7Artisans 10mm F2.8 II Fisheye (L-Mount)

Reviewers find the Mark II a clear optical step up from the original. Sharpness is very good to excellent in the centre from f/2.8 and holds up well toward the edges and corners. They differ on colour fringing: one review found it admirably controlled, the other found chromatic aberrations quite strong. Sunstars from the ten-blade diaphragm are the best among the budget fisheyes compared, and flare resistance is better than rivals, though halos can appear.

The build gets strong marks: sturdy metal construction, smooth and precise rings, and a de-clicked aperture ring stiff enough not to be nudged accidentally. Criticisms are strong vignetting, slightly nervous out-of-focus rendering, the weight and the lack of any electronics. It is judged excellent value, though owners of the Mark I have less reason to upgrade.

Owners praise the solid metal build, smooth focus and aperture rings and sharp results, and several bought it for night-sky and landscape work; on L-Mount it has also been used for in-car music-video shots. One says the lack of autofocus hardly matters because the depth of field is so deep, and the included pouch and focus thumb guide are appreciated.

Complaints are that it is heavy for its size, that the stepless aperture ring is easy to move while focusing, that precise focus needs viewfinder magnification, and that a fully manual lens with no contacts records no EXIF data. One buyer returned it because the camera showed no aperture data at all.