Perhaps the widest lens I’ve ever used… the new Tokina SZ 8mm F2.8 E FISH-EYE lens is another interesting addition to Tokina’s more creative line-up. Let’s take a quick look through a series of images to see if there’s anything fishy about this new offering…
This diminutive ultra wide-angle lens is designed for APSC-sized sensor mirrorless systems such as Sony E and Fujifilm X mount cameras. Featuring a detachable lens hood, fast F/2.8 clickless aperture and a minimum focusing distance of 10cm (with a macro ratio of 1:10)… all coming in at 280 grams.
Let’s activate crop mode on the A7 IV to see how it performs:
So is this lens suitable for a full-frame sensor? Let’s see…
As we can see, on a full-frame sensor the lens hood does visibly protrude into the image. Removing it, however, does give an almost full circle fish-eye effect:
Pushing the lens to its limits without a hood, the flare resistance is more than acceptable, I did not find any situations where I had to shield the front element:
That being said, I wish there was some more character here for full-frame users, perhaps I’ve been spoilt by Lensbaby’s full circle fisheye’s polished barrel which internally reflects light and takes on a distinct visual signature. Given the two examples above, I don’t believe the Tokina fisheye will exhibit any problematic flaring in APS-C/ Crop mode.
FINAL MUSINGS AND NOTES ON USAGE
Coming in at the suggested retail price of $440 AUD, the Tokina 8mm Fish-Eye is certainly another interesting addition to their SZ/SZX line-up of lenses, catering to a niche aesthetic with updated modern optical design, image quality and solid metal construction.
Although all the images above were shot handheld, a tripod or in-body stabilization is highly recommended for perfectly symmetrical composition. Also, depending on the size/ depth of your handgrip, you may find your knuckles/ fingers protruding into the generous 180-degree angle of view. My only real criticism is the push-on lens cap should be improved with a higher tolerance and changed to a grippier rubber material, as I found the plastic cap to fall off easily whilst in my bag, exposing the unprotected front element.
Tokina suggests that the emphasized perspective and unique distortion makes this lens attractive for both still photographers and videographers; with suitable genres being landscape, nightscape, interior, architecture, street snap and pet photography. Personally, I have always carried an ultra-wide lens as part of my travel kit, to get in front of crowds and closer to the subject.
How do you see yourself shooting with a fish-eye lens?