Brightin Star 35mm F1.7 35mm

This lens ranks dead last in our optical benchmarks, so expect soft, dreamy images wide open. But it earns rave reviews for its tank-like metal build and compact 171g body. At under $70, it's a fantastic cheap manual prime if you're willing to trade sharpness for character.

When we say optical performance ranks at the 1st percentile, we mean it. Wide open at f/1.7, the center is reasonably sharp but the edges smear into a soft, dreamy blur. Stop down to f/2.8 or f/4 and things improve, but you'll never get the clinical bite of an autofocus prime like the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.8. The 10-blade diaphragm does help bokeh rendering a bit, but our bokeh score still sits at the 37th percentile, so don't expect buttery smooth backgrounds. However, if you're shooting for vintage character or arty portraits, that softness can actually add a pleasing, film-like quality. It's a look some photographers chase on purpose. Manual focus is the only option here, which lands it at the 14th percentile for AF (makes sense). For still subjects like food, flowers, or posed portraits, the focusing experience is smooth and precise thanks to the long throw. But for anything moving, you'll struggle. There's no electronic communication, so your camera won't know the aperture value, and EXIF data will be blank. You'll need to enable 'release without lens' in your camera menu to get it to fire.

The Yongnuo Art 35mm F1.8 remains the natural competitor here, offering autofocus and far superior optical performance at around $100. But the Brightin Star fights back with a superior metal build and that tiny form factor. The wider market has shifted though, with new heavy hitters like the Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD and Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS entering the top 5, both offering massive zoom ranges with stabilization and autofocus. The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm and Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 also crowd the premium end, while the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS gives APS-C shooters a versatile all-rounder. None of these are direct rivals to a 35mm manual prime, but they show what modern glass can do. If pure image quality is your priority, spend the extra $40 on the Yongnuo. If you want a tank-like little lens with heaps of character, the Brightin Star makes a case.

Priced around $59 at most retailers, this lens is an impulse buy. It's a steal compared to any autofocus 35mm prime, and the build quality feels far beyond its price tag. Just note: one wild outlier lists it for $14,237, which is either a money laundering scheme or a typo. Stick to the $60 listings and you're getting a charming, if flawed, piece of glass. For the cost of a couple of pizzas, you can have a fun manual prime that will teach you a thing or two about focusing.

This little Brightin Star 35mm F1.7 has racked up over 1,000 reviews and sits in the 91st percentile for social proof, which tells you it's doing something right for the budget-conscious manual lens crowd. Build quality lands at the 84th percentile, so the all-metal construction is a standout, but optical quality? It's dead last in our database. That means if you're chasing sharpness and contrast, you'll want to look elsewhere. But for $60, you're getting a fast, pocketable prime with a 10-blade aperture that can deliver some decent subject isolation. Weighing just 171g and designed for Micro 4/3 and APS-C mirrorless cameras, it's a breeze to carry around. The manual focus ring is damped nicely, making it a joy for slow, deliberate shooting. Just don't plan on capturing any quick-moving action, the wildlife/sports score of 29.3 backs up what you already know: this is not a fast-paced lens. It's a lens for enjoying the process of photography, not chasing the perfect frame.

If you rely on autofocus for moving subjects, like kids, pets, or wildlife, move along. The wildlife sports score of 29.3 makes it clear this lens can't keep up. Pixel-peepers wanting edge-to-edge sharpness will also be disappointed, as our optical score places it at the very bottom. You'd be better served saving up for the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.8 or even a vintage adapted lens with better glass.

Data says this lens is optically weak, but owners don't seem to care, and that says a lot. With over 1,000 reviews averaging 4.2 stars and a sentiment score of 92 out of 100, the Brightin Star 35mm F1.7 is a lovable underdog. It's not for the sharpness-obsessed or anyone who needs autofocus, but for a manual focus enthusiast on a tight budget, it's tough to beat the fun-per-dollar ratio. Just accept the soft corners and enjoy the ride.