I usually sort lenses into two categories:
There are those that deliver excellent image quality and are perfect for professional use. And then there are others – the ones that are just fun to shoot with. They’re not flawless, but they’re creative, compact, and often a little quirky.
The 7Artisans 18mm f5.6 clearly belongs to the second group.
It’s a fully manual ultra-wide-angle lens for full-frame cameras. No autofocus, no aperture control, no electronic contacts. But it’s tiny, solidly built, and available for just €99 (or slightly less if you catch a deal).
I tested the Nikon Z-Mount version, provided by Pergear.de. The question is: Is this lens just a fun gimmick, or can it actually hold its own in the field?
👉 Buy it here (Affiliate link):
https://www.pergear.com/products/7artisans-18mm-f-5-6-ff?ref=K83KL
Build Quality & Design
The 7Artisans 18mm f5.6 strongly resembles classic pancake lenses in its form factor. It’s flat, lightweight, and minimal – you’d almost forget it’s a full-frame ultra-wide. The Nikon Z version is a bit bulkier due to the larger mount, but still very compact overall.
Mounted on a Nikon Z camera, it barely extends past the grip and fits effortlessly into most camera bags. It’s a great companion for travel or casual shooting when you want to go ultra-wide without lugging around a heavy lens.
The body is made entirely of metal, giving it a solid, durable feel. It doesn’t look or handle like a budget lens – far from it. The focus ring turns smoothly with nice resistance, offering a good balance between speed and precision. The focus throw is about 90 degrees, which is just right for a wide-angle like this.
It can focus as close as 30cm (about 12 inches), allowing for some creative close-up perspectives. There’s no aperture control – it’s fixed at f5.6. That’s a compromise for the compact size, but it keeps things simple.
There are also no electronic contacts, meaning no EXIF data and no auto lens recognition. If you’re using IBIS (in-body image stabilization), you’ll need to manually set the focal length to 18mm in your camera menu – otherwise, stabilization won’t work correctly.
In short: this is a purely mechanical lens, well built, simple in operation, and designed for photographers who enjoy working with manual gear and don’t need digital frills.
Image Quality of 7Artisans 18mm f5.6
Let’s get to the important part – how does it actually perform?
The Weak Points:
- Flares & Sunlight
This lens struggles with flare when bright light hits the front element at an angle. You’ll often see large, unattractive reflections and ghosting. There’s no lens hood included, which doesn’t help either. - Corner Sharpness
The center and mid-frame areas hold up well, but the very outer corners get noticeably soft and muddy. At this price point, that’s expected – and honestly, not much of an issue for casual shooting. - Limited for Astrophotography
With a fixed aperture of f5.6 and noticeable coma in the corners, this lens is less suitable for serious astrophotography. If you’re looking to capture sharp stars across the frame, you’ll need something faster and better corrected. But for quick night sky shots or some wide-field Milky Way experiments? It might just do the trick.
The Strong Points:
- Low Distortion
For a fully manual ultra-wide with no built-in profile corrections, distortion is surprisingly well controlled. As long as you keep the horizon centered, lines stay straight. - Decent Sharpness
The center sharpness is absolutely usable. And while f5.6 doesn’t create a lot of background blur, you can still notice some separation at close focus distances – just enough to add depth. - Portability
This is where the 18mm f5.6 really shines. It’s so small and light that you can just leave it on the camera, toss it in your bag, or keep it mounted instead of a body cap. I tested it in Hamburg during a harbor festival and found it super handy for spontaneous ultra-wide shots.
Verdict – Who is this lens for?
The 7Artisans 18mm f5.6 isn’t for pixel peepers or perfectionists. But if you’re a creative shooter, travel enthusiast, or just love minimalist gear – it’s a surprisingly fun and useful tool.
It works great as a “just-in-case” lens when you want something wide but don’t want to carry a giant zoom. It’s ideal for landscapes, street photography, cityscapes, and architecture – especially in good light and with a stabilized camera.
And at just €99, you really can’t go wrong.
👉 Check it out at Pergear (Affiliate link):
https://www.pergear.com/products/7artisans-18mm-f-5-6-ff?ref=K83KL
