AstrHori 6.5mm f/2 Fisheye

Focal length: 6.5 mm
Aperture: f/2
Weight: 268 g
Filter diameter: –
Min. focus distance: 20 cm
Length: 52 mm

Overview

The AstrHori 6.5mm f/2 Fisheye is a manual-focus fisheye lens for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras. AstrHori offers it for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF and Micro Four Thirds. With a 192 degree angle of view it produces the strongly curved, spherical look typical of fisheyes, which the manufacturer markets for architecture, landscapes, night skies, portraits with exaggerated perspective and drone use.

Optical design

The lens has six elements in five groups. The nine-blade aperture runs from f/2 to f/22. The angle of view is 192 degrees, and the minimum focusing distance is 0.2 m. AstrHori describes the combination of close focus and the bulging front element as a way to place subjects near the lens against a distorted background. The front element is domed, and the lens does not support filters.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual through a focus ring with a distance scale, and a depth-of-field indicator on the barrel helps with zone focusing. The aperture is set with an aperture ring. There is no autofocus and no stabilizer. With such a wide view, large depth of field at small apertures makes zone focusing a common way of working.

Build and size

The lens has a solid metal body. In its Sony E version it measures 64 mm in diameter and 52 mm in length and weighs about 268 g. A lens cap is included.

Where it fits

Other fisheyes for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds in this database include the TTArtisan 7.5mm f/2 Fisheye for several of the same mounts, the 7artisans 7.5mm F2.8 Fisheye, and the Samyang / Rokinon 8mm F2.8 UMC Fisheye II for Sony E and Fujifilm X. The AstrHori 9mm f/2.8 is a rectilinear ultra-wide from the same maker.

Pros and cons

Pros

192 degree angle of view with f/2 maximum aperture
Close focusing at 0.2 m
Metal body of about 268 g (Sony E)
Aperture ring and depth-of-field indicator

Cons

No filter support
Manual focus and manual aperture only
Heavy distortion by design, so not suited to straight-line work

Verdict

The AstrHori 6.5mm f/2 Fisheye is a bright, close-focusing fisheye for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds systems. It suits creative, ultra-wide and astro shooting, while straight architectural lines are not its job.

Technical Specifications

Min. focal length: 6.5 mm
Max. focal length: 6.5 mm
Max. aperture (min. zoom): f/2
Max. aperture (max. zoom): f/2
Min. aperture: f/22
Elements: 6
Groups: 5
Weight: 268 g (0.59 lb)
Filter diameter: –
Min. focus distance: 20 cm (7.87 in)
Length: 52 mm (2.05 in)
Diameter: 64 mm (2.52 in)

Manufacturer data: astrhori.cn

Simulate depth of field and angle of view

Which cameras does the AstrHori 6.5mm f/2 Fisheye fit?

The AstrHori 6.5mm f/2 Fisheye is designed for APS-C sensors. On APS-C Sony E-Mount cameras its field of view equals 10 mm in full-frame terms. Full-frame bodies use it in APS-C (crop) mode, recording only part of the sensor and fewer megapixels.

Sony E-Mount cameras

Full frame (in APS-C mode):: Sony A7R VI, Sony A7 V, Sony FX2, Sony A1 II, Sony A9 III, Sony A7C II, Sony A7CR, Sony ZV-E1, Sony A7R V, Sony A7 IV, Sony A1, Sony FX3, Sony A7S III, Sony A7C, Sony FX6, Sony A7R IV, Sony A9 II, Sony FX9, Sony A7 III, Sony A7R III, Sony A9, Sony A7R II, Sony A7S II, Sony A7 II, Sony A7S, Sony A7, Sony A7R
APS-C:: Sony ZV-E10 II, Sony A6700, Sony FX30, Sony ZV-E10, Sony A6600, Sony A6100, Sony A6400, Sony A6500, Sony A6300, Sony A6000, Sony A5100, Sony A5000, Sony A3000, Sony NEX-5T, Sony NEX-3N, Sony NEX-6, Sony NEX-5R, Sony NEX-F3