Sony just introduced the first E-mount fisheye zoom: the 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. From circular to diagonal fisheye in one lens, Sony users now have a level of versatile expression they haven’t had before. A group of creators have already taken the new lens for a spin, and we caught up with them to get their first impressions and photos. Keep reading for more from Brad Deel, Nick Di Giugno, Drew Geraci, Allegra Hutton, Mike Meyers, Stan Moniz and Autumn Schrock. Click here to learn more about the 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Creators Test The New Sony 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G Lens
“I love how unique fisheye lenses look and am incredibly pleased to see Sony add a fisheye to its G lens lineup. The 8–14mm zoom range gives me a versatile way to capture different photos of the same landscape. I took the lens out hiking and loved how lightweight and compact it was in my backpack. The mountains in Utah are usually too wide to fit into one frame, so it was amazing to capture these beautiful mountains all in one shot.” – Autumn Schrock
Photo by Autumn Schrock. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Autumn Schrock. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
“What I love most about the 8-14mm range is that it gives you the ability to completely change your perspective. At 8mm, you can get insanely wide and create that exaggerated, almost surreal look, but zooming to 14mm gives you more control when you don’t want quite as much distortion. That flexibility is huge. I primarily used the new lens for football and tennis. When I want to create the shot, this is the lens I’m reaching for. I was able to get right in the middle of the action and still capture the environment around the athlete, using distortion to make them feel larger than life.” – Brad Deel
Photo by Brad Deel. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Brad Deel. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
“The focal length gives you both a full-frame fisheye and a circular fisheye in one lens. At 14mm, you get a full-frame image; at 8mm, you can create that iconic image circle. The unique perspectives pushed me to see and create in entirely new ways. I primarily shot skateboarding with it, along with some landscape and astro photography. From underwater and sports to landscapes, the 180-degree field of view offers a perspective unlike any other Sony lens.” – Allegra Hutton
Photo by Allegra Hutton. Alpha 1 II. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 10-sec., f/3.5, ISO 3200
Photo by Allegra Hutton. Alpha 1 II. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/1600-sec., f/3.5, ISO 100
“The main standout feature of this lens is its unique look and niche feel. It instantly teleports you back to the early 2000s, when fisheye lenses were everywhere in skate and music videos. I used it to capture a boardwalk carnival, where neon lights and bright signs thrive. It works best with leading lines or circular subjects, such as a Ferris wheel or merry-go-round. It opened up a whole new avenue of filming options and breathed new life into scenes I’ve shot many times before.” – Drew Geraci
Photo by Drew Geraci. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/125-sec., f/3.5, ISO 320
Photo by Drew Geraci. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/6-sec., f/3.5, ISO 80
“You’re able to create dynamic-looking shots that you just can’t get with another lens. Being able to fit so much of a scene into one frame lets you create images you’d otherwise need to stitch together. I took the new lens to Wrigley Field during a night game. It was really cool to see nearly the entire stadium in one frame. There’s so much to take in at a ballpark, and having access to it all in one shot is a lot of fun.” – Mike Meyers
Photo by Mike Meyers. Alpha 7R V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/200-sec., f/4, ISO 320
Photo by Mike Meyers. Alpha 7R V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/200-sec., f/4, ISO 320
“One thing I like about the 8-14mm is that it’s designed for full-frame just as much as it is for APS-C. Both sensors deliver similar looks overall, making this a versatile cross-body lens. I shot mostly architecture and creative street photography, including ultra-wide street portraits, and also used the lens for vlog-style video. By bringing elements into frame that might not normally be seen, I was able to achieve some really unique compositions.” – Nick Di Giugno
Photo by Nick Di Giugno. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/400-sec., f/5.6, ISO 100
Photo by Nick Di Giugno. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/400-sec., f/3.5, ISO 100
“The compact size is just stunning. I’ve seen other fisheye lenses from other manufacturers, and they’re double the size, if not more. I shot surf on a few challenging days, took it underwater while free diving, tested eye autofocus on a kickboxer, and shot astro. The focus accurately tracked a barreling wave underwater, and with kelp bass, it locked onto the eyes throughout the entire 180-degree field of view.” – Stan Moniz
Photo by Stan Moniz. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Stan Moniz. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
“It’s difficult to narrow down just one favorite thing about this lens, but being able to go from shooting circular fisheye to diagonal fisheye is at the top of my list. I’m always trying to lighten my backpack, so I also adore how small and lightweight it is.” – Autumn Schrock
Photo by Autumn Schrock. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Autumn Schrock. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
“My favorite thing about this lens is its perspective. It allows me to photograph sports in a way that doesn’t look like every other sports photograph. I want something that makes me think differently. The 8-14mm does that.” – Brad Deel
Photo by Brad Deel. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Brad Deel. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
“Its 180-degree field of view allowed me to get incredibly close to the skater while still capturing the full context of the environment. One of my favorite shots came from lying in the bowl as a skater jumped directly over me – the lens captured them soaring overhead while still including the edges of the bowl.” – Allegra Hutton
Photo by Allegra Hutton. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Allegra Hutton. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
“This lens will be great for telling stories that require a unique perspective or a sense of expansiveness. It truly has a cool and unique vibe to it that I think will attract many social media users, especially when used in normal situations to spice the scene up.” – Drew Geraci
Photo by Drew Geraci. Alpha 7R VI. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/320-sec., f/4.5, ISO 50
Photo by Drew Geraci. Alpha 7R VI. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/320-sec., f/4.5, ISO 50
“It’s super compact, so you can throw it in your bag without sacrificing much space or weight. I loved the versatility from 8-14mm, and the autofocus was super fast and on target – I photographed skateboarders and rollerbladers doing tricks, and I don’t think it missed focus once.” – Mike Meyers
Photo by Mike Meyers. Alpha 7R V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/1000-sec., f/10, ISO 500
Photo by Mike Meyers. Alpha 7R V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/2500-sec., f/3.5, ISO 500
“Overall, I like how discreet the lens is. It’s compact, all of the zoom happens internally, and the autofocus works really well. I’ve also been surprised at how sharp the center of the lens is wide open at f/3.5. It is a really fun lens that offers something totally different from other wide angle lenses I’ve used. Optically, the lens is sharp and the AF performance is great in my experience, when paired with the Sony Alpha 7 V.” – Nick Di Giugno
Photo by Nick Di Giugno. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/800-sec., f/4, ISO 100
Photo by Nick Di Giugno. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G. 1/4-sec., f/3.5, ISO 100
“This lens will absolutely have a permanent place in my kit. The surf and underwater photography community will rejoice once they hear about this 8–14mm zoom fisheye – it’s something ocean-focused shooters have been requesting for years.” – Stan Moniz
Photo by Stan Moniz. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
Photo by Stan Moniz. Alpha 7 V. 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
CLICK HERE to pre-order the 8-14mm f/3.5 Fisheye G.
