As I told you in the article " The World Seen Through a "Fish's Eye ":
Fisheye lenses break the norm and the photographs taken with them surprise and captivate the viewer, transporting them to a world where nothing is as it seems.
But in order to see the world through a fisheye, you must first get one that allows you not only to capture distorted photos but also to have quality ones.
That is why, given the wide variety of brands and models available, I have prepared a list of the 10 fisheye lenses that, in my opinion, you cannot ignore when making the decision to get one of these magnificent lenses. .
Do not miss it! Some of them are so cheap that you can't pass them up. And if you want a lens that works well for shooting landscapes, don't miss this article .
1. SAMYANG 8MM F/3.5
It may seem to you that a brand without the renown of the big Japanese firms is not trustworthy, so you should think again. The Samyang AE 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC CS is designed for APS-C sensors. Its main novelty is the incorporation of a microprocessor incorporated into the lens that will allow you to fully control the measurement settings to ensure that your photos are always correctly exposed . and facilitates its use with TTL systems.
That is why, if you are thinking of getting a fisheye lens, Samyang has not made it easy for you at all, and even less considering its price: approximately 270 euros on Amazon.
2. WALIMEX PRO II 8MM F/3.5
This objective, more than a lens, can be considered an excellent accessory to capture very fun photos. The Walimex 8mm is a fully manual fixed optic, built in a very solid and resistant way, but still small and comfortable to use.
The extreme viewing angle offered by this lens (180º) as well as the creative possibilities it offers thanks to the deformity at the ends, can offer you the most creative images.
You can find it for Nikon, sonyand canonfor about 350 to 250 euros depending on make and model.
With this objective you will have guaranteed fun.
3. TOKINA 10-17MM F/2.8
This fisheye lens was the first “zoom” fisheye lens, that is, you can vary the focal length between 10 and 17mm, which made it one of the “fisheye” lenses preferred by photographers who love this type of lens.
The quality of the objectives of this brand is no longer surprising and this objective is no exception: very solid construction, exceptional quality and a very competitive price make this lens one of the main recommendations that I can make you. If you are thinking of incorporating a lens of this type into your backpack, here is one of your best options.
This objective is completely automatic or manual according to your preferences, of great construction and excellent image quality, which, for its price, is not so easy to obtain, even in the big brands. How much? Approximately 560 euro.
4. BOWER 8MM F/3.5
Once again, you are facing a brand that may seem unknown to you, but that does not make it less attractive, especially after seeing the quality of the photos that you can take with this little giant. It recently began to be offered in photography stores and was gaining popularity thanks to the price/quality ratio.
Its construction is robust and reliable and the quality of the resulting photographs does not have much to envy to the fisheye lenses of the big brands. If you want to achieve spectacular effects at a low cost: around 220 euros, this is the perfect lens for you. In fact, it is the cheapest fisheye lens on the market which makes it a “must have” lens.
Do you want more reasons? It is available for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and Minolta.
5. ROKINON 8MM F/3.5
This ultra-wide lens with fisheye effect will guarantee an exaggerated perspective in all your photos, typical of this type of lens when used on an APS-C sensor camera (using it on a Full Frame will produce a circular image or vignetted).
What makes it special? This lens has a built-in microprocessor that will allow you not only to control the measurement and exposure of your photos directly from the camera, but also to work with autofocus. The lenses of this objective are multi-layer coated, so the images you can obtain will be very sharp and defined, minimizing unwanted reflections thanks to its built-in lens hood.
For only 220 euros you can get oneof these fish eyes.
6. AF-NIKKOR 10.5MM F/2.8 ED
If it's prestige you're after, the Nikon AF DX 10.5mm fisheye might be your ideal option. This lens is a 180-degree ultra-wide angle designed exclusively for use on Nikon cameras with an APS-C sensor, so its effective focal length is 15.75mm and not 10.5mm (Full Frame equivalent). Its small size and light weight make this lens a “take it with you always” since it will take up almost no space in your backpack. This lens has only one limitation: it doesn't come with a built-in focus motor, but considering its short focal length and exaggerated angle of view, this really takes a backseat. Its price? Approximately 710 euros on Amazon.
7. SIGMA 10MM F/2.8 EX
This Sigma fisheye lens was specially designed to be used on cameras with an APS-C sensor and it is available for both Canon and Nikon, although the effective focal length varies depending on the brand in question: 167 degrees for Canon and 180 degrees for Nikon. One of the main advantages that this objective has over the rest of its main competitors are: the autofocus system and the minimum focusing distance of 13.5 cm, almost as if it were a macro objective, which will allow you to obtain completely photographic images. in focus easily.
Its front lens has a multi-layer coating which, added to its built-in sunshade, will prevent light rays from bouncing off it, generating unwanted reflections and allowing you to obtain truly amazing sharpness and quality in your photographs. In summary: extremely fast and silent built-in autofocus system, solid and resistant construction and the prestige that Sigma has managed to earn in the market will only leave you one variable to analyze: its price. You can get this spectacular fisheye to leave everyone speechless for approximately 680 euros on AmazonAnd while it's more expensive than most of its alternatives, it's well worth the extra expense.
8. CANON EF 20MM F/2.8
If you are a user of the Japanese giant, this fisheye lens is one of the lenses of this type to consider. Its sharpness and definition are very good, even at the edges of the lens, which is where the greatest distortions and aberrations tend to appear.
Despite being originally designed for cameras with Full Frame sensors, you can also use it if your camera is not APS-C sized, although you will sacrifice some of the extreme distortion characteristic of this type of lens (94º in full Frame).
Its strongest points: the quality of its optics, its brightness (f/2.8) and its weight (405 grams) and autofocus. Its weakest points: the plastic construction of its body and the impossibility of placing any type of filter that protects its large front lens.
You can get this fisheye lens for around 500 euros on Amazon.
9. PENTAX DA 10-17MM F/3.5-4.5 ED
Pentax was the first brand to develop a full frame fisheye “zoom” lens, proving that this brand knows what it is doing and is very clear about what it wants.
This lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees at 10mm and 100 degrees at its full focal length. The construction of this objective is quite decent since it mixes metal parts with good quality plastics. The zoom and focus rings are smooth and comfortable to operate. Like most of these objectives, it is impossible to place a filter that protects its front lens, so you must be extremely careful to avoid scratches, despite this, said lens was treated with a sheet that prevents it from scratching easily and the Protects against water and dust.
This lens does not have an internal focus motor, but if your camera has an in-body focus motor, you can use it in that mode. Its focus speed is really fast and accurate if you use it on cameras like the Pentax K10D or higher models.
What is your price? Around 450 euros on Amazon.
10. SONY SAL-16F28 16MM F/2.8
This Sony brand fisheye lens was originally designed to be used on cameras with full frame or Full Frame sensors, which is where you will get the maximum distortion sought in this type of lens. In any case, you can use it on smaller format sensors, sacrificing a bit of its characteristic effect. Unfortunately, Sony does not offer its own brand of fisheye lenses designed for smaller sensors, so if you want to achieve maximum coverage (180 degrees) you should go for an alternative brand that is compatible with your Sony SLR.
Thanks to its maximum aperture of f/2.8, you can use it even in situations where the lighting is not ideal. Take a look at the sample photograph of this lens.
Its price is around 850 euros on Amazon. Something expensive taking into account the alternatives that I was commenting on throughout this article. In any case, keep in mind that it is a lens designed to be used with a Full Frame camera, which would somewhat justify its price.
I hope I have been able to guide you a little more about what are, in my opinion, the best alternatives on the market in terms of fisheye or "Fish eye" objectives. If you think I've missed one, feel free to recommend it in the comments section! Your contributions make this blog what it is =)
