When reviewing a sub-200 dollar lens other than maybe a nifty fifty, you don't expect much really. However, the 7Artisans 12mm f/2.8 is actually a positive surprise. Yes, of course, it is not without flaws. However, the center is dead sharp and the outer image field is actually pretty good at optimal settings. The borders/corners are soft at large-apertures though. Lateral CAs are low and usually no issue. In extreme situations, there can be a bit of purple fringing at the borders. Image distortions are negligible, less so is the vignetting which is high for an APS-C format lens. The bokeh is a bit on the rough side but that applies to pretty much all ultra-wide lenses. Interestingly it is capable of handling backlit quite well which is something where many other ultra-wide lenses struggle quite a bit. We didn't notice any color shifts at the image borders on our test camera (A6300) but we noticed a reddish tint on very old NEX cameras.

The build quality has two aspects. Out of the box, you can't be anything but impressed. It may not be the final word in terms of design refinement, but it's an all-metal construction down from the mount and up to the built-in lens hood. The dampened focus and aperture ring are very smooth. The clickless aperture is more aligned to movies rather than photography but it's not a show-stopper here for sure. The other thing is QA. You can't expect wonders here for this kind of money thus if you give it a try, make sure to test a sample thoroughly. Also, be aware that this is an all-manual lens without electronic coupling although to be fair - given the ease of focusing, it is a lesser aspect in a 12mm lens really.

Overall 7Artisans 12mm f/2.8 is quite a steal in terms of price/performance and it's an interesting option if you are on a budget.