Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM

John: I'm shooting with a 5D Mark II (full frame). So I was really only interested in the 8mm circular view (only available on the full frame sensor), and the 15mm full frame view. The in-between focal lengths show vignetted edges, which aren't appealing. I rented this lens for 1 week as an add-on perspective for a job. I shot some test images at 8mm before the job so I could feel comfortable using a product I never tried before. It's hard not to see either yourself (feet), your tripod legs, and or the shadows of either in the view! I posted an album of 4 personal images on facebook all taken at 8mm. They're here: http://tinyurl.com/8mm-fisheye I can't disclose the work photos yet though, although these are much more fun! It's not an everyday walk around lens, and it can get easily become clichéd if you use it too often. It's fun to rent, but I would save my money if you're thinking of buying one. That's exactly what I love about BorrowLenses! PS - their service was stellar! They run a very tight ship and the lenses I rented looked like they just came out of the original box. Not like the trash you get when renting in Hollywood/LA! BL is my newest BFF!

Jay: I rented this lens the first week of September, 2011. I picked it up on time, freshly cleaned and ready to go. While I have 17-55 mm and 10-22 mm lenses for my Canon 7D (cropped sensor), I wanted to go wider to capture the cliffs and beaches on the California coast. What I liked: The ability to control the fisheye effect. Very low lens flare. The lens has a limiter switch that will lock the lens from zooming out too wide where the image would really bend and black corners would show. I turned it off and worked it manually. I found I could go a little wider and still not have the black corners. The build quality was excellent. The lens hood/shade is very nice in design and helps to protect the bulging front element. It is the new push button/locking type so it stays in place. What I didn’t like: The front lens cap has a light engagement. Even when fully latched, it had a little bit of play and rattle. I felt like I could lose it. I was very nervous about the front glass with no hood or cap installed. If you zoom out all the way, the lens shade will show. This will be more pronounced on the full sensor cameras. You have to have the lens hood installed in order for the front cap to work. Most of the time I would twist off the lens shade and front cap as a single unit, take the shots then put it back on. I didn't have to worry about losing anything or obstructions. Just don't ding the glass! Overall, I would strongly recommend this fun lens. The 10-22 mm or 16-35 mm may be a better choice for less distorted pictures. It worked great for my super-wide landscapes.