As I mentioned in the article “ The World Seen From a“ Fish Eye ”:
Fisheye lenses break the norm and the photographs taken with them surprise and captivate the viewer, moving him 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 photographs but also to be of quality. 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 can not ignore when making the decision to get one of these magnificent objectives . Do not miss it! Some of them are so cheap that you can't ignore them.
1. SAMYANG 8MM F / 3.5
It may seem to you that a brand without the popularity of the big Japanese firms is not reliable, as you should think again. The Samyang AE 8mm f / 3.5 Aspherical IF MC CS is designed for APS-C sensors as the main novelty with the incorporation of a microprocessor incorporated in the lens that will allow you to completely control the measurement settings to ensure that your photographs 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, let alone considering its price: approximately 270 euros on Amazon .2. WALIMEX PRO II 8 MM F / 3.5
This objective, rather than a lens, can be considered an excellent accessory to capture very funny photographs. The Walimex 8mm is a fixed and completely manual optic, built in a very solid and resistant way but that still and everything, it is still small and comfortable to use. The extreme viewing angle offered by this objective (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 , Sony and Canon for about 350 to 250 euros depending on brand and model. With this objective you will have guaranteed fun.3. TOKINA 10-17MM F / 2.8
This fisheye lens was the first fisheye lens with “zoom”, that is, you can vary the focal length between 10 and 17 mm, which made it one of the “fish eye” lenses preferred by the Photographers who love this type of lens. The quality of the objectives of this brand is no longer a surprise and this objective is no exception: very solid construction, exceptional quality and a very competitive price make this lens one of the main recommendations I can make. If you are thinking of adding a lens of this type to your backpack, here is one of your best options. This objective is completely automatic or manual according to your preferences, of great construction and of an excellent image quality which, for its price, is not so easy to achieve, even in the big brands. How much? Approximately 560 euros .4. BOWER 8MM F / 3.5
Again you are facing a brand that may seem unknown but that does not make it less attractive, especially after seeing the quality of the photographs you can take with this little giant. Recently it 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 the fisheye lenses of the big brands. If you want to achieve spectacular effects at low cost: around 220 euros , this is the perfect goal for you. In fact, it is the cheapest fisheye lens on the market that makes it a “must have” goal. Do you want more reasons? It is available for Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax and Minolta.5. ROKINON 8MM F / 3.5
This ultra-angular lens with fisheye effect will guarantee you an exaggerated perspective in all your photographs, typical of this type of lens when you use it in an APS-C sensor camera (if you use it in a Full Frame a circular image will be produced or vignetted). What makes it special? This lens has a microprocessor built in that will not only allow you to control the measurement and exposure of your photographs directly from the camera, but will also allow you to work with auto focus. The lenses of this lens are multilayer coating 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 one of these fish eyes.6. NIKKOR AF 10.5 MM F / 2.8 ED
If you're looking for prestige, the 10.5mm Nikon AF DX fisheye may be your ideal choice. This lens is an ultra wide angle 180 degree designed exclusively for use in Nikon cameras with APS-C sensor, so its effective focal length is 15.75 mm and not 10.5 mm (Full Frame equivalent). Its small size and light weight make this lens a "carry it with you always" since it will almost not take up space in your backpack. This lens has only one limitation: it does not come with a built-in focus motor but, given its low focal length and exaggerated viewing angle, this really goes into the background. Its price? Approximately 710 euros on Amazon .7. SIGMA 10MM F / 2.8 EX
This Sigma fisheye lens was specially designed to be used in cameras with APS-C sensor and it is available for 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 auto focus system and the minimum focus distance of 13.5 cm, almost as if it were a macro lens which will allow you to obtain photographs completely in focus easily. Its front lens has a multi-layer coating which, added to its built-in lens hood, will prevent the rays of light from bouncing on it, generating unwanted reflections and allowing to obtain a really amazing sharpness and quality in your photographs. In short: extremely fast and silent built-in auto focus system, solid and resistant construction and the prestige that Sigma has gained in the market will only leave you a variable to analyze: its price. You can get this spectacular fisheye to leave everyone with their mouths open for approximately 680 euros on Amazon and although it is more expensive than most of its alternatives, it is worth the extra expense.8. CANON EF 20 MM F / 2.8
If you are a user of the Japanese giant, this fisheye lens is one of the objectives of this type to consider. Its sharpness and definition are very good, even at the edges of the lens which is where major distortions and aberrations usually occur. Despite being originally designed for cameras with Full Frame sensor, you can also use it if your camera is not APS-C size, 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 luminosity (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 “zoom” fisheye lens for full format, which shows that this brand knows what it does and is very clear about what it wants. This lens has a viewing angle of 180 degrees to 10 mm and 100 degrees when placed at its maximum 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 soft and comfortable to handle. Like most of these objectives it is impossible to place a filter that protects your front lens so you must be extremely careful to avoid scratches, despite this, this lens was treated with a sheet that prevents scratching easily and Protects against water and dust. This lens does not have an internal focus motor, but if your camera has a focus motor in the body, you can use it in that mode. Its focusing speed is really fast and accurate if you use it in cameras such as the Pentax K10D or higher models. What is your price? Around 450 euros on Amazon .10. SONY SAL-16F28 16MM F / 2.8
This fisheye lens of the Sony brand was originally designed to be used in cameras with full-frame or Full Frame sensors, which is where you will get the maximum distortion sought in this type of lens. Anyway, you can use it in sensors of smaller format sacrificing a little of its characteristic effect. Unfortunately Sony does not offer under its own brand fisheye lenses designed for smaller sensors so, if you want to achieve maximum coverage (180 degrees) you should lean towards an alternative brand compatible with your Sony SLR. Thanks to its maximum aperture of f / 2.8 you can use it even in situations where lighting is not ideal. Look only at the sample photograph of this objective. Its price is around 850 euros on Amazon . Something expensive considering the alternatives that I was commenting on throughout this article. Anyway, keep in mind that it is an objective designed to be used with a Full Frame camera, which would justify its price a bit.