Question 1

Does the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye work on a full-frame body?

Accepted Answer

The AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED is designed specifically for DX (APS-C) sensors. Mounted on a full-frame Nikon F body, you'll see significant vignetting and the image circle won't cover the full sensor — so it's best kept on a cropped-sensor DSLR. If you've moved to full frame and still want a Nikon fisheye, the Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED Fisheye covers both formats.

Question 2

What is the field of view on a DX body?

Accepted Answer

On any DX-format body, the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED produces a full 180-degree diagonal field of view that fills the entire rectangular frame — this is what's called a full-frame fisheye (as opposed to a circular fisheye). Every corner of the image is covered, with characteristic barrel distortion across the whole shot.

Question 3

Is the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye good for astrophotography?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it's a solid astro option on a DX body. The f/2.8 aperture lets in a meaningful amount of light for star shots, and the 180-degree field of view captures a huge section of sky in a single frame. The 0.14m minimum focus distance also lets you include a sharp foreground element very close to the camera, which is a popular compositional technique for Milky Way photos. Just keep in mind there's no image stabilisation, so you're relying on short exposures and high ISO to avoid star trails.

Question 4

Does the Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 fisheye have autofocus?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it has autofocus — but it uses a screw-drive (mechanical) AF system rather than a built-in focus motor. That means you need a Nikon F body with an internal focus motor (such as a D90, D7000-series, D300s, D500, or D800-series) to use autofocus. Entry-level bodies like the D3400 or D5600 lack the motor and will only allow manual focus with this lens.

Question 5

How does the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye compare to the Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X DX Fisheye?

Accepted Answer

The Nikon is a prime at a fixed 10.5mm with a faster maximum aperture of f/2.8, while the Tokina 10-17mm offers zoom flexibility across a fisheye-to-near-fisheye range but opens only to f/3.5. If you prioritise low-light performance and the tightest possible package, the Nikon's f/2.8 aperture and lighter 305g body give it the edge. If you want compositional range — being able to dial back distortion toward 17mm — the Tokina zoom is more versatile.

Question 6

Is the built-in lens hood actually useful?

Accepted Answer

Very much so. Because the front element on a fisheye bulges outward, it can't accept standard screw-on filters or a separate bayonet hood. The built-in hood on the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED is integrated into the lens barrel and provides real protection against accidental contact and light flare — you can't remove it, and you don't need to. Just be aware this also means you can't use circular filters; any colour or ND filtration has to go on a rear gel slot.

Question 7

Is buying a used Nikon 10.5mm fisheye worth it?

Accepted Answer

For most DX shooters, yes. The lens has a sturdy build with no optical stabilisation system to fail over time, and the built-in hood protects the front element well. Because it's a specialist prime that doesn't see daily zoom-and-shoot use, used copies tend to be in good condition. On Camera-tweedehands.nl every second-hand lens is individually photographed and inspected, with a minimum 12 months warranty included — check the specific listing for the exact warranty term.

Question 8

Can you use the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye on Nikon Z mirrorless cameras?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with the Nikon FTZ or FTZ II adapter the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED mounts on any Nikon Z body. On a DX-format Z body (like the Z50 or Zfc) you'll retain the full 180-degree field of view. On a full-frame Z body, the same vignetting applies as on full-frame F-mount DSLRs — shoot in DX crop mode to get a clean image. Note that screw-drive AF is not supported via the FTZ adapter, so you'll be shooting manual focus on Z.

Mount	Nikon F
Focal range	Fisheye
Prime / Zoom	Prime
Focal length (min)	10.5 mm
Focal length (max)	10.5 mm
Max. aperture	f/2.8
Stabilisation
Weight (Grams)	305
Year of release	2011
Auto Focus

Cart (0)

Nikon AF DX 10.5mm f/2.8 G ED Fisheye

Cart (0)

About the Nikon AF DX 10.5mm f/2.8 G ED Fisheye

Key Specifications

Who is the Nikon AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED for?

Buying a used Nikon AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

Frequently asked questions