Samyang 8mm T3.8 Asph IF MC Fisheye CS VDSLR Review

Samyang 8mm T3.8 Diagonal Fisheye Sample Photos

Projection is stereographic. Objects towards the edges look far less compressed than equal-area or orthographic projections | 1/80 sec | f/8.0 | 8.0 mm | ISO 220 High-Res	Sharpness approaches outstanding levels in the centre between f/5.6 and f/8 | 1/125 sec | f/8.0 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
Closest focus is 30cm | 1/80 sec | f/8.0 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	Contrast can be reduced at wide apertures, but this improves as the lens is stopped down | 1/400 sec | f/8.0 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/1000 sec | f/5.6 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/100 sec | f/8.0 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/500 sec | f/8.0 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/160 sec | f/5.6 | 8.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res

Value for Money

Being priced at around £270, this lens represents excellent value for money, especially if you are serious about recording video with your DSLR. Those who will primarily use this lens for still images may find the handling of the standard Samyang 8mm fisheye lens more to their taste. Optically this lens is the same as the one reviewed here, but it has click-stop aperture control and is a little cheaper, available for around £250.

Canon only offer an 8-15mm fisheye zoom for covering the APS-C format with a 180 degree diagonal field of view. This lens isn't cheap either, retailing for around £1150.

Nikon's venerable 10.5mm DX fisheye has an enviable reputation for optical quality, plus it sports a faster f/2.8 maximum aperture and autofocus. However, these features come at a price, with this lens retailing for around £550.

Sigma also offer a fisheye lens for APS-C sensor DSLRs. Their 10mm f/2.8 fisheye has a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture and silent autofocus, but costs around £490.

Finally, Tokina's 10-17mm DX zoom fisheye is another alternative. As this lens offers zoom, it should afford greater compositional flexibility. This lens is available for around £520.

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