Go ultra-wide with the newly-announced Irix 15mm f/2.4 full frame lens
posted Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 10:36 AM EDT
Have a full frame camera and need to go really wide and really bright? Well, a new Swiss lens company, Irix, has announced a full-frame 15mm f/2.4 ultra-wide angle manual-focus lens that sounds like it should do the trick quite nicely.
An interesting aspect of this new lens is that it will be offered in two distinct versions. The "Blackstone" version of the lens utilizes an aluminum and magnesium body, which is designed to protect the lens "even in extreme conditions." The lens also includes engraved reflective fluorescent markings to allow the user to see the lens markings on the lens in lower light. The "Firefly" version uses an ergonomic focusing ring and lightweight construction.
The Blackstone version weighs 1.51 lbs. (685 g) in Canon EF mount and 1.44 lbs. (653 g) in Nikon F mount. The Firefly version weighs 1.34 lbs. (608 g) and 1.28 lbs. (581 g), respectively. Both versions are 4.49 in. (114 mm) in diameter and 3.94 in. (100 mm) long.
It is worth noting that both versions of the lens include a weather-sealed construction that protects against dust and moisture. Irix also refers to the lenses as "protected from accidental water splashes."
Both versions of the lens include the same internals including 15 elements in 11 groups. Three lens elements have a high refractive index, two are extra-low dispersion glass, and another pair are aspherical lenses designed to improve image quality and minimize distortion and aberrations.
The 15mm f/2.4 lens can focus as close as 11 inches (0.28 meters) and has 9 rounded aperture blades to produce smooth out-of-focus areas. Both versions are manual focus only, and the focusing ring can been locked-down to prevent accidental focus adjustments.
Despite its ultra-wide nature, the lens is fully-compatible with filters, too. There is a 95mm front filter thread as well as a rear gelatin filter slot.
For an overview of the lens and its features, check out Irix's video below.
This new Swiss-designed, Korean-manufactured lens will be available in Canon EF, Nikon F, and Pentax K mounts starting this spring. Pricing information is not yet available, although Nikon Rumors has reported on rumored pricing which, if true, would see the Firefly version costing around $600 and the Blackstone version around $780 (using currency conversion, so final U.S. pricing may vary).
(Seen via DPReview.)