7Artisans’ Upcoming Fisheye Lens

The 7Artisans AF 10mm f/2.5 MAX was originally expected to launch on July 28, but despite that date coming and going, the company has yet to officially announce the lens. While there has been no explanation for the delay, several leaks have surfaced over the past couple days, giving us a fairly good idea of what to expect once it finally arrives.

The upcoming lens is expected to be a full-frame autofocus fisheye with an ultra-wide 10mm focal length and a bright f/2.5 maximum aperture. It will reportedly deliver a 185-degree angle of view, making it well suited for creative photography, immersive landscapes, architecture and even astrophotography.

According to the leaked specifications, the optical design consists of 11 elements arranged in 8 groups, including two extra-low dispersion (ED) elements and one aspherical element to help reduce distortion, chromatic aberration, and other optical imperfections as much as possible for a fisheye design.

The lens is also expected to feature a 9-blade aperture diaphragm, allowing it to produce 18-point sunstars when stopped down.

Autofocus will be handled by a silent STM stepping motor, which should provide fast and quiet focusing for both still photography and video recording. The lens apparently also has a dedicated AF/MF switch, an aperture ring, and firmware update support.

One particularly impressive spec is the minimum focusing distance of just 0.15 meters, allowing you to get very close to subjects while exaggerating perspective in the way fisheye lenses are known for.

Despite covering a full-frame sensor, the lens is expected to remain relatively compact. Leaks talk of a full-metal construction with a weight of around 510 grams.

The 7Artisans AF 10mm f/2.5 MAX will launch for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica L mounts. For now, though, the biggest question is when it will actually be announced.