AstrHori 10mm F8 II Ultra Wide Angle Fisheye APS-C Manual Prime Review
The AstrHori 10mm F8 II is a tiny, fun fisheye lens with a wild 180-degree view, but its fixed f/8 aperture and soft optics make it a creative toy, not a serious tool.
Overview
The Sony AstrHori 10mm F8 II is a weird little lens. It's an ultra-wide fisheye prime for APS-C cameras that gives you a full 180-degree field of view. Think crazy, distorted landscapes and wild creative shots.
It's also tiny, all-metal, and has a built-in UV filter. At just 130g, it's more of a lens cap than a lens. But it's a manual focus-only affair, so you'll be turning that ring yourself.
Performance
This lens is a one-trick pony, but it does that trick really well. The 180-degree fisheye view is super fun and the image stabilization works great for handheld shots. The starburst effect at f/8 is sharp and clean. But that fixed f/8 aperture is a major limitation. You need tons of light, and the optical quality percentile is rock bottom. Don't expect pin-sharp corners.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Tiny, all-metal build feels premium. 99th
- Unique 180-degree fisheye perspective. 97th
- Built-in UV filter and image stabilization. 88th
- Can be reversed for macro use with an adapter. 69th
Cons
- Fixed f/8 aperture needs bright light. 1th
- Manual focus only, no autofocus. 13th
- Optical quality is very soft overall. 13th
- Useless for portraits or any normal shooting.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Fisheye |
| Focal Length Min | 10 |
| Focal Length Max | 10 |
| Elements | 5 |
| Groups | 4 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/8 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 12 |
Value & Pricing
For around $79, it's hard to call this a bad deal. You're paying for a specific, fun creative tool. You get a solid metal build and stabilization for the price. Just know you're buying a toy, not a workhorse lens. If you want to play with extreme perspectives without spending much, it's worth it.
vs Competition
Don't compare this to normal lenses like the Viltrox 35mm F1.7 or a Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8. Those are versatile, sharp primes. This AstrHori is the opposite. It's more like a creative filter you screw onto your camera. For the price of one good UV filter, you get a whole weird lens. The Meike 55mm F1.8 is in another league for image quality. This is for when you want a look those lenses can't give you.
| Spec | AstrHori 10mm F8 II Ultra Wide Angle Fisheye APS-C Manual Prime | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Viltrox Air VILTROX 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 Air AF Lens for Fuji X | Yongnuo YONGNUO Upgraded YN50MM F1.8S DA DSM II Lens, for | Panasonic Yongnuo YN25mm F1.7M Auto Focus Standard Prime | 7Artisans 7artisans 35mm f0.95 Large Aperture APS-C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 10mm | 55mm | 35mm | 50mm | 25mm | 35mm |
| Max Aperture | f/8 | f/1.4 | f/1.7 | f/1.8 | f/1.7 | f/0.95 |
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z | Fujifilm X | Sony A, Sony E | Olympus and Panasonic | Fujifilm X |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 130 | 281 | 400 | 198 | 198 | 658 |
| AF Type | - | STM | STM | STM | STM | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Fisheye | - | - | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AstrHori 10mm F8 II Ultra Wide Angle Fisheye APS-C Manual Prime | 46.4 | 13.1 | 96.6 | 99 | 0.7 | 13.3 | 37.5 | 68.8 | 87.8 |
| Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF STM Compare | 95.6 | 81.8 | 81.1 | 89.1 | 67.5 | 88.1 | 37.5 | 89.9 | 87.8 |
| Viltrox Air 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Compare | 95.6 | 73.6 | 63.4 | 93.2 | 74 | 80.5 | 37.5 | 95.1 | 87.8 |
| Yongnuo Upgraded YN50MM F1.8S DA DSM II Compare | 95.6 | 68.8 | 90.1 | 90.6 | 34.6 | 75.8 | 37.5 | 86.7 | 87.8 |
| Panasonic Yongnuo YN25mm F1.7M Auto Focus Standard Compare | 95.6 | 73.6 | 90.1 | 96 | 34.6 | 80.5 | 37.5 | 63 | 87.8 |
| 7Artisans 35mm f0.95 Large Aperture APS-C Mirrorless Cameras Compare | 46.4 | 93.7 | 58.7 | 93.2 | 34.6 | 98.9 | 37.5 | 79.5 | 87.8 |
Verdict
Buy this if you're a Sony APS-C shooter who loves manual lenses and wants to experiment with wild, distorted fisheye shots on a budget. It's perfect for travel oddities or artistic projects. Avoid it completely if you need a sharp, fast, or versatile everyday lens. This is a niche tool for a niche crowd.