I got the Nikon mount version for my architectural photography, adapted to my Sony A7R. It’s just so awesome! Wish they have a mirrorless fullframe version soon which I reckon will be much smaller and lighter.
Joachim
July 16, 2018 2:57 am
Yesterday I took the IRIx to a little bike ride in the mountains, getting some waterfalls (and using the gelatine filter holder). Knowing Václav Bacovský’s excellent picture samples I was hoping to get also some nice ones. And I did, but halfway through I could not set the aperture anymore. One of the springloaded contact-pins wasn’t returning in his original place, therefore no more contact on pin 3. Also, only open aperture possible (useless for waterfalls and huge DoF).
The IRIX became a dead load in my bag – and of course, I only had one UWA with me.
Putting the ND filter in the designated holder is also no fun without tweezers.
Hi Joachim, thanks for your impressions, what a bad luck with that pin! To not be able to set the aperture value is very unfortunate…Did you try to complain about that with the seller?
gosh1
March 23, 2018 9:08 am
Thanks for this detailed review. Examined the 11mm and 15mm at the NEC, Birmingham UK last weekend. And the landscape images of Irix Ambassador Isabella Tabacchi sure does justice to these ultra-wides. The Blackstone is indeed a fine optic. I really like the click stops and illuminated labelling that’s engraved into the body.
The term “illuminated” is as misleading as one of the product pictures on the Irix website. Illuminated usually means a light source (inside the lens. That’s not existing. I already thought, the engraving would be like phosphorescent like the points and hands in a analogue watch. As these are radioactive, a Geiger-counter would get nervous by approaching an Irix lens.
Iris themselves state: “Easy operation is achieved in all lighting conditions thanks to our engraved fluorescent markings…” I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t carry around an extra UV-torch – that’s what “fluorescent” means: You need a special outside light source with a certain spectrum of emitted light. This doesn’t mean I don’t like the engravings as they are made, it’s a lot petter than peeking through a tiny plastic window. But not as cool as the OLED of the Zeiss Batis types. ;)
Thanks to to many readers here for commenting on the possibility to use Voigtlander 10mm f/5.6 on (some) mirrorless cameras. I have updated the first paragraph to avoid any confusion, as you are right that the Irix lens is the widest available rectilinear lens only in the DSLR segment.
bgavin
March 21, 2018 5:17 pm
I own this lens in the Blackstone version.
I don’t have the author’s sophisticated testing equipment, but I do believe the tested results and mine are very similar. In short, I am delighted with this lens for its intended use.
The severe vignetting that is inherent with this lens type is problematic for banding issues with panoramas. I avoid banding problems by using a normal focal length macro lens, and more images. The added benefit of this is increased sharpness in the corners of each image.
I am entirely pleased with the Blackstone version of this massive lens. Yes, it is indeed very large and heavy. Manual focus is a non-problem for me.
I would buy this one again without any hesitation.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience, I am glad you mention the issue with taking panoramas, I would also avoid this lens for stitching multiple photos for the reasons you mention. On the other hand: just corping one frame often yields a kind of panorama on its own, don’t you think? V.
Another thought is using a full frame fisheye combined with Imadio Fisheye-Hemi plugins for Photoshop. I added this one to my PS6EE and am astounded at how well it converts the image back toward rectilinear.
This combination makes dandy infinity panoramas, when shot with careful attention to keeping the sensor plane truly vertical. The downside is the relatively small single image compared to the 2×8 images I stitch using my 55mm Micro Nikkor.
My primary use for the 11mm is using it for true verticals with buildings. The D810 image size is sufficient that I can crop out the lower portion of the image and still capture the top of the building without leaning back.
Ted Gersdorf
March 21, 2018 11:39 am
The Voigtlander 10/5.6 is the widest rectilinear full frame lens.
10 mm f/5.6 – f/22 Sony E-Mount, Covers Full-Frame Click-stop: 1/3 Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups Angle of view: 130° Aperture blades: 10 Minimum focus: 0.3m Maximum diameter: 67.8 mm Length: 73.8 mm Electrical contact: Exif data transfer from lens to camera body for lens correction available Manual focus assist Weight: 371 g Filter size: Built-in lens hood prevents filters Other: Lens hood (non-detachable), Pressure fit cap, Selective aperture control system
The Voigtländer, mentioned 4 times now, is available only for mirrorless full frame cameras such as Sony E-mount or Leica. The Irix is the right choice for Nikon, Canon, Pentax DSLRs. So, if I don’t want to buy a new camera body, the Voigtländer might be a nice lens – just not for DSLR, therefore the hint of “the shortest focal length is this Voigtländer” is not really helpful. It is not – for DSLRs, that Irix and the Canon 11-24 are the only ultrawides at 11 mm.
Snobbish commentary. I have a LEICA, and the Voigtlander lens would be a nice addition. Photography doesn’t revolve around DSLRs, you know. View cameras? Rangefinders? Mirrorless? Btw, the statement about the Voigtlander is both factually correct and very helpful. Make that comment #5
Funny. It’s a review about a lens for DSLRs, one of the widest youc an get for this kind of cameras. You’re right, there are loads of others, but except for mirrorless, none of them has any relevance or uses a single lens with such a field of view. There are also other ways to get nice panoramas, most of them will lead to better quality.
I’m not married to DSLR, but it’s like talking about a van and 5 commenters need to tell, there’s a sports car which is faster (it just has only space fo two persons). Which is fine, but none of the first three or four people mentioning the Voigtländer did care about waht others alredy stated :)
Sure, my opinion is also the most important. For me :D
Oh, and the best part which increase my already big grinning even more, was calling my comment snobbish and go on with “I have a Leica…”. Some people would call that brand snobbish as well :)))) Lucky us, we’re not belonging to them.
Terry B
March 21, 2018 9:55 am
It is interesting how technology is bringing us super optics that would have been unimaginable a few years back, and at reasonably affordable prices. As for this review, and other similar ones, we really need at least one normal image (= 50mm or equivalent) as a reference to get an idea of just how wide this lens, and others of its ilk, is.
So true. I always wanted a 47mm Super Angulon XL for my 4×5. The 11mm Irix has a wider coverage angle, and works great on my D810. No sheet film required
Good point with the progress of the technology, we are lucky guys to live in this period….as for focal lengths comparison: I think there are some online app, or websites (such as this: www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/focal…simulator/) that can show that, the difference between 11mm and 50mm perspectives is so huge that it would be of little relevance, but what might be more surprising is the difference between 11mm and 14mm (it is still quite big)
autofocusross
March 21, 2018 9:53 am
Vaclav, thanks for the review, but I wonder why you didn’t use a higher res camera, to reveal more about detail and faults – The D810 or even D850? I would have loved to see the results with that combination.
I wish i would have D850, alas, I only own D750…too bad ( I have already overcome my gear acquisition syndrome and decided not to invest my money into buying the high-resolution FX body, at least not yet)
Phil Thomas
March 21, 2018 8:27 am
Great and useful review as always. However, I do believe the information regarding weather sealing is incorrect. The irix 15mm 2.4 Blackstone has front lens element weather sealing, whereas the firefly doesn’t. For the 11mm f4, neither the blackstone or firefly has front lens element weather sealing as stated on the IRIX website. I’ve seen that incorrectly reported on other sites as well when I considered acquiring lens, and checked with IRIX directly who also confirmed: “When it comes to Irix 15mm – Blackstone version has got the additional weather sealing, Firefly version not. Due to the small movement of the front lens during focusing, the additional weather sealing provides better protection.”
So from using the 11mm f4 lens, does the front lens element not move much for additional weather sealing to make a difference?
I got the Nikon mount version for my architectural photography, adapted to my Sony A7R. It’s just so awesome! Wish they have a mirrorless fullframe version soon which I reckon will be much smaller and lighter.
Yesterday I took the IRIx to a little bike ride in the mountains, getting some waterfalls (and using the gelatine filter holder). Knowing Václav Bacovský’s excellent picture samples I was hoping to get also some nice ones. And I did, but halfway through I could not set the aperture anymore. One of the springloaded contact-pins wasn’t returning in his original place, therefore no more contact on pin 3. Also, only open aperture possible (useless for waterfalls and huge DoF).
The IRIX became a dead load in my bag – and of course, I only had one UWA with me.
Putting the ND filter in the designated holder is also no fun without tweezers.
Hi Joachim, thanks for your impressions, what a bad luck with that pin! To not be able to set the aperture value is very unfortunate…Did you try to complain about that with the seller?
Thanks for this detailed review. Examined the 11mm and 15mm at the NEC, Birmingham UK last weekend. And the landscape images of Irix Ambassador Isabella Tabacchi sure does justice to these ultra-wides. The Blackstone is indeed a fine optic. I really like the click stops and illuminated labelling that’s engraved into the body.
The term “illuminated” is as misleading as one of the product pictures on the Irix website.
Illuminated usually means a light source (inside the lens. That’s not existing. I already thought, the engraving would be like phosphorescent like the points and hands in a analogue watch. As these are radioactive, a Geiger-counter would get nervous by approaching an Irix lens.
Iris themselves state: “Easy operation is achieved in all lighting conditions thanks to our engraved fluorescent markings…” I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t carry around an extra UV-torch – that’s what “fluorescent” means: You need a special outside light source with a certain spectrum of emitted light. This doesn’t mean I don’t like the engravings as they are made, it’s a lot petter than peeking through a tiny plastic window. But not as cool as the OLED of the Zeiss Batis types. ;)
Available in Italy from www.mastromediapix.it/1545-irix
Thanks to to many readers here for commenting on the possibility to use Voigtlander 10mm f/5.6 on (some) mirrorless cameras. I have updated the first paragraph to avoid any confusion, as you are right that the Irix lens is the widest available rectilinear lens only in the DSLR segment.
I own this lens in the Blackstone version.
I don’t have the author’s sophisticated testing equipment, but I do believe the tested results and mine are very similar.
In short, I am delighted with this lens for its intended use.
The severe vignetting that is inherent with this lens type is problematic for banding issues with panoramas.
I avoid banding problems by using a normal focal length macro lens, and more images.
The added benefit of this is increased sharpness in the corners of each image.
I am entirely pleased with the Blackstone version of this massive lens. Yes, it is indeed very large and heavy.
Manual focus is a non-problem for me.
I would buy this one again without any hesitation.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience, I am glad you mention the issue with taking panoramas, I would also avoid this lens for stitching multiple photos for the reasons you mention. On the other hand: just corping one frame often yields a kind of panorama on its own, don’t you think? V.
Another thought is using a full frame fisheye combined with Imadio Fisheye-Hemi plugins for Photoshop.
I added this one to my PS6EE and am astounded at how well it converts the image back toward rectilinear.
This combination makes dandy infinity panoramas, when shot with careful attention to keeping the sensor plane truly vertical.
The downside is the relatively small single image compared to the 2×8 images I stitch using my 55mm Micro Nikkor.
My primary use for the 11mm is using it for true verticals with buildings.
The D810 image size is sufficient that I can crop out the lower portion of the image and still capture the top of the building without leaning back.
The Voigtlander 10/5.6 is the widest rectilinear full frame lens.
voigtlaender.com/10-mm…mount.html
Specs for the lens:
10 mm f/5.6 – f/22
Sony E-Mount, Covers Full-Frame
Click-stop: 1/3
Lens construction: 13 elements in 10 groups
Angle of view: 130°
Aperture blades: 10
Minimum focus: 0.3m
Maximum diameter: 67.8 mm
Length: 73.8 mm
Electrical contact: Exif data transfer from lens to camera body for lens correction available
Manual focus assist
Weight: 371 g
Filter size: Built-in lens hood prevents filters
Other: Lens hood (non-detachable), Pressure fit cap, Selective aperture control system
Congrats, Ted, your No. 4 with the Voigtländer. Care to check the available mounts? ;)
What is wrong with available mounts?
The Voigtländer, mentioned 4 times now, is available only for mirrorless full frame cameras such as Sony E-mount or Leica.
The Irix is the right choice for Nikon, Canon, Pentax DSLRs. So, if I don’t want to buy a new camera body, the Voigtländer might be a nice lens – just not for DSLR, therefore the hint of “the shortest focal length is this Voigtländer” is not really helpful. It is not – for DSLRs, that Irix and the Canon 11-24 are the only ultrawides at 11 mm.
Snobbish commentary. I have a LEICA, and the Voigtlander lens would be a nice addition. Photography doesn’t revolve around DSLRs, you know. View cameras? Rangefinders? Mirrorless?
Btw, the statement about the Voigtlander is both factually correct and very helpful. Make that comment #5
Funny. It’s a review about a lens for DSLRs, one of the widest youc an get for this kind of cameras. You’re right, there are loads of others, but except for mirrorless, none of them has any relevance or uses a single lens with such a field of view. There are also other ways to get nice panoramas, most of them will lead to better quality.
I’m not married to DSLR, but it’s like talking about a van and 5 commenters need to tell, there’s a sports car which is faster (it just has only space fo two persons). Which is fine, but none of the first three or four people mentioning the Voigtländer did care about waht others alredy stated :)
Sure, my opinion is also the most important. For me :D
Oh, and the best part which increase my already big grinning even more, was calling my comment snobbish and go on with “I have a Leica…”. Some people would call that brand snobbish as well :)))) Lucky us, we’re not belonging to them.
It is interesting how technology is bringing us super optics that would have been unimaginable a few years back, and at reasonably affordable prices. As for this review, and other similar ones, we really need at least one normal image (= 50mm or equivalent) as a reference to get an idea of just how wide this lens, and others of its ilk, is.
So true.
I always wanted a 47mm Super Angulon XL for my 4×5.
The 11mm Irix has a wider coverage angle, and works great on my D810.
No sheet film required
Good point with the progress of the technology, we are lucky guys to live in this period….as for focal lengths comparison: I think there are some online app, or websites (such as this: www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/focal…simulator/) that can show that, the difference between 11mm and 50mm perspectives is so huge that it would be of little relevance, but what might be more surprising is the difference between 11mm and 14mm (it is still quite big)
Vaclav, thanks for the review, but I wonder why you didn’t use a higher res camera, to reveal more about detail and faults – The D810 or even D850? I would have loved to see the results with that combination.
If I may help? sojujo.smugmug.com/Tests…s/Irix-114
Not as nice as Václav’s pics, but you wanted high res. :)
thanks for sharing – I see still quite a very good centre resolution there!
I wish i would have D850, alas, I only own D750…too bad ( I have already overcome my gear acquisition syndrome and decided not to invest my money into buying the high-resolution FX body, at least not yet)
Great and useful review as always. However, I do believe the information regarding weather sealing is incorrect. The irix 15mm 2.4 Blackstone has front lens element weather sealing, whereas the firefly doesn’t. For the 11mm f4, neither the blackstone or firefly has front lens element weather sealing as stated on the IRIX website. I’ve seen that incorrectly reported on other sites as well when I considered acquiring lens, and checked with IRIX directly who also confirmed: “When it comes to Irix 15mm – Blackstone version has got the additional weather sealing, Firefly version not. Due to the small movement of the front lens during focusing, the additional weather sealing provides better protection.”
So from using the 11mm f4 lens, does the front lens element not move much for additional weather sealing to make a difference?