Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED DX Fisheye Interchangeable Lens Review - Gary Wolstenholme reviews the Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED diagonal fisheye lens for DX format SLRs.

This diagonal fisheye lens for DX format SLRs offers a 180 degree angle of view from corner to corner, a bright f/2.8 maximum aperture, a minimum focus distance of 14cm and costs around £525. It doesn't sport the silent wave focusing motor found on more recent Nikon lenses and so won't auto-focus on entry-level camera bodies such as the D3100 or D5100.

Sigma's 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM is a little cheaper at around £430 and has a silent focusing motor, so it is fully compatible with all Nikon's DX format SLRs.

Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED DX Fisheye Nikkor Handling and features

For a such a compact lens, the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye feels quite weighty, although it could never be classed as heavy. Much of the lens barrel is constructed from tough plastics, with a permanent hood in place to protect the front element. At only 460g, it balances perfectly on the Nikon D300 used for testing.

Focusing is not performed internally and the front element can be seen to move back and forth by around two millimetres. Due to the extreme wide angle of the lens, filters cannot be attached to the front. A filter gel holder is provided on the rear, which very few owners of this lens will actually use. Manual focusing is aided by the smooth action of the focusing ring and a useful hyperfocal scale, which makes taking advantage of the expansive depth of field a fisheye provides, a straightforward affair.

The minimum focus distance of 14cm makes this lens suitable for shooting in claustrophobic environments, with distances becoming more distorted as you get closer to your subject.

Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED DX Fisheye Nikkor Performance

Sharpness at f/2.8 is excellent across the frame, with peak quality being achieved at f/4. Diffraction reduces sharpness as the lens is stopped down further, but clarity is still good across the frame down to f/11.

I have bought the lense from new at £400 and I have been the only person to use it

I have literally only used it once and it is in perfect condition, no scratches and no marks what-so ever. I don’t have the box but whomever is the winner of the auction will receive it in a hard box with bubble wrap to ensure safe travel, first hand recorded post