Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Asph IF MC Fisheye CS NIKON AE
The Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye Nikon (AE) Lens is a high quality Fisheye type ultra wide angle lens with CPU for Nikon digital SLRS / DSLRS with an APS-C size Cropped Sensor (CS).It is a “full frame” diagonal fisheye lens, meaning that the image it produces fills the frame on Nikon APS-C cameras. It produces an immense field of view - 180 degrees on Nikon 1.5x crop sensors.
This Nikon version features AE (Auto Exposure) which has been specially fitted with an electronic circuit to communicate with Nikon DSLRs, and like other Nikon AE lens model allows for full control of exposure parameters accessible from the Nikon camera, including i-TTL flash automatics. With this integrated microprocessor in the Nikon AE versions, the light measurement system is effective in all photography modes, and available for all types of Nikon Digital SLR cameras. Additionally the Samyang AE models record exposure parameters and focus value in the EXIF file data information (Exchangeable Image File Format).
The optical construction of the lens is the same as the other Samyang 8mm fisheyes, with 10 elements in 7 optical groups, with an aspherical hybrid lens and multilayer anti–reflection multi-coatings (MC) to minimise flare and ghosting.
The focusing features an external manual focus ring with Internal lens focusing (IF) design, meaning when the lens if focused the lens elements move internally. During focusing the lens doesnt increase in length avoiding dust or dirt from entering the lens body. Due to the very large depth of field produced by such a small focal length lens focus can be easily achieved by simply setting the approximate distance on the lens scale. Setting the lens to around 1m at f8 will produce images that are sharp from very close objects to infinity. As with all manual focus lenses for critical or in very close focus situations you can use Live-View to fine-tune the focus manually.
Fisheye lenses by design produce barrel distortion and field curvature, exaggerated perspective, and extreme depth of field. Groups such as skateboarders are embracing the Samyang fisheyes for skate videos and photography, due to their very high quality, yet are an extremely affordable option; the alternatives are highly expensive, or are low quality lens adapters offering sub-standard quality.
Other uses include production of high quality panoramas, including full 360 degree image and flash based virtual tours for estate agents, property portfolios etc. This requires use of various 3rd party hardware and panoramic software supplied by various 3rd party vendors. (NOT supplied)
The aperture consists of six diaphragm blades, apertures available from f/3.5 to f/22. The lens hood is part of the body design and helps to alleviate flare from behind the camera.
The Samyang 8mm fisheye lens offers some of the best optics in a lens for its class, and exceptional value for money. A specialist lens, affordable to every photographer.
Specification
| Manufacturer | Samyang Optics |
| Model | Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fisheye CS NIKON (AE) |
| Lens type | full frame diagonal fisheye (for Nikon APS-C Sensors) |
| Focal length | 8mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/3.5 |
| Min aperture | f/22 |
| Angle of view | 180 degrees |
| Min focusing distance | 0.3m |
| No. of diaphragm blades | 6 |
| Focus type | MF (Manual Focus only) |
| Lens construction | 10 elements / 7 Groups / 1 Aspherical lens |
| Dimensions | 75 x 74.8 mm |
| Weight | 435g |
| Available mounts | NIKON (AE) |