FOR SALE – MY EXCELLENT CONDITION SAMYANG 8mm f2.8 MARK 2 FISHEYE LENS FOR SONY E-MOUNT CAMERAS WITH RETAIL BOX

I bought this lens brand new on Amazon in May 2021, and have used it to great effect on my Sony cameras. However, I have now moved over to the Micro Four Thirds format, so it is time to sell this gem of a lens.

The lens for sale here is in excellent cosmetic condition with just the lightest signs of use (just light marks around the integral petal hood where the bespoke front lens cap slides over it). I would judge it an easy 9 out of 10, but I have provided detailed close-up photos of every aspect of the lens, so you can judge its condition for yourself.

Please note that one of the two springed retaining clips on the bespoke front lens cap does not work properly. However, the other one works fine and keeps the lens cap firmly in place on its own. However, I have reduced the price of the item to reflect this.

The lens is, of course, fully operational.

Please be aware that this is a manual focus only lens and is designed for use with Sony E-mount cameras only. Specifically, the lens covers an APS imaging circle, so is designed for use with Sony’s APS “”cropped sensor”) cameras. However, it can also be used just as well on any of Sony’s Full Frame cameras using their APS modes, albeit with less resolution than the full frame image the camera its used on has. With Sony’s manual focus aids like image magnification and image peaking on many of its cameras, it is very easy to focus indeed. 

In fact, at f8, nearly everything is in sharp focus anyway if set at or just before the infinity hard stop. I hardly bother checking focus such is the depth of field on a fisheye at f8. You really don’t need autofocus at all.

I have used this fisheye quite a lot for landscape photography, as it provides a very wide field of view (180 degrees across the diagonal) but doesn’t stretch the edges like ultra wide rectilinear wideangle lenses do. Used with cheap to purchase Fisheye Hemi software, which straightens all the vertical lines in photos taken with this lens, it is a very effective landscape or even architectural lens. Excellent for astro photography too apparently, though I haven’t personally dabbled in that. When used as a landscape lens, the secret is to make sure the horizon is running through the middle, when the line will be perfectly straight. Lines above and below the middle then get increasingly curved as you move outwards towards the image edges.

I have previously owned the Sigma 15mm full-frame fisheye which I also used on my Sony cameras, and even though that is generally regarded as one of the best fisheyes, the Samyang for sale here is actually sharper at the edges wide open. It also provides a slightly wider field of view than the Sigma. Its stereographic projection (rare for fisheyes) is also better in my view. It is very resistant against flare too (important for lenses with such a wide field of view).

Please have a look at the last photo I've provided, which is as an example from my photo library of how this lens model can be used effectively for landscapes. Yes, pretty unbelievable that this shot was taken with a fisheye lens! (it's of Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales)

All in all, I think this is the best fisheye I’ve owned (and I’ve owned quite a few). It is small, light (around 265 grams) and very portable, yet has great image quality 

What’s included in this sale? (please also see my accompanying photos)

·        Samyang 8mm f2.8 Mark 2 fisheye lens for Sony E-mount cameras, in excellent, fully operational condition – serial no: DAP19230        

·        front and rear caps

·        original retail box and innards

 

 Buy from me with confidence

I am an e-bay member of many years standing and a keen amateur photographer who always describes the equipment I sell honestly and in a lot of detail, as my 100% positive feedback testifies. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to message me through e-bay.

The buyer is welcome to collect the lens in person from Newcastle-under-Lyme (near Stoke-on-Trent) in North Staffordshire, after having first paid for it in any of the ways e-bay offers to buyers.

Please note that whatever form of payment is used, full payment must be made within 24 hours of the purchase being made on e-bay – otherwise the transaction will be cancelled and the lens relisted.

If not to be collected, the lens will be carefully packaged and sent to the buyer (or the local Global Shipping Centre for onward despatch if bought through the GSP) by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Bidders/ buyers from outside the UK are welcome! – see below

Please note that bidders who live outside the UK are welcome to buy the lens, though I will only post it to an address in the UK. This means that if a non-UK buyer purchases the lens, they must buy it using the Global Shipping Programme (if available to them). In that case, it will be posted to the UK Shipping Centre for that programme for onwards despatch to you. I will not under any circumstances post the item direct to any address outside the UK.