The 8 best fisheye lenses for iPhone and Android in 2023

The 8 best fisheye lenses for iPhone and Android in 2023

A fisheye lens has a focal length of 16mm or shorter and an angle of view close to or equal to 180°. It is an extremely wide-angle lens, and “fisheye lens” is its common name. To maximize the photographic angle of view, the front lens has a short diameter and a parabolic projection to the front of the lens, which is quite similar to the eyes of a fish, hence the name “fisheye lens.”

A fisheye lens is a special kind of ultra-wide-angle lens; its angle of view strives to reach or exceed the range that the human eye can see. Therefore, there is a big difference between the fisheye lens and the real-world scene in people’s eyes because the scenery we see in real life is a regular and fixed form, and the picture effect produced by the fisheye lens is beyond this category.

Whereas regular wide-angle lenses have a rectilinear design that aims to keep distortion to a minimum, the curvilinear nature of fisheye lenses produces extreme barrel distortion, giving a bold and unique look to images.

Nowadays, fisheye lenses have grown popular for underwater shooting, extreme sports, astrophotography and even creating virtual environments.

But what are the best fisheye lenses? The first thing you need to realize, is that there are two main types of fisheye lens… full-field diagonal fisheyes, and circular fisheyes.

Diagonal fisheyes (also sometimes confusingly called ‘full-frame’ fisheyes) produce an image circle that’s large enough to cover the entire image sensor. Whether designed for a full-frame or crop sensor camera, the resulting image has a regular, full-sized rectangular shape. However. It only gives a 180-degree viewing angle when measured on the horizontal of the frame.

Circular fisheyes produce a smaller image circle that fits within the boundary of the image sensor. In this case, you end up with a smaller, circular image but with an even wider viewing angle, equating to a full 180-degrees in both vertical and horizontal planes.

The vast majority of fisheyes are prime lenses but, as you’ll see from our guide, Canon and Nikon make notable exceptions in the shape of zoom lenses that deliver circular or diagonal fisheye effects at either end of the zoom range.

The next most important thing, of course, is getting a mount that is compatible with your DSLR or mirrorless camera. But also (for Canon and Nikon shooters) choosing a lens that works best with the camera’s sensor size.

1Apexel Professional Mobile Photography Lens Kit for iPhoneView on Amazon
2Criacr (Upgraded Version) Phone Camera Lens, 0.4XView on Amazon
3SHUTTERMOON UPGRADED Phone Camera Lens KitView on Amazon
4APEXEL Phone Camera Lens with 18x Telephoto LensView on Amazon
5CamKix Camera Lens Kit Compatible with iPhone 6 / 6S – inclView on Amazon
6Miao LAB 11 in 1 Phone Camera Lens KitView on Amazon
Best fisheye lens for nikonView on Amazon
Best fisheye lens for skateboardingView on Amazon

The 8 best fisheye lenses for iPhone and Android in 2023:Our choice

1.Apexel Professional Mobile Photography Lens Kit for iPhone

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Made of professional optical glass and aviation aluminum, 5+5 coating to reduce glare, reflection, and ghosting, make the picture distortion below 3%. Zipper Bag includes 2.0X Telephoto Lens(Background Blur)+ 195°Fisheye Lens + 170°Super Wide Angle Lens(No Dark Circle Fisheye Lens) + 110° Wide Angle Lens(No Distortion/No Dark Edge) + 10x Macro Lens, turn your mobile phone into DSLR Camera, enjoy your stunning photographing trip and brilliant high-quality technical image now

Macro Lens enables you to shoot photos at a distance of 0.39-1.18in from the object, capture Extreme Close-Up Photography and Focus Stacking; Advanced 2X optical telephoto lens will bring you closer to the scenery, but close-up shot not only can shorten the distance effectively,but also blur the background, it is fit for shooting portraits

Wide Angle Lens help capture a vast scene, usually fit for landscape, street, architectural and interior photography. 110°Wide Angle Lens is No Distortion/No Dark Edge,170°Super Wide Angle Lens is full-screen fisheye lens, 195 fisheye lens provides you incredible and dramatic rounded images, which takes you into the stunning and fantastic world

Metal clamp is equipped with a soft anti-skid pad, and won’t leave any scratches on your phone; universal for iPhone Xs Max, XR, X, Xs,8,7,6S, Samsung/iPad/Android Smartphones.

2.Criacr (Upgraded Version) Phone Camera Lens, 0.4X

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Flagged as an ‘Amazon’s Choice’, AMIR for iPhone lens is a perfect option for capturing a good quality of pictures conveniently. The fish eye lens for iPhone comes along with the macro lens and assures to capture great quality of pictures.

Features

  • Helpful in reducing glaring or ghosting inferring in the clarity of the picture.
  • Well-intensified 10x lenses useful in taking down the pictures from a distance of 1.18 -1.57inches.

3.SHUTTERMOON UPGRADED Phone Camera Lens Kit

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Shuttermoon’s fisheye lens is a good option for iPhone. Featured as the ‘Best Seller’ label, this detachable cum portable lenses lets you experience an excellent picture quality. Equipped with the latest technology of lenses and aluminum frames, user can get a clearer view of the image without any disturbance.

Features

  • Shuttermoon offers 198° rotational coverage of the picture.
  • Offers customers 60 days money back guarantee, in case one is not content with the product.

4.APEXEL Phone Camera Lens with 18x Telephoto Lens

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The 8-in-1 combination phone lens kit for taking travel snapshots,wide landscapes,close-ups, funny circular pictures,and 18X zoom lens with a specially designed eyecup more comfortable viewing in travel,concert,sightseeing,seaside,ball game,World Cup and so on.

18x telephoto great for manual focusing.The focus ring enables adjustment by hand freely.You can change the focus of the image to make better effects and zoom in on distant subjects and get that high resolution picture even from a far.the kaleidoscope of wonderful world with a scene overlap.Starburst Lens to add a dramatic star flare to very bright areas.Fisheye Lens create funny circular pictures.Wide Angle lens is great for group shot.Macro lens capture amazing close-ups.

5.CamKix Camera Lens Kit Compatible with iPhone 6 / 6S – incl

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To experience a professional touchup in your pictures, CamKix is one of the few options you can ponder over. Packed with tripod and lenses, you can suitably adjust your phone’s camera and shoot.

Features:

  • Can easily unscrew the lenses depending upon the need.
  • Its universal holder suitably holds any device with much ease.

6.Miao LAB 11 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit

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This perfect phone camera lens kit including ND32 filter,kaleidoscope lens,CPL filter,star filter,Fisheye Lens four Grad color lens(Blue, Gray, yellow,orange) for your daily photography use and make your photography more creative. 140°Super wide Angle Lens + Update MACRO Lens show you an wide angle view & a clear photo in detail from the target object.

Four color lens set can give you diversity of creativity. Perfect for changing the mood of a picture. Great for photographing the sky, the sunset, the rosy cloud, the lake water, Take your best coral reef tank photos yet! The smartphone lens filters optimize colors to make your beautiful aquarium colors

Very professionally manufactured product made from aluminum,not cheap plastic,to increase the durability of the product,Put the clip install on phone camera and make sure the lens is aligned with phone camera lens. Shooting artwork pictures by using your smartphones with our phone camera lens kit,enjoy the technical image effect.

Universal detachable clamp design,Just clip on the camera lens with the clamp and make sure the lens is aligned with phone main camera lens. Just a few seconds then to make your phone act more like a professional camera.Let’s our smart lens kit for cell phone bring you into a stunning fantasy world.

Best fisheye lens for nikon

7.Nikon AF DX NIKKOR 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

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If you are using a Nikon camera with APS-C sensors (Nikon DX-format cameras), the fisheye NIKKOR 10.5mm is the best Nikon fisheye lens for you. Just like the NIKKOR 16mm, it gives a diagonal fisheye effect and also offers a 180-degrees angle of view. However, it is not compatible with full frame cameras.

This fisheye lens offers autofocus and produces top quality images. It also possesses an extra-low dimension (ED) lens element that manages chromatic anomalies. Just like the fisheye NIKKOR 16mm, it also has a close-range correction system that delivers high performance.

Best fisheye lens for skateboarding

8.KINGMAS 3 in 1 Universal Fish Eye Lens

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What you need to know:

In the handy carry pouch, there is a fisheye, wide-angle and macro lens.

What you’ll love:

The clip fits easily over your mobile phone’s camera lens. You simply unscrew a lens if you want to swap it out for another.

What you should consider:

Don’t be alarmed when you only get two lenses in the box. The macro and wide-angle lenses are combined, and you must unscrew them to use them individually.

WHY ARE FISHEYE LENS USED FOR SKATEBOARDING?

Fisheye lenses are used for skateboarding because they let you see more of the environment around you. When you’re skating, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings so that you can avoid obstacles and stay safe.

Fisheye lenses are used for skateboarding because they capture more surroundings than traditional lens designs. A fisheye lens creates a wider field of view, which gives you a better perspective when taking photos and videos while skating. This helps to create shots with an extra level of realism that can be difficult to achieve with other camera angles.

Fisheye lenses also add perspective to your shots by creating the illusion of “big air” or extended distances between objects in your image. This makes it easier to capture high-impact stunts and extreme sports footage using standard equipment such as cameras and skates.

Standard aperture for these types of lenses is usually around ƒ/4, but depending on the type of shot you’re trying to take, you may need to use a tripod for stability or move closer to your subject matter if shooting from further away would cause blurry images due to distance distortion caused by the fisheye lens design.

If you want close up shots without having to resort totripods or moving too close; then consider using a macro lens instead. Macro lenses typically have smaller sensors which make them perfect for capturing small details in close up environments like skateparks etc.

For most people who are just starting out in photography or videography, using a fisheye lens might not be the best option since they can result in less stable footage due not being ableto get as much depthoffield (point-of-focus).

WHAT LENS DO SKATEBOARDERS USE?

Skateboarders use a variety of lens to film their tricks. Fisheye lenses are the most popular for skateboarding because they give a more wide angle view than standard lenses.

Proper usage of a fisheye lens requires some practice, but it can be very rewarding when you nail that trick. There are several different types of fisheyes available on the market today, so find one that fits your needs best.

Be aware of how dangerous fisheyes can be if used improperly- know your limits and stick to safer practices.

Best fisheye lens for sony e mount

9.Compatible with Sony E-Mount A7

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The 7.5mm F2.8 II fisheye lens featured a 190° super wide view angle, widely applicable in landscape, traveling, 360° VR panorama production, underwater shootings, starry sky etc.

With a large aperture, more light can be achieved under the same ISO, thereby shortening the exposure time, improving the image quality and maintaining the starry sky or aurora posture

The 7.5mm F2.8 II lens is featured 9 groups 11 elements, it uses a brand-new HOYA lens and adds 2 ED lenses, which effectively improves the effect of chromatic aberration on the edge imaging of the fisheye lens

The 7.5mm F2.8 II fisheye lens is full body oxidation process, all metal body with petal lens hood, electroplated bayonet, laser engraving, compact size and exquisite

Best fisheye lens for fujifilm

10.Rokinon 8mm F2.8 UMC Fisheye

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Nano Crystal Coating System (NCS) for increased light transmission and reduced internal reflections

Fast F2.8 maximum Aperture + close-focusing to 9.5 inches = maximum versatility in all shooting conditions

Optimized for excellent optical quality and true ultra-wide 110 degree edge to edge coverage with APS-C sensor digital cameras

Utilizes 3 high precision (2 Aspherical + 1 ED) lens elements for superior image quality

Inner focusing system (IF) – length doesn’t change and front element does not rotate – keeps integrated petal-type lens hood properly oriented

Best fisheye lens for iphone 13

11.Criacr Phone Camera Lens

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3 in 1 Phone Camera Lens – 0.65x Super wide Angle Lens + 15x MACRO Lens + 198 degree fisheye lens, Meet all you demand on photography. Easy for you to take better photograph and capture the instant beauty on your cell phone.

0.65X Super Phone Wide Angle Lens – Ultra-low distortion. It can help largely expand the field of view and enable you capture the entire family or a whole team member into one picture.

Enhanced 15X Phone Macro Lens – You can capture clear photos that are in greater detail at a distance within 1-3cm, target object. Marvel your senses with super close-up photos. Capture all the intricacies and details with precision focus for razor crisp pictures every time

198°Super Fisheye lens – Provides you incredible and dramatic rounded images, which takes you into the stunning and fantastic world.

Use Tips – When you use this iphone 13 camera lens, It’s better to take off your phone case for taking better photos. Clean the lens before using them and put on the covers when finish taking photos to get a clearer picture for the next time.

How we test lenses

We test lenses using a mix of both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-word testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics.

The Best Fisheye Lens for iPhone: Choosing the Perfect Lens

When it comes to actually picking an iPhone fisheye lens, you have to keep a few factors in mind, starting with:

Image Quality

No fisheye lens is worth your money if it can’t perform well.

So you must make sure you choose a fisheye lens that will do a great job in the field.

Now, fisheye lenses generally aren’t produced for stellar optical quality. Fisheye photography is more about artistry: Taking a standard scene and making it into something unusual and stunning.

That said, the best fisheye lenses should at least be sharp at the center of the frame. The corners are much more negotiable, and it’s hard to find a fisheye lens for iPhone offering sharp corners.

The best fisheye lenses also have minimal optical errors. A lot of distortion is expected; after all, fisheye lenses are made to give you an interesting distortion effect. But chromatic aberration is an unwanted optical issue, one that is a pain to remove during post-processing. Therefore, I recommend you avoid chromatic aberration as much as possible.

(Chromatic aberration simply refers to color fringing, which tends to occur along high-contrast edges.)

So make sure you choose a fisheye lens that performs well optically, one that’s sharp in the center with minimal fringing.

And you’ll be well on your way to capturing some incredible photos.

Build Quality

It’s not enough to grab a fisheye lens with good image quality.

Because the build quality matters, too.

When you’re looking for a fisheye lens, ask yourself:

Does this lens seem very cheap? Is it made out of aerospace-grade metal (which is the standard for high-quality smartphone optics)? Or is it made out of normal metal or plastic?

I wouldn’t go for any option that avoids aerospace-grade metal. Plenty of companies offer spectacular build-quality for their products, and I don’t recommend you pass up on such an opportunity.

Plus, the cheaper the build quality, the more likely the lens is to break down the line. And you don’t want to keep replacing your iPhone fisheye lenses.

So stick to fisheye lenses that are decently well-built (at the very least). That way, you’ll end up with kit that you can use for years to come.

Field of View

When it comes to iPhone fisheye lenses, you’re rarely given a focal length by the manufacturer.

Instead, you’re quoted a field of view–which tells you how much of the scene the lens will record.

Now, most fisheye lenses range from 170 degrees to 235 degrees. This is extremely wide relative to basic wide-angle lenses, and will, therefore, capture a huge portion of the frame.

But the higher the degree count, the wider the photo. And the wider the photo, the vaster and sweeping the scene appears.

On the other hand, wider fisheye lenses distort more of the photo than narrower fisheye lenses. So if you choose to go with an ultra-wide fisheye, you should be prepared for a more powerful effect.

Ergonomics

Fisheye lenses for iPhones are small, so you generally don’t have to worry much about weight.

However, you should be aware of the ways by which different fisheye lenses attach to your iPhone. Some lenses require a separate case; other lenses clip straight onto the phone body. The latter type is more convenient (and cheaper), but it can also result in more problems.

For one, it’s much harder to align a clip-on lens. And if you mess up the alignment, even slightly, you can end up with unwanted artifacts in your photos.

Clip-on lenses are also easier to lose because you’re often clipping them on and taking them straight off. So if you do get a clip-on lens, I recommend getting a small bag that you keep in a backpack or a purse.

And as soon as you’re done taking fisheye photos, you should put your fisheye lens into the bag straight away.

Smartphone Compatibility

When it comes to finding the perfect iPhone fisheye lens, it’s important to be aware of the compatibility between your lens and various smartphones.

Some fisheye lenses only work on one or two iPhone models. This isn’t a problem if you plan to use the same model for years to come. But it’s frustrating to buy a new lens every time you upgrade your iPhone. And what if you switch away from Apple to, say, the Google Pixel series? What then?

Fortunately, many manufacturers produce fisheye lenses that clip on to pretty much any smartphone. That way, you can rest easy knowing that you won’t have to purchase a new lens every time you get a new smartphone. You’ll always be able to use your fisheye lens with your iPhone.

So if you’d prefer not to go lens shopping, I recommend getting a fisheye lens that’s compatible with multiple iPhones (at the very least!).

Price

You can’t choose a fisheye lens for your iPhone without considering the price.

Now, add-on lenses are rarely as expensive as DSLR lenses. But there is some variation between the highest quality fisheye lenses and the cheaper options.

The higher the price, the less likely the lens will have optical problems or build quality issues. That said, there are plenty of excellent cheap lenses, especially if you’re willing to compromise slightly on image quality.

So you should make a careful choice that takes these factors into account.

What is an iPhone fisheye lens?

An iPhone fisheye lens is basically a wide-angle lens with distorted edges and corners. The fisheye effect involves intense distortion around the outside of the frame, though the center of the frame should be nearly free of distortion. While the fisheye lenses on this list are primarily distinguished by their field of view, the focal length equivalent is vast, often in the 5-15mm range. While iPhones don’t include built-in fisheye lenses, lens manufacturers have built fisheye lenses that mount on iPhones. This sometimes works via a special case; alternatively, you may be able to clip on the lens with a simple clip.

What is the best fisheye lens for iPhones?

The best fisheye lens for iPhones is the Moment Superfish lens. It’s a relatively short fisheye lens, featuring a field of view of just 170 degrees. But the optics are stellar, offering sharpness in the center and even toward the edges. Plus, the Moment Superfish is the only fisheye on this list that doesn’t have a circular frame (i.e., black corners and edges). Therefore, the Moment Superfish is a great option for photographers seeking the best possible image quality.

What is the best budget fisheye lens for iPhones?

The best budget fisheye lens for iPhones is the FEGEGO camera lens kit. The price is fantastic, especially because you get decent optical quality, good compatibility, and two extra lenses to sweeten the deal. While the Moment Superfish is the overall best fisheye lens, the FEGEGO fisheye is a great budget option.

Can I capture beautiful fisheye photos with an iPhone?

Of course, you can capture beautiful fisheye photos with an iPhone! No, they won’t look quite as sharp or high quality is fisheye photos shot with a DSLR and a Nikon or Canon fisheye lens. But they can still look good, and you can have a lot of fun capturing fisheye photos with your iPhone.

Can I use an Android fisheye lens on an iPhone?

It depends. Some Android fisheye lenses work on iPhones, especially if they’re using a highly compatible clip-on mount. But other lenses won’t work on multiple phones, so I recommend you check with the manufacturer if you’re uncertain.

What fisheye lens should I buy?

To achieve the “fisheye effect,” you would need a lens with a focal length of between 8 or 10mm. Here’s a general guideline: If you’re shooting with a full-frame camera like the Canon 5D Mark II or Nikon D700, you need a lens with a focal length of between 15 or 16mm.

Does Android have a fisheye lens?

Swipe in from the left edge of the screen to bring up the Camera mode selector. From here, choose Panorama, then hit the three-dot menu button to select different modes. A new Fisheye mode allows you to capture roughly 180 degrees of your surroundings, then process them into a rounded image.

Do you need autofocus for fisheye?

A: Yes. The Nikon AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED Wide-Angle lens will fit the D3400 and provide beautiful images with a 180-degree angle of view in DX format. Because this lens is an AF-type, it will have to be manually focused, as the Nikon D3400 does not have a built-in autofocus motor.

What field of view is a fisheye lens?

100 to 180 degrees

A fisheye lens is a type of wide-angle lens that can capture a vast field of view. While a rectilinear wide angle lens can capture a field of view of 100 degrees, the fisheye lens can capture a field ranging from 100 to 180 degrees but with a circular image.

What is a full-frame fisheye lens?

A full-frame fisheye lens only captures a 180-degree field of view along its diagonal. The horizontal and vertical sides of the image are less than 180 degrees (typically around 150 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical).

What is the focal length of a fisheye?

Fish-eye lenses distort an image in a circular pattern around the focal point, which helps to create a distorted view of the subject or scene being photographed.

Focal length is important when purchasing a fish eye lens as it determines how wide or narrow the circle of distortion will be. A wider field of view increases your ability to capture large areas and details in your photograph while maintaining perspective, making it ideal for landscapes and closeups.

Due to its distortions, fish eye photography can only be used with certain types of cameras that have electronic autofocus capabilities, such as SLRs and mirrorless models. Always use caution when shooting with a fish-eye lens as you may end up with interesting but unintended results.

What is the widest fisheye?

The Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 circular fisheye lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of just 7mm, making it an ideal choice for Micro Four Thirds cameras with a telephoto shooting style or if you simply want to capture more of the scene in front of you.

With its mind-bogglingly wide FOV (112 degrees), the Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 circular fisheye lens will let you take stunning photos and video that offer a unique perspective on your surroundings – something not possible with any other lenses currently available on the market.

Made by one of the most respected camera brands in the world, the Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 circular fisheye lens is also probably one of widest commercially available lenses ever made (if not widest). So don’t hesitate – get yourself a copy today.

About De Hua

De Hua is a former New Yorker who now lives at the beach. She received a double B.A. in International Relations and Marketing from The College of William & Mary and an M.A. in Interactive Journalism from American University. De Hua has been published in The Washington Post, New York Daily News, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, The Bump, and Yahoo, among others.How We Tested and Reviewed

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