Samyang 8mm F3.5 CS Fish Eye

Korean Lens hit our shores recently in the form of Samyang Lenses. Out of curiosity, I contacted the local importer/ distributor (SgCameraStore) to request for a test copy to review. I was granted a week’s access to Samyang’s 8mm Fish Eye lens. For those not familiar with Samyang, Samyang is a Korean optics company who produces telescopes and other lab optics. Using their expertise on glass elements, they started producing camera lenses for SLR/ DSLR cameras. Though all the Samyang Lenses are currently made as manuel lenses, the meagre asking price will rightly justify the absense of an AF Motor. Let’s take a look at this lens and how it performs now.

Here’s how the exact box looks like

Inside the Box, you get the Lens, instruction manual, Front & Rear Caps & a Lens Pouch. Not bad if you ask me. Some other lenses around the same price range don’t even include a lens pouch (or a hood).

Being a 100% manual lens, you have to set the focusing distance, the apeture all by yourself.

Lens construction is solid and beautifully designed. The lens cap can lock while the proprietory brands is still using friction to hold the caps for their fish eye lenses.

Beautifully crafted.

Below is another view of this lens from a different angle.

The Test:
We have gathered 3 candidates for this group test. A Canon 350D-IR, a Canon 500D and a Nikon D60. Each of these camera will be mounted with the Samyang 8mm Fish Eye on a fixed/heavy Tripod, set to a shutter speed of 1/200, F11, ISO 200. (White Balance all set to Auto – except 350D-IR)

Please note that Nikon D60 is a x1.5 Cropped Sensor body while the Canon 350D & 500D are x1.6 Cropped sensor bodies. (Focal length xCropped factor)

OK, the candidates are ready to go (above). Below is how the Samyang 8mm Fish Eye lens will look like on a Nikon D60 body.

On Canon EOS 500D

Canon 500D is a X1.6 cropped body so it actually gives 12.8mm with this 8mm lens. The photo below will show you that this diagonal fish eye lens covers 180 degree horizontally giving the user a great perspective.

On Nikon D60

Nikon D60 is a X1.5 cropped body so it actually gives 12mm with this 8mm lens. The photo below will show you that this diagonal fish eye lens covers 180 degree horizontally giving the user a great perspective.

On Canon EOS 350D-IR (Infra Red)

Canon 350D is a X1.6 cropped body so it actually gives 12.8mm with this 8mm lens. The photo below will show you that this diagonal fish eye lens covers 180 degree horizontally giving the user a great perspective. On infra-red photography (IR), there were not hotspotting at all and it gives nice IR colors too. (Flaring does appears – hood not well designed? But flaring disappears when the camera is shifted to another angle later.) This will be good news to IR Photographers as this is a great IR Lens!

Looking for a Fish Eye Lens? Try the Samyang, it cost only less than half of what your proprietory brand are asking and though manufactured as a fully manual lens,
it does not matter if you are a seasoned photographer who knows your stuff. Manual is fun when you know how to use it.

I will rate the Samyang 8mm F3.5 CS Fish Eyes lens 9/10 – a great lens to own and to use. Value for money!

Some User Facts/ Information:
(If you are looking for the specs, please google yourself, it’s all over the internet.)
– Filter Size (N.A.)
– Lens Hood (Petal Type – Built in).

– Excellent lens for Infra-red Photography (IR), ZERO Hotspotting.
– Fully Manual Lens.
– Lens are multi-coated.

– Focal Range when used on bodies with smaller APS-C sensors 12mm for Nikon & Sony Alpha, 12.8mm for Canon.
– Available in many mounts.

What I Like:
– Super wide angle.
– Super Cheap.
– Solid build.
– Well Designed.
– Sharp Photos.

What I Hate:
– Manual Lens.
– No Distance Scale Meter.
– No AF Confirmation.

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Samyang Exclusive Importer/ Distributor
SgCameraStore is located at:

No 5 Coleman Street #02-18
Excelsior Hotel and Shopping Center Singapore 179805
(next to Peninsula Shopping Center )
3 minutes walk from City Hall MRT
Tel : 63362273 Hp : 93531915
www.sgcamerastore.com