Canon 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens

This is the first of what I hope will be many lens reviews.  My approach is to give a brief and practical summary of the lens and my opinions of it.  If you google searched reviews for this lens you will find numerous reviews with varying degrees of information and technical jargon.  I know this because I read several of them before renting this lens.  My goal is to provide a more concise and practical review for those who are not professional photographers or just don't like to read a lot of technical jargon.  I hope you will find the following informative in some way, but keep in mind, these are the opinions of a still learning and aspiring photographer.

I recently rented the Canon 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens from Borrowlenses.com.  This lens currently retails for around $1500 and is classified as a professional lens.  There are probably other lenses that I would have rented before this, but Borrowlenses sent me a coupon for 25% off and I am not one to pass up a good deal.

This Canon 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens was introduced in 2011 and is primarily marketed to professional photographers and videographers who are are most likely using a full frame camera.  It offers 180 degree circular fisheye images on full-frame EOS models.  On a APS-C crop sensor camera such as the 60D that I use, you can not achieve the circular view.  However, the range of zoom seems more practical in my opinion and there is a zoom-lock feature on the lens that ensures the best possible full frame view without vignetting.  The lens build is sturdy and somewhat heavy.  It comes with a lens hood and leather carrying case.  One physical aspect of the lens that one should be aware of is the protuding front element.  With the glass sticking out and the lens hood being very small, one could easily damage the glass.  Especially when trying to get as close as possible to the subject for a macro shot.

Canon 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens

My overall opinion is that this is a great lens.  It is a well made piece of equipment and the images it produces are fantastic.  The details are sharp and the fisheye effect adds a unique and interesting point of view.  However, for a relatively new photographer such as myself this would not be a lens I would soon purchase.  At $1500 it carries a hefty price tag for a piece of equipment that serves such a unique and niche function.  For me, my money would be better spent on one of the many lenses I do not own with more practical applications.  For a professional photographer, who is already making a living off the images they produce I would think purchasing this lens is a no-brainer.  When you already have your practical lenses covered why not add the Canon 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens to provide a completely different point of view?

The short amount of time that I used this lens was very enjoyable.  I loved the effects it provided and ended up with a few images that I really like.  However, like most things I have learned in photography there are lessons learned from making mistakes.  The first thing I learned is that at f/4 this is not a great lens for night time photography.  Also, certain subject matter such as city views can really bring out the best in this lens.  That being said, I should have spent more time in the city.  Lastly,  I completely neglected using this lens for video.  I do not take a lot of video but the fisheye effect would have made the effort worth the time.

I did use the lens in several different lighting situations with different subject matter.  It works best for macro, city views, and certain portraits.  I did not find it ideal in low light situations and it can create some unflattering portraits when focused closely on the subject.  In conclusion, this is a great piece of glass but probably not for everyone.  While I do not plan on buying it in the near future I would definitely rent it again...especially if Borrowlenses feels generous with the coupons!

Below are images that I created using the Canon 8-15mm f/4 L USM Fisheye Zoom Lens.  Some of these images have been featured in previous posts, but I tried to choose a selection of that showed the range and creativity of this lens.  Thank you for checking out Dirty Thirty Photography and take care.