AstrHori unveils an 8mm circular fisheye for medium format
AstrHori has released the MF 8mm f/2.4 circular fisheye for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD, with a 220-degree angle of view.
The MF 8mm f/2.4, with a 220° angle of view and manual focus, is available for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD. The introductory discounted price is $359.
AstrHori unveils an 8mm circular fisheye for medium-format mirrorless cameras
The new AstrHori MF 8mm f/2.4 Fisheye is designed for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD systems. This manual-focus lens has a 220-degree angle of view—wider than most lenses of this type.
Optical design and controls
Inside are 10 glass elements arranged in eight groups. The design includes two low-dispersion elements and two HR elements. The aperture has 10 blades; according to the manufacturer, it produces striking sunstars.
AstrHori recommends the lens for landscape, architecture, street photography and astrophotography, as well as action and portraiture. However, a circular fisheye remains specialized optics rather than an all-purpose solution for different genres. Manual focus may limit its use in some situations, although the large depth of field should make it easier to work even at f/2.4. The minimum focusing distance is 0.1 m, or 0.33 ft.
Build and alternatives
It is relatively compact for a medium-format lens: it is 62 mm long and weighs 517 g. The body is made entirely of metal.
Neither Fujifilm nor Hasselblad makes its own fisheye lenses for its mirrorless systems, but third-party options are already available. These include the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Fisheye from Venus Optics. It has the same maximum aperture, but a narrower 180-degree angle of view. At 8 mm, the lens produces a circular image; at 15 mm, it becomes a diagonal fisheye, giving it a wider range of uses. The lens costs $699.
TTArtisan previously released an 11mm f/2.8 fisheye for Fujifilm GFX. The lens was introduced in 2021 at a price of $215, but it is no longer listed for sale.
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 Fisheye zoom can also be used with the Hasselblad system. Another option is the classic Hasselblad 30mm f/3.5 Fisheye with a V-Mount. It can be adapted for X1D and X2D series cameras, but this lens is expensive on the secondhand market.
Sample photos and price
AstrHori has included a gallery of ten photos taken with the new lens in its announcement.
The MF 8mm f/2.4 Fisheye is now available to order for Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD. An introductory discount is available: the lens costs $359 instead of $398.
