The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF and the 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Venus 12mm f2.8 AF is the longer of the two lenses at 78mm. The 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L with a length of 32mm, is 46mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF also has a larger diameter of 77mm compared to the 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L's 61mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L weighs 146g, 61% (231g) lighter than the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF's weight of 377g.
Filter Threads
The Venus 12mm f2.8 AF has a filter size of 72mm whereas the 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Venus 12mm f2.8 AF:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L:
Lens Mounts
The Venus 12mm f2.8 AF has the Sony E lens mount whereas the 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L has the Leica L lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Sony FX5, Sony A7R VI and Sony A7 V for the Sony E Mount and Leica SL3-P, Panasonic S1 II and Panasonic S1 IIE for the Leica L Mount.
Venus 12mm f2.8 AF is also available in the Nikon Z mount.
Focal Range
Venus 12mm f2.8 AF is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 12mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
18mm.
On the other hand, the 7Artisans FF 18mm f5.6 L is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 18mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 27mm.
