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.
Price History
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.