What's the difference between the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR and the 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

The XF 23mm F2.8 R WR leads on a lighter 90g body, closer 0.20 m focusing, an 11-blade diaphragm. The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II leads on a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture.

Which is smaller, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR or the 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

The XF 23mm F2.8 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 90g and 23 mm long, versus 218g for the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II.

Which is faster, the Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR 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/2.8 for the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR — brighter in low light and able to throw the background further out of focus.

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR vs 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: full comparison

The XF 23mm F2.8 R WR leads on more of the measurable specs, but the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II counters on a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture.

Read the full XF 23mm F2.8 R WR review →Read the full 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review →

The short version

The Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR and 7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II are two X-mount primes at different focal lengths — the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR (35mm equivalent) and the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II (52.5mm equivalent).

On the spec sheet the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR pulls ahead with a lighter 90g body, closer 0.20 m focusing, and an 11-blade diaphragm, plus a couple of smaller edges.

The 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II answers with a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture.

So which one? Start with the focal length you actually want to shoot: the 35mm-equivalent XF 23mm F2.8 R WR or the 52.5mm-equivalent 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II. Once that's settled, XF 23mm F2.8 R WR has the edge on the specs above.

Where the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR wins

+a lighter 90g body
+closer 0.20 m focusing
+an 11-blade diaphragm
+autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only
+weather sealing

Where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II wins

+a brighter f/1.2 maximum aperture

Who should buy the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR or 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II?

Buy the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR if…

Pick the XF 23mm F2.8 R WR if a lighter 90g body and closer 0.20 m focusing matter to you. Photographers who shoot mostly in daylight at a 35 mm-equivalent field of view and want the smallest possible native X-mount combination. Read the full XF 23mm F2.8 R WR 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 matters 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 F2.8 R WR vs 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2.8 R WR	7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II
90g and 23 mm long — true pancake dimensions on every X body. Aperture ring, focus ring, and weather resistance at this size are unusual. 0.20 m close focus and 0.15× magnification beat the older XF 27mm F2.8 pancake. 11-blade rounded diaphragm keeps highlights relatively round stopped down. Designed to resolve for Fujifilm's 40.2 MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor.	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.
f/2.8 is one stop slower than the XF 23mm F2 R WR. No optical image stabilization — leans on the body's IBIS when present. DC motor AF is not marketed as a linear-motor design. Pancake rings are small and close together; not ideal with gloves. Hood adds bulk and slightly reduces the pancake character.	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 F2.8 R WR

7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II

90g and 23 mm long — true pancake dimensions on every X body.
Aperture ring, focus ring, and weather resistance at this size are unusual.
0.20 m close focus and 0.15× magnification beat the older XF 27mm F2.8 pancake.
11-blade rounded diaphragm keeps highlights relatively round stopped down.
Designed to resolve for Fujifilm's 40.2 MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor.

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.

f/2.8 is one stop slower than the XF 23mm F2 R WR.
No optical image stabilization — leans on the body's IBIS when present.
DC motor AF is not marketed as a linear-motor design.
Pancake rings are small and close together; not ideal with gloves.
Hood adds bulk and slightly reduces the pancake character.

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 F2.8 R WR review and 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II review.

XF 23mm F2.8 R WR vs 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: full specs

Spec	XF 23mm F2.8 R WR 23 mm · f/2.8 · 90g	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/2.8	f/1.2
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/22
Optical construction	8 elements in 6 groups	6 elements in 5 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	—
Aperture blades	11	10
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.20 m	0.28 m
Max. magnification	0.15×	—
Autofocus motor	DC motor	Manual focus only
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	39 mm	46 mm
Diameter × length	61.8 × 23 mm	—
Weight	90g	218g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2025-06-12	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 F2.8 R WR 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.