Sigma 4.5mm F2.8 Fisheye EX DC HSM Circular A-mount lens review by Stuart1701

Stuart1701#8202 date: Nov-7-2010
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 1 flare control: 5 overall: 4.1	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Sigma 15mm Fisheye, Sigma 12-24mm
price paid:	457 GBP(As New)
positive:	Quiet. Fisheye Effect.
negative:	missing
comment:	I had been looking on and off for the full-frame 8mm Sigma Circular Fisheye, but found this on E-bay at a reasonable price & went for it. Most definately a strange effect lens. You get a circular view - somewhat smaller than I expected on the Alpha sensor, as I suspect it was designed with the slightly smaller cannon 1.6 crop in mind. One thing to be aware of is that the lenscap is in two parts - there is the cap which fits over the lens but there is also a ring which holds the cap that detatches. This is not easy to spot and the first shots I took I had left this on which made it visible. This lens provides an almost unique view of the world, somewhat like looking down the barrel of a drainpipe. Not something for everyday use, but great for a bit of fun and experimenting with.