Jman13
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 First Impressions: TTArtisan 11mm f/2.8 Fisheye | |
So, I've always enjoyed fisheye lenses (not circular, but full frame fisheyes that span 180 corner to corner but don't vignette). I've generally had a fisheye in my kit for most every kit I've ever owned, and I've been lacking one for Sony since none really exist. I also didn't want to buy a Canon 15mm or DSLR Samyang 12mm fisheye because they take up an adapter, and in the case of the Samyang, it's quite a large lens. While I do like fisheyes, I also have a hard time justifying the generally high cost of one.
So, TTArtisan released an 11mm f/2.8 fisheye for Leica M, and later Sony E, and I read the review of the adapted M mount one on Phllip's site, and it looked very promising. At the original price of $360 or so, it was a 'maybe' buy, but I just checked now and the E-Mount version is now just $215. That's impulse buy territory. So I ordered and it came in today.
First impressions: This is a phenomenal value in a fisheye. At 11mm but full frame coverage, the projection is a stereographic projection, which I greatly prefer to the more traditional equisolid angle projection, as it allows for greater horizontal and vertical field of view, while maintaining 180 degrees diagonally. It also is a more pleasing projection, and doesn't look nearly as bulging in many shots. It also does a partial defish with Fisheye Hemi very well, maintaining full horizontal and vertical FOV while losing the corners.
The lens is quite nicely built, at least by exterior haptics. Seems more solid than my little 7Artisans 7.5mm fisheye for APS-C (which is a mediocre lens all around). Focus action is very well damped. Aperture ring is clickless (annoying), but heavily damped, so it's unlikely you'll accidentally move it (good).
Image quality is surprisingly excellent. Wide open, it's sharp in the center, even on my A7R IV, and then fades to softness at the edges. Even near MFD, it's sharp in the center wide open. Stop down to f/5.6 and it's sharp to the full frame corners. There's some CA, but all fisheyes have that, and I've definitely seen worse. Color and contrast are great. So far, this looks like a definite winner, and surpasses my expectations.
The lens:
Quick test shot in my house:
Partial defish with Fisheye Hemi:
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