Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye review

The Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye zoom is a unique lens and one for which anticipation has been steadily building since its original announcement back in August 2010. Now one year on, the lens has finally hit the stores and I've had a chance to see what all the fuss is about in my review.

The EF 8-15mm is special because it effectively delivers four lenses in one: Canon DSLRs with full-frame, APS-H or APS-C cropped-frame sensors all get to enjoy full 180 degree fisheye images which fill the image, while full-frame owners enjoy the additional option of full circular fisheye images. Previously this would have required four different lenses, one of which didn't even exist: until now, there was no option for APS-H bodies to capture a 180 degree fisheye view which filled the image. So if you're a fan of extreme wide-angle coverage and own multiple Canon bodies with different sensors, or are simply wanting a fisheye lens which will cover you for future upgrades, this is going to be a very tempting proposition.
This lens is unashamedly about extremes. It captures an enormous field of view, and like other fisheye lenses, makes no attempt to correct the huge barrel distortion which renders straight lines into bananas. A mere tilt up or down will have a dramatic impact on the geometry of the image if desired, but careful choice or positioning of subjects can actually hide much of the distortion if preferred. Action photographers can dwarf athletes by their surroundings, macro shooters can make their subjects look enormous and those with a scientific or meteorological bent can capture the entire sky right up to the horizon. Meanwhile an enormous depth-of-field ensures a huge range of distances is in sharp focus - and once again that massive 180 degree angle of view is now available to cropped and full-frame bodies with a single lens.

Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye review contents 1 Canon EF 8-15mm main review 2 Canon EF 8-15mm field report: Gordon Laing 3 Canon EF 8-15mm field report: Scott Kennedy 4 Canon EF 8-15mm field report: Stefan Haworth 5 Canon EF 8-15mm optical results 6 Canon EF 8-15mm sample images 7 Canon EF 8-15mm verdict

Since this is such an unusual and exciting lens I've decided to take a slightly different approach to my review. In addition to my usual build report, image quality comparisons, sample images and videos, I've asked other photographers to try out the lens for an alternative perspective.
You can find them in the field reports!So for a complete report of the most original lenses in recent years, check out my Canon EF 8-15mm f4L Fisheye USM review!