7Artisans has released an autofocus fisheye prime for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The AF 10mm F2.5 Max is available in L-mount, Sony E-mount and Nikon Z-mount.
Build
At under 3 inches (76mm) in diameter and 3.7 inches (96mm) long, this is a compact lens. It weighs 17.8 ounces (504g). 7Artisans says the body is all metal, made from aviation-grade aluminum.
The control layout covers the basics: a focus ring, a physical AF/MF switch, two configurable function buttons and a USB-C port for firmware updates. There’s a manual aperture ring too, but it has click stops, so you can’t ride exposure smoothly while the camera is rolling.
Optical design
The lens covers a 185-degree field of view on full frame, which gives you the curved, exaggerated perspective a fisheye is bought for. The formula runs 11 elements in 8 groups, including 2 ED elements and 1 aspherical. 7Artisans says that design holds down chromatic and spherical aberration.
Autofocus
An STM stepping motor drives focus. 7Artisans claims fast, accurate and quiet performance with instant subject lock, which is worth testing yourself before you build a shoot around it. The more useful number is minimum focus distance: under 6 inches (150mm). That close, the front element can nearly touch the subject and still hold focus, which is where a fisheye earns its keep.
Fast maximum aperture
F2.5 is fast for a fisheye, which should help in low light. Shallow depth of field is another matter at 10mm, though the short minimum focus distance gets you there on close-ups. 9 aperture blades keep the bokeh rounded. 7Artisans also says stopping down produces defined 18-point starbursts.
Other features
7Artisans lists the barrel as all-weather and dust-sealed. The company has also released an official correction profile for the lens, which flattens the fisheye distortion into a natural wide-angle look. That’s a stills workflow. It won’t do anything for you on a timeline.
What we think
Short minimum focus plus a 185-degree field of view is a fun combination. Get close and the perspective does most of the creative work for you. Add F2.5 and quiet autofocus and you have a lens a solo shooter can run without a lighting setup or a focus puller.
The clicked aperture ring is the catch. Set exposure before you roll and it never comes up. Pull iris mid-shot and you’ll hear it. At $449, it’s a cheap way to find out whether a fisheye belongs in your kit.
Availability
The 7Artisans AF 10mm F2.5 Max is available now for $449.
