7Artisans launches 10mm autofocus fisheye lens for full-frame cameras

7Artisans has added an unusual new lens to its lineup: a full-frame 10mm fisheye with autofocus, a 185-degree field of view and a maximum aperture of f/2.5.

The AF 10mm F2.5 Max is available for Sony E, Nikon Z and L-Mount cameras, with a list price of US$449 ($620 AUD).

The combination of autofocus, full-frame coverage and an aggressive price makes it a relatively unusual option in the fisheye market.

Fisheye lenses have traditionally been niche products, and many affordable options rely on manual focus. 7Artisans already offers a 10mm f/2.8 full-frame fisheye, but the new model adds autofocus, a faster maximum aperture and a slightly wider field of view.

The company says the autofocus system is designed to make the lens more practical for moving subjects and video, potentially opening it up to applications such as action sports, street photography and vlogging. An STM stepping motor is used for autofocus, while the lens also supports A-B focus for video.

The 185-degree diagonal field of view produces the characteristic exaggerated perspective associated with fisheye photography, but 7Artisans is also offering a lens correction profile that can be used in post-processing to reduce the distortion and produce a more conventional ultra-wide appearance.

The lens focuses as close as 0.15m, allowing photographers to get extremely close to subjects for exaggerated perspectives. Its optical construction consists of 11 elements in eight groups, including one aspherical element and two extra-low-dispersion elements. A nine-bladed aperture provides a range from f/2.5 to f/16.

Despite its metal construction and autofocus mechanism, the lens is relatively compact. 7Artisans lists the weight at around 510g, while some retailers give a figure of 504g. The barrel measures approximately 76mm in diameter and 94mm in length.

Controls include a clicked aperture ring, AF/MF switch and two customisable function buttons. A USB-C port is built into the mount for firmware updates and customisation.

The f/2.5 aperture also gives the lens some appeal for low-light work, including night photography and astrophotography, although real-world performance at the edges of the frame will be an important consideration for photographers shooting stars and other point light sources.

One notable omission from the launch is Canon RF. The autofocus version is currently offered only for Sony E, Nikon Z and L-Mount systems.

At about $620 AUD, the AF 10mm F2.5 Max sits at the more affordable end of the full-frame autofocus lens market. It is available now in all three mounts.