A few days ago, all the rumor sites were buzzing about a new pancake lens from 7Artisans following a series of teaser images shared on Chinese social media platform Weibo by the manufacturer.
The APS-C lens is touted to feature a fast f/2 aperture, a wide-angle fixed 18mm focal length, autofocus and all-metal construction – which, in theory, would rival models like the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 and the Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 Evo.
After first appearing in silhouette with a question mark, the brand later identified the mystery lens as the 7Artisans AF 18mm f/2.
It also confirmed its release for Sony's E-mount, its amazingly low 109g weight and its APS-C design – which would give it an equivalent 27mm field of view on crop sensor cameras, making it ideal for street, travel, reportage and documentary photography.
Rumor sites have been suggesting that, following its release for Sony cameras, it would follow in Nikon Z and Fujifilm X mounts – though this has yet to be confirmed by 7Artisans itself.
Interestingly, amid all these rumors, I’ve come across a company called Etoren, based in Singapore, that seems to be selling the lens already.
Now, considering 7Artisans is yet to actually release the lens, I’m not sure I'd feel safe placing an order. Despite a few red flags in the form of Trustpilot scores, I did try reaching out to Etoren – the contact form gave me error after error and never actually sent.
I'd certainly recommend waiting for the official announcement from the manufacturer and stocking from more well-known retailers.
The 7Artisans AF 18mm f/2 is the latest in a series of pancake lenses lately, following the likes of the Kase AF 24mm f/3.8 and the Viltrox AF 26mm f/2.8 Evo, along with the Viltrox AF 28mm f/4.5 and Lensbaby Twist 28 in new mounts.
If you're wondering why pancake lenses are back in fashion, my colleagues James and Mike covered the subject on the latest episode of DCW's Bokeh Face podcast (which I've teed up at the start of the conversation below).
It seems like we could be seeing even more delicious pancakes throughout 2026!
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Here's our pick of the best pancake lenses your money can buy, along with the best Sony lenses of all shapes and sizes.
