Sigma 8mm F3.5 EX DG CIRCULAR FISHEYE lens
Sigma has announced a new fisheye lens. Here is the press release information:
New lens optimized for digital cameras will be available this summer.
Product Summary
- A maximum aperture of F3.5 and minimum focusing distance 13.5cm (5.5") with a maximum magnification of 1:4.6.
- An angle of view of 180 degrees creates a circular image with 35mm and full frame digital SLR cameras.
- Corresponding AF Mounts :SIGMA, NIKON, CANON, α, PENTAX (availability of each mount will be announced at a later time)
Product Information
This circular fisheye lens produces circular images with an angle of view of 180° when attached to a full-frame digital or 35mm film SLR camera. It has a maximum aperture of F3.5, a minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm (5.5") and a maximum magnification of 1:4.6. The special fisheye design allows maximum creative expression. Sigma’s super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting, a common problem with digital cameras. The new lens power layout reduces color aberrations. Providing excellent image quality for digital and film SLR cameras. This lens can be used for the scientific applications such as the solid angle measurements of cloud distribution over the sky, the vegetation distribution of the rain forest canopy, etc., due to the quantifiable angle/area relationship it produces. This lens has a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.
It’s a much better version than the previous f4 lens. Flare
control is good. Combined with a Full Frame camera, you
can see the entire circular view with no other fisheye lens can
produce. Yes, its’ not a everyday lens but if you need one,
sigma has it.
It’s not a problem, just the design issue. The focus ring
moves during autofocusing which is not good or something I
don’t like. AF is slow, 2 seconds from closest distance to
infinity. At USD $650, I expect the lens has internal focus and the focus ring should not move during AF. Not a good design.
Comment by anson ko | November 18, 2006
I don’t own this but my girlfriend does and i’ve used it enough to comment. I counted the distortion at 5 because it does what its supposed to. This is a fun lens. Very wide, very well made, very cool effect, and very good results. Surprisingly sharp in the center, less so on the outsides. Good colors. Flare doesn’t seem to be any issue.
Comment by Sony Alpha | June 14, 2008