Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Fisheye is something of a ‘me too’ lens, following directly in the footsteps of the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, which was launched seven years earlier. As such it’s a rare zoom example of the breed, effectively combining both ‘circular’ and ‘diagonal’ fisheye effects in a single lens. The former gives you a circular image using only the central region of the image sensor with full 180-degree coverage in both vertical and horizontal planes. The latter gives a smaller 180-degree viewing angle on the diagonal, but uses the whole image sensor to produce full-sized rectangular images.
Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Fisheye review
The Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED is a two-in-one fisheye lens that caters to both needs
(Image: © Matthew Richards)
Digital Camera World Verdict
If you’re in the market for a fisheye lens, it can be hard to decide whether to go for a circular or diagonal variant of the breed. This Nikon zoom effectively works as both, acting as a circular fisheye on FX (full-frame) cameras at the short end of its zoom range, and as a diagonal fisheye at the long end. The added versatility is nice to have but it comes as a cost, as the lens is about the same price as two decent fisheye primes. And it’s not the sharpest tool in Nikon’s box either.
Pros
- +
Circular/diagonal versatility
- +
Fairly compact and lightweight
- +
Good build quality
Cons
- -
Sharpness could be better
- -
Expensive to buy
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