Canon EF 15mm Fisheye f2.8 lens. A review and thoughts from a professional photographer in 2022

The Canon 15mm Fisheye lens. I have been using this wide angle lens for many years in my life as a professional photographer. Here I give a review of the lens, talk about my experiences of using it. Show some samples and discuss some of the good and bad points and talk about how and when I might use such a lens. Thanks for watching! All the best. Roy

[@sahilbrar7330]

Lovely review. Loved the zone you were in:) I am opting for the Rokinon 12mm f2.8 fisheye as I have been long loving that one. Excited!

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Sahil. Wishing you every success

[@amsay132]

Buen video. Tengo este objetivo hace años y lo mantengo en mi mochila puesto que lo ocupo bastante a la hora de crear vistas 360 para tours virtuales inmobiliarios. Es una verdadera joya que hoy en día poco se ve y para la edad que tiene (la misma que tengo) funciona de maravillas. Creo que me quedaré con esta lente por muchos años mas. Estoy feliz con ella. Por cierto funciona a la perfección en cámaras SLR de película, como en las DSLR 5D Mark ii y iii como en las mirroles como la Eos R. Saludos!

[@Vhectormx]

I had the rokinon 12 mm/2.8 and I loved it, im getting this one now, i created a lot of good shots woth them 🔥🔥

[@mariocristobalcolladoavile448]

This is one of my favorite lens to use. I use it when shooting skateboarding, certain landscape, and some interesting portraits and parties.

[@chrissmith7069]

Great video Roy and Thank you for sharing. In the right environment I can see that lens being a blast. I think go pro ruined it for the fish eye scene 🤣🤣🤣 Keep up the great work and it's always nice to get a notification about another new upload from you.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Chris. My appreciated as always. R

[@Luke.]

A great lens which is one not a lot of people know, i would love to see more lens reviews from you of less common lenses like this one. Will you ever cover the 28mm F1.8? Probably the best cheap, native, wide angle lens with a fast aperture, the fastest one is the 24mm f1.4 which is four times the price! Also looking forward on the next episode of Life of Riley which you haven't done in a while. Another great video Roy, cheers. Luke.

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers Luke. I will get to the 28 1.8 one of these days! also more Life of Riley in the pipeline.. Been a bit busy lately and these things take time! All the best. RR

[@Caddymania]

Nice explanation and presentation. I have had this lens for many years and love it for its intended purpose. I am considering moving to a Canon mirrorless (R series) camera, but I was worried it would not work as a true fisheye when used with the EF to RF adapter. I found that was the case when testing it on an R6 Mark II. The fisheye effect and the field of vision is much less with the the adapter than on my 5D Mark Ii. Very disappointing as there is not an equivalent RF lens.

[@johangoike9720]

Thanks for a god and informative video.

[@joshuaprietophoto]

Great video as always mate. I adore my 15mm Canon and have created some interesting frames with it. Up close and personal with animals, some with radio towers etc. But yes it is indeed something to use sparingly and with some serious thought. Like with any bit of kit, if you use it too much you'll find yourself making boring pictures

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks Joshua! Much appreciated and glad you have found some fisheye magic!

[@wombatwombaffle]

Very interesting. Thanks for your knowledge 🙂

[@RoyRiley]

Cheers WW!

[@jefferyryan1219]

Roy hello really enjoyed this video on the fisheye. My girlfriend Kelly just got an 8 mm vivitar fisheye. She was playing with it as soon as she could she's enjoying it. I saw a purpose in a use for a 15 mm I like the things that it does very interesting effect. I've also expanded on the 70-200 mm L lens. I have a 300L and a 400 L. Enjoying some real good outdoor photography with that and nature photography. Keep the videos coming I'm learning a lot thank you.

[@RoyRiley]

Nice one Jeffery! All the best. R

[@VirtualTourPhotographer]

Good review on a lens I own and use from time to time, similarly to your description. That said, other fisheye lenses are possibly more useful since they can then also be used for 360 photography in creation of virtual tours, which is a very big part of what I shoot. So with that in mind, I tend to recommend as an entry point, either Samyang or Sigma lenses that fit well in filling a respective sensor but not like this Sigma's corner-to-corner 180. So for example, the Sigma 8mm on a 1.6 crop fills the frame on the long side and if show vertically, allows for 4 shots around to create a 360 photo. The same can be achieved with the better (and my go-to lens now) Canon 8-15mm F4L which at 8mm does the same as the Sigma on crop sensors but can also be zoomed in to 12mm on a full frame sensor with similar sensor coverage results but then getting the advantages of bigger pixels with a bigger sensor. Hope that's helpful.

[@shikoflako]

Thanks for the review. I have a crop sensor camera and with your review I found out that it wouldn't be a smart buy.

[@RoyRiley]

Canon do a rather god 10-18mm efs lens for crop sensor bodies. Also the sigma 10-20 is worth looking at. Hope this helps. R

[@tintin69rr]

Nice one been looking at getting a fisheye lens for the odd shot to work alongside the 16-35 for landscapes specially sunsets 👍 with the R6

[@RoyRiley]

Thanks tintin! Its a fun lens but can also a one trick pony.. my advice... stick with the 16-35

[@AstonsVintageTechnologyWorkshp]

I too, bought the 15mm fisheye back in the day, and whilst it doesn't get an awful of use, it did from time to time, get dragged out the cupboard for a bit of fun. That was, until I bought the Canon 8-15mm f/4L fisheye zoom. Oh my giddy aunt, you can see both your hat and your feet at the same time :D And if you de-fish the images from that, it creates some crazy perspectives.

[@RoyRiley]

Haha! Nice one. I have shot a few times with that 8-15. Nice lens but a bit pricey! RR

[@mtljmbTUBE]

Nice review, pretty complete. I was (and still am) looking for a comparison of the Canon 15mm vs the Samyang 12mm ...

[@RoyRiley]

Limited experience with Samyang I’m afraid. I wonder though.. is the Samyang 12mm a fisheye? And is it for a full frame sensor?

[@Twobarpsi]

Great commentary!

[@RoyRiley]

Glad you enjoyed it! Best wishes. R

[@VicenteSchmitt]

I've never had one.. you got me tempted

[@RoyRiley]

Unless you really really need one my advice would be to save your money and spend it wisely on wine women and song instead. Hope well. RR

[@vasyapupken]

this lenses are good for 3d rendering backs in architecture CGI. you just shoot one RAW through a window, put it onto hemisphere, voila one back done. i always amazed with a fact that this "distorted" image is actually a correct (not distorted) projection of hemisphere onto flat plane, so when you do it in reverse you get a rectilinear image when viewed from a center of hemisphere.

[@randompete2204]

Never owned a Canon fisheye, but I did have a Signa 8-16mm which was fun on a crop sensor 50D but traded it in last year while having a bit of a gear shake up. I kept the 50D but got a good condition 5D mk2 and that wide lens wouldn't work on the full frame. I wasn't that bothered about losing that lens because I still have a Samyang 8mm f2.8 for a Fujifilm X-pro1 that I like to use every now and again, until I get my belly in shot. 🙄 I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea but personally I like the distortion. 90% of my camera gear I've bought used but its just a hobby for me so I can't really afford the price of brand new or nearly new, they do the job of keeping my photographic eye in.

[@RoyRiley]

Haha. Getting the belly in with a fisheye lens is a big problem for me too these days!

[@Paul_Kretz]

Thanx for the video! Ever compared it to *Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye* ? I always prefer native lenses, but this Sigma has one ace up its sleeve - 15cm MFD (Canon - 20cm) which is considerable for artistic purposes! In other build aspects it seems to fall short to the native one. I think of getting both, compare and review. May be even leave one of them at my tiny studio for indoor videos\livestreams and use the other one for outdoors and vlogging. Yes, I'd love to try fisheye-vlogging with at least somewhat subject separation... =) The only thing that bothers me is... can you somehow get an *ND gel filter* ?! =)))

[@paulfield6815]

Thank you for this video. I have a 16-35mm and i was toying with the idea of getting the fisheye, but honestly I think that if I just shoot at the 16mm end of the zoom lens, then I get a pretty decent "fisheye effect"

[@RoyRiley]

My advice..Stick with the 16-35.

[@paulfield6815]

@@RoyRiley you just saved be about $350 ha ha

[@Ultrarmx]

I own 14L 2.8 II and it’s amazing lens.

[@RoyRiley]

Nice! Never managed to own one of these. Maybe one day one will come to me!

[@palouuk]

In my student days I would've gone nuts for one of those lenses. They're very "Wayne's World, extreme closeup!!!". Not something I feel I need in my toolkit now I'm approaching 50. Sometimes I think that even 24mm is too wide.

[@RoyRiley]

Love it! Waynes World.. Totally radical dude! or was that Bill and Ted.. I know what you mean I am often quite happy with a 50mm these days! All the best RR

[@ElementForLife78]

I need a new fish eye to shoot skateboarding, I might get this instead of the 8-15 f4 as it's half the price. How do u think it would go for skate pics at 1/1000th sec and above? I'm on a 7D body also

[@RoyRiley]

Should do OK. Obviously not as wide as the 8-15 but if used wisely you should get some good shots.

[@charlessummers7381]

Do you shoot at the default aspect ratio? Or do you shoot at 1:1? I have an 8mm Rokinon for my Canon 6dii and 1:1 is suggested. I have to take the lens hood off for unobstructed images. Also, it's a challenge to keep yourself, especially feet, out of some compositions at 8mm. I am considering a 15mm. Thanks!

[@RoyRiley]

I nearly always shoot default aspect.

[@charlessummers7381]

@RoyRiley Thanks! Ordered my Canon 15mm; looking forward to next week.

[@Photonees]

Just got tis one, after messing around with my Sigma 8mm crop fisheye on a fullframe. What I find interesting, is that you say you got the front element replaced? I googled a but, but cannot find anywhere of info where to get it done, just in case...

[@RoyRiley]

I think mine was done at Canon Uk or Fixation. As the years roll on I wonder how much longer some of these EF lenses will be supported.. take good care of it would be my advice!

[@Photonees]

@@RoyRiley yeah it's discontinued for a while now. So how many spare Parts will they still have I wonder

[@subbbass]

i have a Canon EF Zoom 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM. Have you compared these two?

[@RoyRiley]

I have used the 8-15 and it’s a great lens. A bit heavier and I guess a slightly more complex beast but ultimately the same thing.. a Bendy Wendy Super Wide..

[@jefferyryan1219]

I'm trying to make a decision. Maybe you can help me out Roy. I'm going to need another full frame. I'm looking at a 5D Mark IV or a 6D? I've got a 5D Mark II. I love it. I do alot of portraits with it. I'm also thinking about the 15 mm fish eye lens. I like it.

[@RoyRiley]

Hi Jeffery. Well the 6D is roughly the same as the 5d2 so if that is doing what you need then stick with the 6D. The 5d4 is very capable but obviously much more expensive and might be overkill if your getting what you need. If in doubt beg, borrow or steal both and try them out!

[@mikebandana7345]

Im just wondering if its possible to calibrate a fisheye lens. I have the Lenscal tool and i managed to calibrate all my lenses on the Canon 5d M3. But when i calibrate the Sigma 11mm on short distance, then it becomes unsharp at long range. Any ideas?

[@RoyRiley]

No idea I’m afraid! my experience of fisheye lenses is that sharpness is not ever really too much of an issue. What is the problem you are trying to solve by calibrating the lens?

[@mikebandana7345]

@@RoyRiley Yeah, i realised that when focusing with the 11mm, then sometimes it has some front focus. But i have that with many lenses, sometimes front, sometiems back focus. The 24-105 i had to set +2 and tele -5 in the menu. Now its perfect. The lenscal tool helps really a lot to calibrate the lenses. But i dont know how to calibrate a fisheye, if its necessary anyway, as you mentioned. Fisheys are like fucosed from eg. 2m to infinite.

[@RoyRiley]

@@mikebandana7345 interesting stuff! I tend to shoot fisheyes at maybe F8 and mostly rely on the incredible depth of field. However I guess when working close up focus is more of an issue so could see the need for calibration in that case

[@robertlawrence7958]

Hi Roy, now that you are on the RF system, does this lens still work ok with the ef-rf adapter? Best wishes.

[@RoyRiley]

@@robertlawrence7958 you know ow what I have not tried. I’m on my way to the states at the moment but will give it a throw when I’m back and let you know

[@robertlawrence7958]

@@RoyRiley cheers Roy. Safe journey.

[@DreadinNY]

I am looking for one in 2023

[@RoyRiley]

Hope you find exactly what you are dreaming of

[@jbdh6510]

1 think this lens could be a workhorse for real estate photographers who do 360°-tours. You only have to do like 3 pictures in one row which you have to stitch together for a sharp image

[@RoyRiley]

The problem for real estate is that it does distort things rather!

[@AndySnap]

Capt Birdseye.. ha ha! I used to 'ration' the (Sigma) fisheye lens we had at my paper, banning photographers from taking out on a job if someone else had shot with it recently. As you say, you can overuse it's unique look. At £350 second-hand, it's maybe worth having one to play with... but only every 3 months!

[@RoyRiley]

Haha! Rationing is a good way to go.. Sometimes I roll the fisheye out on a corporate job just to get something different when everything else is the same..Hope keeping well. RR

[@philtaylor194]

It's a real one trick pony, but when the right assignment comes up it's invaluable. Some pic eds are not keen, after overuse one asked jokingly if he could confiscate it. That said, I've had pics of dried up reservoirs in UK national papers off it.

[@RoyRiley]

Nice Phil. Hope keeping well. RR

[@nooddles12]

could use a lens like this on a bmcc 2.5k. should make fov in the 40s.

[@RoyRiley]

Might be a bit distorted though?? Not sure what the fisheye effect would look like with a crop this tight

[@tdgs62]

As you say, these sorts of lenses can rapidly be overused and the effect then becomes becomes nauseating. Therefore, it's best to have a specific image in mind before you use it. Related to this is that they are becoming pricey. Consequently, the limited uses of these lenses makes the images they produce expensive so best think thrice before forking out for one.

[@RoyRiley]

I like your complicated response. It’s all about right! Thank you. RR