Pergear 10mm F5.6 II Fisheye

The Pergear 10mm F5.6 II is a small manual fisheye lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras. It is offered for Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Micro Four Thirds and Canon EF-M. Pergear calls it a pancake fisheye with a 172 degree angle of view. The 10 mm focal length is equivalent to about 15 mm on APS-C and about 20 mm on Micro Four Thirds, according to Pergear. It is aimed at creative perspectives, close-up shots and fun portraits.

Optical design

The lens has 6 elements in 5 groups, according to Pergear. The front element carries a multi-layer coating to reduce flare and ghosting in strong light. The aperture is given as f/5.6, and the maker does not state a minimum aperture or whether it can be adjusted. The focus range is given as about 15 cm to infinity. A built-in petal-shaped hood protects the front and reduces stray light.

Focusing and handling

Focus is entirely manual, and Pergear describes the lens as an all-manual design. The camera does not detect it automatically, so the maker advises switching the body to a mode that allows shooting without a lens. With a maximum aperture of f/5.6 and a 10 mm focal length, depth of field is large, which makes zone focusing on a fixed distance practical. The lens has no image stabilizer.

Build and size

The housing is all metal in this new version, which weighs about 120 g without caps. The dimensions are 50 mm in diameter and 32 mm in length. As a built-in hood replaces a filter thread, there is no filter diameter. The specification is given once for all mounts, so small differences between versions are possible.

Where it fits

Pergear presents it as an update of its earlier 10mm f/5.6 fisheye. Other fisheye options for APS-C are the 7artisans 7.5mm F2.8 Fisheye, which is brighter and also available for Fujifilm X, Canon EF-M, Micro Four Thirds and Sony E, and the AstrHori 10mm f/8 II. For full frame bodies, the 7artisans Photoelectric 10mm f/2.8 Fisheye covers Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Fujifilm G and Leica L.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 172 degree angle of view
• Very small and light at about 120 g
• Close focus down to about 15 cm
• Built-in hood
• Offered for six mounts

Cons

• Manual focus only
• f/5.6 maximum aperture, so less suited to very low light
• No filter thread
• Minimum aperture not specified

Verdict

The Pergear 10mm F5.6 II is an affordable, tiny fisheye for APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras. It suits photographers who want a creative extra lens that can stay in the bag, and who accept that it is fully manual.