3. 7Artisans 35 mm F/1.4 AF [E, Z, X, APS-C]
4. 7Artisans 50mm F/1.4 AF [E, Z, X, APS-C]

Autofocus for Full Frame:

 

• 7Artisans 24 mm F/1.8 AF STM [E/FE, Z, L, FUll FRAME]
• 7Artisans 35 mm F/1.8 AF STM [E/FE, Z, L, FUll FRAME]
• 7Artisans 35 mm F/2.8 AF STM [E/FE, Z, L, FUll FRAME]
• 7Artisans 40 mm F/2.8 AF STM [E/FE, Z, L, FUll FRAME]
• 7Artisans 50 mm F/1.8 AF STM (announcement) [E/FE, Z, L, FUll FRAME]
• 7Artisans 85 mm F/1.8 AF STM FE (announcement) [E/FE, Z, L, FUll FRAME]

 

Manual, for mirrorless cameras with APS-C or Micro 4/3 sensor:

1. 7Artisans 4 mm F/2.8 (announcement) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3]
2. 7Artisans 7.5 mm F/2.8 Fish-Eye (overview) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3, versions 2017 и 2019]
3. 7Artisans 7.5 mm F / 2.8 Fish-Eye II (announcement) [EF-M, E, X, Z, M4 / 3]
4. 7Artisans 12 mm F/2.8 (overview) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3]
5. 7Artisans 12 mm F / 2.8 II (announcement) [EF-M, RF, E, X, Z, M4/3]
6. 7Artisans 18 mm F/6.3 (announcement) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3]
7. 7Artisans 18 mm F/6.3 NEW (announcement) [E, X, Z]
8. 7Artisans 24 mm 1:1.4 (announcement) [EF-M, RF, E, X, Z, M4/3]
9. 7Artisans 25 mm F/1.8 (overview) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3, black / silver]
10. 7Artisans 25 mm F/0.95 (overview) [EF-M, Z, E, X, M4 / 3, RF, L]
11. 7Artisans 35 mm F/0.95 (overview) [EF-M, Z, E, X, RF, M4 / 3]
12. 7Artisans 35 mm F/1.2 (overview) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3, black / silver]
13. 7Artisans 35 mm F/1.2 II (overview) [Z, EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3, other optical design]
14. 7Artisans 35 mm F/1.4 (overview) [Z, EF-M, E, X, RF, M4/3, black/silver]
15. 7Artisans 50 mm F/1.8 (overview) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3, versions with 10 and 12 petals]
16. 7Artisans 50 mm F/0.95 (overview) [EF-M, Z, E, X, RF, M4 / 3]
17. 7Artisans 50 mm F / 1.4 Tilt-Shift (announcement) [E, X, M4/3]
18. 7Artisans 55 mm F/1.4 (overview) [EF-M, E, X, M4 / 3, Leica L, black/silver]
19. 7Artisans 55 mm F / 1.4 II (announcement) [EF-M, E, X, Z, M4 / 3]
20. 7Artisans 60 mm F/2.8 Macro (overview) [EF-M, Z, E, X, RF, M4 / 3]
21. 7Artisans 60 mm F / 2.8 Macro II (overview) [EF-M, Z, E, X, RF, L, M4/3]

For mirrorless full frame cameras (Full Frame):

1. 7Artisans 9 mm F5.6 (overview) [RF, Z, E, L]
2. 7Artisans 10 mm F / 2.8 Fisheye ED [RF, Z, E, L]
3. 7Artisans 15 mm F/4 ASPH [RF, Z, E, L]
4. 7Artisans 28 mm F/1.4 (overview) [Leica M only, two versions]
5. 7Artisans 28 mm F / 5.6 wen [Leica M only]
6. 7Artisans 35 mm F / 1.4 [IS]
7. 7Artisans 35 mm F / 1.4 wen [Leica M only, different optical design]
8. 7Artisans 35 mm F/1.4 III [RF, Z, E, L]
9. 7Artisans 35 mm F/2 (overview) [E, X, black / silver]
10. 7Artisans 35 mm F/2 (overview) [Leica M only, different body design]
11. 7Artisans 35 mm F/2 MARK II (announcement) [Leica M only, black/silver, different body design]
12. 7Artisans 35 mm F/5.6wen (overview) [Leica M + E, Z, L, RF, black, black & gold, silver & black, silver & gold]
13. 7Artisans 50 mm F/1.05 APO (overview) [RF, Z, E, L]
14. 7Artisans 50 mm F/1.1 (overview) [Leica M only, black / silver + 'Limited Gold'+'RED DRAGON SPECIAL EDITION']
15. 7Artisans 75 mm F/1.25 [Leica M only]

For SLR cameras with APS-C sensor:

1. 7Artisans 7.5mm 1:3.5 FISH-EYE (announcement) [only for EF/EFS]

Cinema lenses [E, L, Z, RF, X, M4/3]:

1. APS-C: 12mm T2.9, 25mm T1.05, 35mm T1.05, 50mm T1.05
2. S35: 24-96mm T2.9 (EF/PL)
3. Full Frame: 14mm T2.9, 35mm T2, 50mm T2, 85mm T2

Drone Lenses:

• APS-C: 7Artisans 25 mm F / 5.6 (ali) [E, for drones]
• Full frame: 7Artisans 35 mm F / 5.6 (ali) [FE/E, for drones]

These lenses are the easiest to find on Aliexpress from the official dealer 7Artisans.

Main technical characteristics of 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8

Review Instance Name	Near the front lens: 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8 'E-Mount' side. On the case: Macro + 7Artisans 60mm F2.8 + serial number
Basic properties	The lens uses a Sony E mount and is suitable for Sony mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor Manual focus only Metal mount, metal body Additional hood Macro - 1: 1 magnification close-up capability The lens is designed to use extenders and obtain a magnification of 1: 3
Front Filter Diameter	37mm and 39mm for hood
Focal length	60 mm EGF for cameras Sony E, Leica L, Fujifilm xNikon Z with APS-C sensor is 90mm EGF for cameras Canon EF-M with APS-C sensor is 96 mm EGF for system cameras Micro 4 / 3 is 120 mm
Zoom ratio	1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom)
Designed by	Option from the review for cropped mirrorless Sony cameras. This lens exists with mounts: Sony E Nikon Z Leica L (indicated in the instructions) Canon EF-M Canon RF Fujifilm x Micro 4 / 3
Number of aperture blades	10 rounded petals
Tags	bayonet mount mark focus distance scale in meters and feet DOF scale for F / 4, 8, 16 zoom ratio scale, there are labels for 1: 5, 1: 4, 1: 3, 1: 2, 1: 1.5, 1: 1 1: 1 magnification mark duplicated on the lens trunk aperture scale
Diaphragm	f / 2.8 to f / 16, controlled by aperture control ring. There are labels for F / 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. The ring rotates without clicks, smoothly. Any intermediate value can be set.
MDF	0.26 meters, maximum magnification ratio 1:1 working distance about 13-14 centimeters
The weight	550 grams (according to the official website) 519 grams (lens only, version for Sony E, measured) 555 grams (lens with two caps and hood, Sony E version)
Optical design	8 elements in 7 groups
Lens hood	It must be screwed into the thread of the front filter, is supplied
Manufacturer country	Made in China (there is no data on the country of manufacture on the lens itself)
Period	Announced June 5, 2019. Later replaced by the model 7Artisans 60mm 1: 2.8 Macro II
Price	Look at the official seller on Aliexpress

These lenses are very popular. All major lens manufacturers have 60 / 2.8 class models in their arsenal. Often these lenses are used not only for macro photography, but also for a variety of creative shooting.

Assembly

In general, the lens well built, but there are problems.

7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro has bayonet mount metal and the lens body itself is completely made of metal (aluminum).

When focusing at infinity, the front lens very deeply hidden in the lens barrel... The body itself serves as a kind of built-in hood. Only during focusing at distances close to MDF, the lens trunk leaves its body.

It's important: When focusing to infinity, metal guide pins are visible in the middle of the lens barrel and are worm-shaped (you can touch them with your hands). Focus mechanism implemented quite primitively.

It's important: When focusing at infinity, a fairly large amount of smear can be observed in the middle of the lens barrel. Dust and dirt can easily get on this grease and impair focusing smoothness. I have already met the similar Yongnuo 60 / 2.

It's important: The scope of delivery includes a metal hood that is screwed into the thread of the front filter. The hood is 5 cm long, it is most convenient to install it when focusing on MDF,

It's important: Classic front protective cover is not included in the package. The cover is only for installation on a hood.

It's important: filter diameter and hood diameter are different: 37 mm and 39 mm, respectively. Rare and small diameters.

It's important: the lens hood does not have a standard thread for a light filter (you cannot screw a light filter into it)

It's important: The hood is completely hidden in the lens barrel when focusing at infinity. In this state, it seems that there is no hood at all.

It's important: The hood can be lowered into water and take close-ups underwater. However, the lens is by no means waterproof.

The weight of the 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro lens itself is over 500 grams. In the hands, the lens feels like a solid thing.

The diaphragm consists of 10 of petals and forms a round hole at any values, while in the photos in the blur zone, rather round discs of blur are obtained. The diaphragm can only be controlled manually using a special ring. The diaphragm ring rotates smoothly, no clicks and fixed values, you can set any intermediate value in the range of F / 2.8-F / 16, which is very useful during movie shooting.

Interestingly: Through the lens, you can see that the aperture blades at F / 2.8 are not fully open (the blades are not fully hidden in the body). Most likely it is artificially limited / compressed to increase optical performance

Focusing

7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro can use manual focus only.

The focusing ring is very wide, metal, with fine notched ribs. The ring spins on 270 degrees (3/4 of a full turn). Focusing is smooth, but sometimes an unpleasant crunch happens. Sometimes the ring needs to be 'ripped off' from its place.

The focusing ring is poorly 'stretched' in the range from half a meter to infinity, which is why it is extremely inconvenient to focus in this range of distances. The slightest touch of the focusing ring in this range will noticeably change the focusing accuracy.

During focusing, the trunk of the lens runs forward but does not spin... During focusing, the entire lens unit moves. The lens is stated to use a system with floating elements, which provides good optical quality throughout the focusing range (but in fact it is not so). The front lens travel is more than 5 centimeters.

On the ring there is a scale with a focusing distance in meters and feet, a depth of field scale and a scale with a magnification factor. On the trunk of the lens, a 1: 1 magnification ratio is additionally duplicated.

The minimum focusing distance is 26 cm and the maximum magnification ratio is 1: 1. The working distance when shooting at 1: 1 magnification is about 14 cm (distance from the front of the lens to the subject).

Real aperture the lens, expressed in T-stops, decreases significantly during focusing towards MDF. If F / 2.8 and approximately T / 3.0 are used during focusing on infinity, then F / 5.6 and approximately T / 6.3 are used during focusing on MDF. This is a common occurrence for macro lenses.

There is a very strong effect of 'Focus Breathing' (changing the viewing angle during focusing), which is typical for almost all macro lenses. During focusing towards the MDF, the viewing angle decreases. In fact, focusing on MDF produces a '120 /5.6 'lens. This can serve as a plus (increase in focal length), and as a minus (decrease in aperture).

Focus Shift (shift focus, changing the focus distance due to iris) is missing.

The 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro appears to have a hard infinity mechanical stop for fast and accurate focusing in all operating temperatures. But I've seen a lot of complaints about focusing to infinity. Some users have disassembled the lens to adjust the lens to be able to focus at infinity.

Important: focus picking with 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 on a Sony Alpha 3500 camera works well.

Image quality

7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro is optically good.

Sharpness

• in the center of the frame at F / 2.8 the lens behaves well. Sharpness at F / 2.8 is present both when focusing at infinity and when focusing about 1-2 meters. Fine DOF at f / 2.8 can make images appear soft at close focusing distances
• there is a slight drop in sharpness to the edges of the frame at f / 2.8
• good / excellent resolution in the center of the frame on covered apertures after F / 4
• excellent resolution in the center of the frame on covered apertures after f / 5.6
• on F / 16 there is a noticeable deterioration in the picture due to diffraction
• to summarize - there are no complaints about the sharpness

Distortion

• the overall level of distortion is at a level typical for such lenses
• difficult to notice distortion

Vignetting

• slight vignetting at F / 2.8 and focusing at infinity. But in this case it can be fixed.

Aberration

• low chromatic aberration, including low fringing

Rest

1. significant artifacts can be obtained from bright light sources
   
2. the lens tolerates side light well

Important: at the time of writing this review, there was no 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro profile for popular RAW converters. You can create a profile yourself or wait for its release.

Sample Photos

All photos in the review are shown without processing. Camera used Sony α3500 (Sony ILCE-3500) based on EXMOR APS-C CMOS 20 MP sensor. All photos are on-camera JPEG. Functions' Corr. ob .: Shading ',' Corr. about: Chrome. aberr. ' and 'Corr. rev .: Distortion 'have been disabled.

Original JPEG images can be view / download from this link (50 files, Google Drive gallery). Original RAW ('.ARW') images can be view / download from this link (19 files, Google Drive).

My experience

Optical 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro is good. If not for the strange mechanics, it would be just a super-lens.

I was very pleased with its capabilities. Highly recommend!

Second version 7Artisans 60mm 1: 2.8 Macro II, released in 2021, is even better.

All Sony E-mount cameras with APS-C sensor

• NEX-3, NEX-C3, NEX-F3, NEX-3Women
• NEX-5, NEX-5N, NEX-5R, NEX-5T
• NEX-6, NEX-7
• a3000, a3500
• a5000, a5100
• a6000, a6100, a6300, a6400, a6500, a6600, a6700
• ZV-E10, ZV-E10 II
• FX30
• QX1
• Hasselblad lunar

All Sony E lenses for APS-C

Fix Lenses:

1. Sony 11 mm f/1.8 (announcement) [2022, black, BHphotovideo]
2. Sony 15 mm f / 1.4 G (announcement) [2022, black, BHphotovideo]
3. Sony 16 mm f/2.8 (overview) [2010, silver, BHphotovideo]
4. Sony 20 mm f/2.8 (announcement) [2013, silver, BHphotovideo]
5. Sony 24 mm f / 1.8 ZEISS ZA (overview) [2011, black, BHphotovideo]
6. Sony 30 mm f / 3.5 MACRO (overview) [2011, silver, BHphotovideo]
7. Sony 35 mm f / 1.8 OSS (announcement) [2012, black, BHphotovideo]
8. Sony 50 mm f / 1.8 OSS (announcement) [2011, black/silver, BHphotovideo]

Zoom Lenses:

1. Sony 10-18mm f / 4 OSS (announcement) [2012, black, BHphotovideo]
2. Sony 10-20mm f / 4 G PZ (announcement) [2022, black, BHphotovideo]
3. Sony 16-50mm f / 3.5-5.6 PZ OSS (overview) [2012, black/silver, BHphotovideo]
4. Sony 16-50mm f / 3.5-5.6 PZ OSS II (announcement) [2024, black/silver, BHphotovideo]
5. Sony 16-55mm f / 2.8 G (overview) [2019, black, BHphotovideo]
6. Sony 16-70mm f / 4 OSS ZEISS ZA (overview) [2013, black, BHphotovideo]
7. Sony 18-50mm f/4-5.6 (overview) [2014, black]
8. Sony 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6 OSS (overview) [2010, black/silver, BHphotovideo]
9. Sony 18-105mm f / 4 G PZ OSS (overview) [2013, black, BHphotovideo]
10. Sony 18-110mm f / 4 G PZ OSS (announcement) [2016, black, BHphotovideo]
    
11. Sony 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6 OSS (overview) [2018, black, BHphotovideo]
12. Sony 18-200mm f / 3.5-6.3 OSS (overview) [2010, silver, BHphotovideo]
13. Sony 18-200mm f / 3.5-6.3 OSS LE (overview) [2012, black, BHphotovideo]
14. Sony 18-200mm f / 3.5-6.3 PZ OSS (announcement) [2012, black, BHphotovideo]
    
15. Sony 55-210mm f / 4.5-6.3 OSS (announcement) [2011, black/silver, BHphotovideo]
16. Sony 70-350mm f/4.5–6.3 G OSS (announcement) [2019, black, BHphotovideo]

Third-party autofocus lenses for Sony E APS-C:

• Sigma: Sigma C 16 / 1.4 | Sigma A 19 / 2.8 | Sigma EX 19 / 2.8 | Sigma C 30 / 1.4 | Sigma EX 30 / 2.8 | Sigma A 30 / 2.8 | Sigma C 56 / 1.4 | Sigma A 60 / 2.8 | Sigma C 10-18 / 2.8 | Sigma C 18-50 / 2.8
• felttrox: Viltrox 13 / 1.4 | Viltrox 23 / 1.4 | felttrox 27/1.2 | Viltrox 33 / 1.4 | Viltrox 56 / 1.7 | Viltrox 56 / 1.4 | felttrox 75/1.2
• Tamron: Tamron 11-20 / 2.8 | Tamron 17-70 / 2.8 VC | Tamron 18-200 / 3.5-6.3 VC | Tamron 18-300 / 3.5-6.3 VC
• tokina: Tokina 23 / 1.4 | Tokina 33 / 1.4 | Tokina 56 / 1.4 | Tokina 11-18 / 2.8
• Zeiss: Zeiss Touit Distagon 12/2.8 | Zeiss Touit Planar 32/1.8 | Zeiss Touit Makro Planar 50/2.8M
• Hasselblad: Hasselblad E 3.5-5.6 / 18-55 OSS LF | Hasselblad E 3.5-6.3 / 18-200 OSS LF | Hasselblad E 2.8 / 16 LF
• yongnuo: Yongnuo 11 / 1.8 | Yongnuo 16 / 1.8 | Yongnuo 23 / 1.4 | Yongnuo 33 / 1.4 | Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 | Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II | Yongnuo 56 / 1.4
• TTArtisan: TTArtisan 27 / 2.8 | TTArtisan 35 / 1.8 | TTArtisan 56 / 1.8
• Brightin star: Brightin Star 50 / 1.4
• Meike: Meike 33 / 1.4 | Meike 55 / 1.4
• 7Artisans: 7Artisans 27 / 2.8
• Samyang: Samyang 12 / 2

Many interesting manual solutions are provided by Chinese manufacturers and brands. 7Artisans, TTartisan, Meike, Neewer, PerGear, Kamlan, Brightin star, Mitakon Zhongyi, Venus laowa, Fujian, ARTRALAB, AstrHori other. Autofocus Speed ​​Boosters are also interesting Viltrox Canon EF -> Sony E 0.71X и Metabones Canon EF -> Sony E 0.71X... List of full-frame cameras and lenses Sony FE (Full Frame E) here

Price

The 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro costs around $ 150. The easiest way is to buy 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro from the official seller of 7Artisans on Aliexpress by this link.

Results

The 7Artisans 60 / 2.8 Macro is an inexpensive macro lens. Optically good. There are mechanical problems.

10 main advantages

1. low cost (about 150 dollars)
2. the lens barrel is completely made of metal, including a metal mount
3. there is a scale of depth of field, focusing distance and magnification
4. ten aperture blades that always give a rounded opening
5. the aperture ring rotates smoothly, without intermediate values ​​(useful for video)
6. the ability to shoot 1: 1 (and 3: 1 when using an optional extender)
7. metal hood included
8. the ability to shoot underwater (only when the hood is underwater, but not the entire lens)
9. good sharpness in the center of the frame already at F / 2.8
10. well fixed chromatic aberration

10 main disadvantages

1. big weight
2. sticky grease on the inside of the lens barrel (the problem is similar to Yongnuo 60 / 2)
3. the focusing ring in one place has a slip with a crunch
4. no CPU pins to form the correct EXIF
5. the delivery set does not include a front cover for a 37 mm thread (the cover is only for a 39 mm hood, the hood does not have a thread for light filters)
6. the hood and the body (trunk) have different diameters of the front covers
7. there is no possibility of convenient use of certain light filters (when focusing at long and medium focusing distances, the lens trunk is hidden in the lens barrel)
8. a threaded (non-bayonet) hood should be used
9. there is no lens profile for popular RAW converters, the lens is not 'hardwired' into modern cameras
10. poor resolution in the far corners of the frame

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.