The Best Fisheye Lenses
Fisheye lenses are a popular choice among photographers, especially those who want to take wide-angle shots. With their unique ability to produce high-quality, artistic images, fisheye lenses are great for sports, landscape, and creative photography. However, choosing the right fisheye lens for your camera can be a daunting task, considering the variety of options in the market.
When selecting a fisheye lens, it’s important to know your specific requirements and how you plan to use the lens. There are two main types of fisheye lenses: circular and diagonal.
Circular fisheye lenses produce a circular image, but the edges appear black since the image does not fit in the boundary of the image detector. These lenses are great for creating a distinctive, creative effect in your photography.
Diagonal fisheye lenses, on the other hand, produce a larger image that is circular and occupies the entire image sensor. These lenses are perfect for capturing a broader perspective and providing a more natural-looking image. With the right fisheye lens, you can expand your creativity and take your photography to the next level.
Browse now
The best fisheye lenses (diagonal and circular)
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye lens works as a circular fisheye with the shortest focal length. You can easily capture your target. Besides, EF 8-1mm also has a Subwavelength coating that removes flares. Be ready for high-quality images. The Canon EF 8-15mm has a quiet ultrasonic motor. It will give a calm operation to enable you to capture that moment!
Furthermore, it is lightweight. It will be easy to carry around with your mount camera. The EF 8-15mm also features a super coating layer to resist fingerprints. Be ready for an excellent performance lens that is also long-lasting.
Pros
- Coated to resist fingerprints
- Easily portable
- Silent ultrasonic motor
- Low light performance
Cons
- Expensive
Altura Photo 8mm f/3.0
Altura Fisheye lens features an exceptional build quality. It’s metal lens construction will enable high viewing angles and sharply defined images. The Altura lens also has a manual focus that allows stunning 180 degrees views. Besides, this lens is compatible with most of the Canon mount cameras. No need to worry about the type and model of your mounting camera.
Furthermore, the Altura lens comes with a custom lens case. You will easily store your lens safely when not in use. This fisheye lens also has a six-blade aperture with clickable stops from f/3.0 to f/22. Your images will just be amazing! Finally, the Altura lens also has a petal lens hood. Your lens will be free from scratches and dust that can damage it.
Pros
- Features manual focus an6d aperture control
- Removable petal lens hood
- Multi-layer coating to reduce flare
Cons
- Does not work correctly with Full-Frame cameras
Nikon AF-S Fisheye Nikkor8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED
The Nikon AF-S fisheye lens produces high-quality images and also comes with electromagnetic aperture control. Besides, this lens features a minimum focusing distance of one or two from your subject. Be ready to capture nature at its state. The AF-S fisheye lens also offers an abundant light-collecting area. If you are looking for a lens for indoor performance and night photography, consider this model.
Furthermore, this lens has protective fluorine coatings. Your lens will be free from scratches that can damage your lens, thus shortening its life-span. This fisheye lens features a weather-sealed body. Weather changes should not worry you when capturing your moments. Lastly, The AF-S fisheye lens features fast and accurate Autofocus. You can easily capture your subject no matter the angle view.
Pros
- Fast and Accurate Autofocus
- Protective fluorine coatings
- Best suit for indoor and night photography
Cons
- Expensive
Samyang 12mm f/.2.8 ED AS NCS
The Samyang 12mm fisheye lens works well with a full-frame camera. This lens covers a 180-degree field of view with curved fisheye distortion. Be ready for excellent quality images. Besides, this lens features a high-quality structure made from the best quality plastics. You will be able to use this lens for a long time.
Furthermore, the Samyang lens is compatible with various mounting cameras. You can use it on the different models of cameras in the world market. The Samyang fisheye lens features manual aperture control. Be ready for a wide range of focus on your subject.
Pros
- Features manual aperture control
- Offers curved fisheye distortion
- Compatible with various models of mount cameras
Cons
- Only works with a full-frame camera
Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye
Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens is a diagonal fisheye, meaning the distorted scene occupies a full-frame within the camera point of view. Taking advantage of acute perspectives, you can shoot creative images. Besides, this lens features a focusing distance of 5.9 inches and a magnification ratio of 1 to 3.8. You will find it fun to place the subjects extremely near to the camera with a distorted background. Furthermore, the Sigma 15mm comes with the latest multi-layer coating technology. Your images will be free from flares and ghosting. Also, the Sigma 15mm fisheye lens offers a 180-degree field view. You can use it to create stunning image expression. This fisheye lens also comes with a gelatin filter holder, thus allowing the usage of gelatin filters. Finally, the Sigma 15mm comes with a carrying case, front-rear caps, and front adapter ring. These accessories make it easier for safe usage and safety storage.
Pros
- Included accessories
- Carrying case for storage
- Close focusing distance
- The excellent angle of view
Cons
- Little loud mechanical noise from the automatic focus compared to other models
Sigma 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM
Sigma 4.5mm f/2.8 fisheye lens is an autofocus circular fisheye lens with 180-degrees field view. Be ready to capture your subject in a comprehensive view. This fisheye lens also has a large aperture value. You will easily take your shots even in low light conditions. Besides, this lens produces a quantifiable angle air relationship. As a result, it best suit for scientific and art applications, such as cloud distribution over the sky or vegetation distribution in a forest. Furthermore, it also features SLD special low dispersion glass that provides effective compensation of chromatic aberration. This fisheye lens also has a multi-layer coating that minimizes flare and ghosting. Finally, its Hyper Sonic Motor ensures fast, and a silent autofocusing and allows manual focus by rotation of the focus ring
Pros
- Offers both autofocusing and manual focusing
- Large aperture value
- Quiet Hyper Sonic Motor
- Minimum focusing distance and a maximum magnification
Cons
- Expensive
Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 HD Fisheye
Rokinon 8mm fisheye lens offers a manual focus. It has an ultra-wide-angle 8mm that can bring about dramatic effects. Secondly, the Rokinon lens has a hybrid aspherical elements structure. Be ready for outstanding and sharply defined images. Besides, this fisheye lens features well-improved HD optics for sharper images.
Furthermore, the lens features a super multi-layer coating that reduces fare and ghosting images. It also has an aperture range of F 3.5 TO F22 and a minimum focusing distance of 11.8 inches. You can quickly bring your subject near the camera with a distorted background.
Pros
- Ultra-wide 167 degrees field of view
- Improved HD optics
- Multi-layer coating
Cons
- Offers manual focus
Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED
Pentax DA fisheye lens comes with a metal Pentax Kaf lens mount. Secondly, the Pentax fisheye lens features a water and oil repellent super-protective lens coating. You can easily clean the lens. Besides, the Pentax lens has an extra-low dispersion glass that provides superior sharpness and color correction. Moreover, this fisheye lens features a responsive quick-shift focus system. You can quickly change from manual focus to Autofocus. Finally, this fisheye lens has a lens construction of ten elements in eight groups as well as six blades. Be ready for an excellent performance model.
Pros
- The shift from Autofocus to manual focus
- Water and oil-repellent super -coating
- Extra-low dispersion glass
Cons
- The drastic fisheye effect at 10mm
Tokina AT-X 107 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DX
Tokina AT-X fisheye lens will give you an approximate 180 -degrees field of view. This fisheye lens has a built-in hood that you can remove to provide a wide area on full-frame sensor cameras. Besides, it has a new Water repellent optical coating. It will be easy to clean left by Water or fingerprints on the lens. The Tokina fisheye lens has a super-low dispersion glass. This element helps to reduce pieces of glass in the optical design, thus making the lens more compact, lightweight, and faster subject focusing.
Pros
- Excellent field of view
- Water repellent coating
- Super-low dispersion model
- Great for underwater photography
Cons
- Cannot use regular filters
Lensbaby 5.8mm f/3.5
Lensbaby 5.8mm provides a full circle image. Be ready for superb image quality. This fisheye lens offers a 180-degrees angle of view. You can capture your subject in a wide focus angle. Besides, the Lensbaby fisheye lens features a close focus. You can bring your subject close to the camera for that perfect shot. Thirdly, this fisheye lens creates a unique flare and a reflection around the image circle. This reflection also can improve the quality of your images. Finally, the Lensbaby fisheye lens comes with a one-year warranty. You will have extra assurance in this product.
Pros
- Has a warranty
- Offers full circle image
- The 185-degree angle of view
- Affordable price
Cons
- Manual focus