Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras

by Canon

• Advanced optics for professional imaging
• Fast, accurate focusing and low light performance
• Built for professional performance

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0040X4OZU
• Item model number: 8-15mm f/4L
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 26, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

For filmmakers and photographers who want the look and feel only possible with extreme wide angle and fisheye photography, the new Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM is a world-class choice. With its unique focal length range, the EF 8-15mm f/4L USM is the world's widest fisheye zoom lens. It delivers 180º diagonal angle of view images for all EOS SLR cameras with imaging formats ranging from full-frame to APS-C, and provides 180º circular fisheye images for full-frame EOS models. It features UD glass for suppression of chromatic aberration, a Subwavelength coating for reduced ghosting, a newly developed Fluorine coating that keeps soiling, smears and fingerprints to a minimum, has full-time manual focus for instant switching from AF to Manual operation, and is built to the standards of the amazing Canon L-series of lenses. This means the finest optics, the best construction and the best performance available, all in a lens designed to stimulate creativity and deliver stunning images every time.

Technical Specifications

• Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 15mm 4.0
• Lens Construction: 14 elements in 11 groups
• Diagonal Angle of View: 180°
• Focus Adjustment: Lens extension via inner focusing and focus cam plus floating mechanism
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.16m / 6.2 in.
• Drive System: Ring USM
• Filter Size: Rear Gel Holder (accepts up to 3 pre-cut gel filters)
• Max. Diameter x Length, Weight: 3.1 x 3.7 in, 19.1 oz / 78.5 x 83.0mm, 540g

Product Description

For filmmakers and photographers who want the look and feel only possible with extreme wide angle and fisheye photography, the new Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM is a world-class choice. With its unique focal length range, the EF 8-15mm f/4L USM is the world's widest fisheye zoom lens. It delivers 180 diagonal angle of view images for all EOS SLR cameras with imaging formats ranging from full-frame to APS-C, and provides 180 circular fisheye images for full-frame EOS models. It features UD glass for suppression of chromatic aberration, a Subwavelength coating for reduced ghosting, a newly developed Fluorine coating that keeps soiling, smears and fingerprints to a minimum, has full-time manual focus for instant switching from AF to Manual operation, and is built to the standards of the amazing Canon L-series of lenses. This means the finest optics, the best construction and the best performance available, all in a lens designed to stimulate creativity and deliver stunning images every time.

Specifications Filter Size - Rear Gel Holder (accepts up to 3 pre-cut gel filters) Max. Diameter x Length, Weight - 3.1 x 3.7 in, 19.1 oz. / 78.5 x 83.0mm, 540g

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal joy! October 16, 2012

By Henry Qiu

Amazon Verified Purchase

What a great joy to own and use this lens every day!

I almost ordered this lens last year when I saw it first listed on B&W website for pre-ordering. But I was hesitant at that time, wondering how useful this specialty novelty lens can be on daily shooting. After some time-consuming research, I finally went for it... It was in a pizzeria store in Las Vegas while I was waiting for my pizza that I first opened the Amazon package containing my brand new copy of the lens... Wow! As soon as I put it on my camera (5D3) and started to shoot with it, I was awed! I tried to shoot nearly everything and everybody with it, a lot of photos and videos. And it stayed on my camera for the rest of my Las Vegas trip (2+ days).

Here, I'm not writing a full review or anything close. I just want to point out a few things about the lens (or my copy of the lens).

== On my 7D ==

It won't give me a full circle image, not even something close. Instead, it becomes a super wide zoom lens with fisheye distortion. To me, the distortion is not more annoying than that from a regular super wide lens, and is typically as acceptable (or similarly unacceptable in the case I don't like the wide angle distortion).

== On my 5D ==

It offers a full circle image at 8mm, and a very interesting (somewhat bizarre) image at 15mm. I have almost only used this lens on my 5D, and typically at 15mm only. On my 5D, the lens is

1) super sharp: I think it's sharper than my 16-35mm/f2.8L, 24-105mm/f4L, and 70-200mm/f2.8L. And it looks like even sharper than my 24mm/f1.4L II.

2) it focuses super fast: nearly every time, instantly. Even in a dark environment, as soon as it can see a bit light, it can focus lock on it.

== Two things I don't like ==

One is the lens cover repeatedly falling off the hood. Yet, to prevent the lens from hitting any hard object while it's hanging on my shoulder, I still have to somehow protect the front glass that protrudes from the lens barrel. The coating on the lens glass seems very special that I can easily wipe dusts, water drops, or fingerprints off from it. But it's much easier to get hit, even with its hood on, than all other lenses I have.

The other is the color distortion on the circular edge of its circular image. But I think this is unavoidable. It's not much of a concern to me, though, for I don't shoot many circular images.

== My conclusion ==

This is a great walk around lens (to me), especially for shooting indoors or on busy streets. When and where I typically would go for my 16-35mm, I now would rather use this lens, except when I only want (relatively) distortion-free images.

In places where space is super tight, this is the about only go-to lens that can capture a most usable widest wide shot with a Canon DSLR camera.

This is a great lens for expressing an uplifting sense of humor. A great lens of choice for shooting active kids, playful pets, funny players, or for covering certain dancing or sports, or for capturing just about everything or anybody that you want to look happy, exciting, exaggerating, and so on.

=====

Hopefully my experience is helpful to someone who's considering the lens. Happy shooting!

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars very beautiful lens for full frame September 5, 2012

By ProPhotographer1

Length: 1:03 Mins

very beautiful lens and do recommend for plenty of images but almost never at the 8mm length for people or animals... If, you shoot down on someone you may be able to make a fatter person smaller... But, mostly no persons at 8mm.
The 15 mm is outstanding for "wall to wall" images and well worth the lens for that 15mm.
I uploaded a singel 8mm image that shows this view on a full frame camera (5D Mark III) and it is a good lens at that length for tight nature shoots... or...
Be very careful with this lens once you take hood off... as you can get too close to subject and literally hit subject using the 8mm length (which can be an expensive lesson)... remember, to lean forward to keep your feet out of images when using this lens and finally, remember the view is all the way around the same on a full frame camera... Distortion is minimal and if you keep straight lines out of your images it will not show (find the sweet spot on distance)...
The last moment I thought of a great way to show you this lens in MOVIE MODE -- LOL -- so, much easier for all to see the range of this lens... I found a location full of objects which will allow for easy "figuring out" what the distortion is on this lens and you might see as a buyer... Remember, crop sensors will NOT get the full circle at 8mm...
Love you,
kai
PS I hope this video and review was helpful and remember you can pause video at anytime to see what a still image would look like -- so, here is the review with full range -
aslo do not forget the "limit setting" which stops lens from going below 10 degrees.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So much fun, best fisheye lens for a canon body, or any body! May 2, 2012

By Uncle J

Amazon Verified Purchase

I love fisheye photography, and this lens provides limitless creative potential, I did not realize it until I actually used it. I saved $$ and thought about it for a few months, then pulled the trigger. I'm glad I did, the lens produces great pictures, very sharp. Great built, weather sealed, solid and smooth feel of the focus and zoom rings. The lens is actually smaller than it looks on the website, not heavy, looks and feels great, but best of all, it produces some really cool shots! Especially using a full frame camera, I use a 5Dmk3 and the shots I get in low light outside are just stunning.

Why 5 stars? Though $1400 is not cheap for this lens, I think it is good value being that this is the only zoom fisheye available, going from full circular to extra-wide. I tried the Ronikon, but in reality, no other fisheye lens can come close to competing to this bad dog. It really is that good. I think it is worth it.