A few weeks ago I wrote about fisheye lenses (Fisheye Lenses – Can’t We Just Use Photoshop?) and now Sigma has introduced a couple of really wide fisheye lenses. The new 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM fisheye lens and the new 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC HSM circular fisheye are truly unique.

Both lenses are designed for Digital SLR’s with APS-C sized sensors. The 10mm lens has a 180 degree viewing angle measured diagonally across the frame when using a Nikon DSLR with a 1.5 crop factor. Canon users will get slightly less (167 degrees) since Canons have a 1.6 crop factor.

The 4.5 mm lens will produce the traditional circular image, again with a 180 degree angle of view. With a close focus distance of 5.3 inches (same on the 10mm) you’ll be able to make all your portrait subjects look like Jimmy Durante!

Sigma incorporated their High Speed Motor (HSM) and AF into these lenses, though I can’t see a need for either. Depth of field should be, oh, something like 1 foot to infinity. Just point the thing at your subject and click! And you’re not likely to shoot Indy cars either.

Seriously, I’m glad to see a lens manufacturer producing fisheye lenses like this. Read more at the Sigma website.