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

The XF 23mm F2 R WR is the smaller, lighter lens at 180g and 51.9 mm long, versus 218g for the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II.

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

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

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

The XF 23mm F2 R WR leads on a lighter 180g body, closer 0.22 m focusing, 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 10-blade diaphragm.

The XF 23mm F2 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 and a 10-blade diaphragm.

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

The short version

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

On the spec sheet the XF 23mm F2 R WR pulls ahead with a lighter 180g body, closer 0.22 m focusing, and autofocus at all, where the 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II is manual focus only, plus a couple of smaller edges.

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

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

Where the XF 23mm F2 R WR wins

+a lighter 180g body
+closer 0.22 m focusing
+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
+a 10-blade diaphragm

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

Buy the XF 23mm F2 R WR if…

Pick the XF 23mm F2 R WR if a lighter 180g body and closer 0.22 m focusing matter to you. Anyone who wants one dependable, fast-focusing 35 mm-equivalent prime for daylight and general-purpose work, and does not need f/1.4 for close portraits. Read the full XF 23mm F2 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 and a 10-blade diaphragm 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 F2 R WR vs 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II: pros and cons

Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR	7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II
One of the best-value primes Fujifilm sells — Fujicron pricing, metal build. Fast, quiet, confident AF — the quickest-focusing of the small 23 mm options. Colour rendering owners rate the nicest of the f/2 trio. Weather sealed with an aperture ring; 43 mm filters shared with the 35/50 F2. Crisp across the frame once stopped down to f/2.8.	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.
Soft wide open within ~1 m — the close-portrait weakness that sends owners to the F1.4. One stop slower than the XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, with older-generation AF. No optical image stabilization. A full barrel, not a pancake — the 27mm F2.8 is far smaller.	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 R WR

7Artisans 7Artisans 35mm f/1.2 II

One of the best-value primes Fujifilm sells — Fujicron pricing, metal build.
Fast, quiet, confident AF — the quickest-focusing of the small 23 mm options.
Colour rendering owners rate the nicest of the f/2 trio.
Weather sealed with an aperture ring; 43 mm filters shared with the 35/50 F2.
Crisp across the frame once stopped down to f/2.8.

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.

Soft wide open within ~1 m — the close-portrait weakness that sends owners to the F1.4.
One stop slower than the XF 23mm F1.4 R LM WR, with older-generation AF.
No optical image stabilization.
A full barrel, not a pancake — the 27mm F2.8 is far smaller.

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

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

Spec	XF 23mm F2 R WR 23 mm · f/2 · 180g	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	f/1.2
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/22
Optical construction	10 elements in 6 groups	6 elements in 5 groups
Special elements	2 aspherical elements	—
Aperture blades	9	10
Focus & Stabilization
Min. focus distance	0.22 m	0.28 m
Max. magnification	0.13×	—
Autofocus motor	Stepping motor	Manual focus only
Optical stabilization	No	No
Physical
Filter thread	43 mm	46 mm
Diameter × length	60 × 51.9 mm	—
Weight	180g	218g
Weather sealing	Yes	No
Min. operating temp	-10 °C	—
General
Announced	2016-08-25	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 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.