What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R and the 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

The XF 23mm F1.4 R leads on autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only. The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II leads on a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture, a lighter 218g body, a 10-blade diaphragm.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R or the 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is the smaller, lighter lens at 218g, versus 300g for the XF 23mm F1.4 R.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R or the 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is the faster lens at f/1.2, against f/1.4 for the XF 23mm F1.4 R — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R vs 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: full comparison

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II leads on more of the measurable specs, but the XF 23mm F1.4 R counters on autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only.

Read the full XF 23mm F1.4 R review →Read the full 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R and 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II are two X-mount primes at different focal lengths — the XF 23mm F1.4 R (35mm equivalent) and the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II (52.5mm equivalent).

On the spec sheet the XF 23mm F1.4 R pulls ahead with autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II answers with a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture, a lighter 218g body, and a 10-blade diaphragm.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F1.4 R or the 52.5mm-equivalent 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II. Once that's settled, 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II has the edge on the specs above.

Where the XF 23mm F1.4 R wins

+autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only

Where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II wins

+a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture
+a lighter 218g body
+a 10-blade diaphragm

Who should buy the XF 23mm F1.4 R or 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

Buy the XF 23mm F1.4 R if…

Pick the XF 23mm F1.4 R if autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only matters to you. Photographers who shoot 35 mm-equivalent at f/1.4 and close, and street photographers who zone focus and want a real distance scale. Read the full XF 23mm F1.4 R review for the details.

Buy the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II if…

Pick the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II if a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture and a lighter 218g body matter to you. Photographers who want a fast lens with a distinctive look for very little money, and who already shoot manual focus by choice. Read the full 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review for the details.

XF 23mm F1.4 R vs 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R	7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II
Sharp wide open at close range, where the XF 23mm F2 R WR is not. Clutch focus ring with engraved distance and depth-of-field scales, hard infinity stop. Eleven-element formula keeps colour fringing lower than the XF 35mm F1.4 R. 0.28 m macro mode on a 35 mm-equivalent prime.	f/1.2 for around the price of a filter, in an all-metal barrel. Strong wide-open character: halation around highlights, swirling corners. 0.28 m minimum focus, closer than the original version managed. Ten rounded blades keep the stopped-down rendering tidier than the price suggests.
300g and 63 mm long — it dominates a small body. DC-motor autofocus is slow and audible, driving a lot of glass. No weather sealing. Discontinued, so it is a used-only purchase and prices have stayed high.	No electronic contacts: no EXIF, no aperture recorded, no IBIS, no auto magnification. f/1.2 and f/1.4 are effects, not working apertures — sharp from about f/4. Heavy longitudinal colour fringing on high-contrast edges wide open. Sample variation is the standing complaint about the category; no sealing, no real warranty support. 7Artisans publishes neither a launch date nor barrel dimensions, and retail listings disagree on both.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R

7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II

Sharp wide open at close range, where the XF 23mm F2 R WR is not.
Clutch focus ring with engraved distance and depth-of-field scales, hard infinity stop.
Eleven-element formula keeps colour fringing lower than the XF 35mm F1.4 R.
0.28 m macro mode on a 35 mm-equivalent prime.

f/1.2 for around the price of a filter, in an all-metal barrel.
Strong wide-open character: halation around highlights, swirling corners.
0.28 m minimum focus, closer than the original version managed.
Ten rounded blades keep the stopped-down rendering tidier than the price suggests.

300g and 63 mm long — it dominates a small body.
DC-motor autofocus is slow and audible, driving a lot of glass.
No weather sealing.
Discontinued, so it is a used-only purchase and prices have stayed high.

No electronic contacts: no EXIF, no aperture recorded, no IBIS, no auto magnification.
f/1.2 and f/1.4 are effects, not working apertures — sharp from about f/4.
Heavy longitudinal colour fringing on high-contrast edges wide open.
Sample variation is the standing complaint about the category; no sealing, no real warranty support.
7Artisans publishes neither a launch date nor barrel dimensions, and retail listings disagree on both.

Pros and cons mirror the in-house XF 23mm F1.4 R review and 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review.

XF 23mm F1.4 R vs 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F1.4 R 23 mm · f/1.4 · 300g	7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II 35 mm · f/1.2 · 218g
Optical
Focal length	23 mm	35 mm
35mm equivalent	35 mm	52.5 mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.4	f/1.2
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/22
Optical construction	11 elements in 8 groups	6 elements in 5 groups
Special elements	1 aspherical element	—
Aperture blades	7	10
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.28 m	0.28 m
Max. magnification	0.1×	—
Autofocus motor	DC motor	Manual focus only
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	62 mm	46 mm
Diameter × length	72 × 63 mm	—
Weight	300g	218g
Weather sealing	No	No
Min. operating temp	—	—
General
Announced	2013-09-04	Not published

Highlighted cells are best in class between these two. Specs sourced from the manufacturers' public product pages.

In-depth reviews

For the full long-form review of each lens, see the Fujifilm XF 23mm F1.4 R review and the 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review. Each carries the full spec breakdown, pros and cons, and where the lens sits in the X-mount lineup.