I’ve only just started to get into macrophotography, and didn’t want to spend too much while I’m just dipping my toes, but it didn’t take long to realize that a 1:1 magnification lens just wasn’t enough for what I wanted to capture. On paper, this Brightin Star 60mm F2.8 macro lens sounds great, offering double the magnification at a similar or significantly lower price point to other macro lenses with just 1:1 magnification. The concern of course is that a cheap lens will also have poor image quality, so I was very pleasantly impressed at just how sharp and clear the Brightin Star macro lens was in real world usage.
The one I received was the updated version of this lens, distinguished by the metallic orange trim near the end of the lens as well as a thinner aperture ring and added depth-of-field scale imprinted on the lens barrel. The aperture now goes down to f/22, one stop smaller than the previous model. Macrophotographer Micael Widell has reviewed the older version of this lens and one issue he discovered was that the aperture markings were incorrectly marked, such that they indicated a wider aperture than what was actual (eg. f/8 was more realistically f/16). This appears to have been resolved in this updated model based on my comparison with another macro lens I have.
This is a weighty lens, over 600 grams in weight. This can be an issue in the field when you’re trying to hold the camera steady with one hand while maneuvering a leaf just right to try to capture that critter that’s on the other side, especially for more compact cameras that have a smaller grip. My hands certainly tired much sooner than when using a lighter lens.
One key advantage of a true macro lens over extension tubes is that the single lens can cover the full focusing range from the minimum focusing distance (and 2:1 magnification) all the way to infinity. So this lens can be used not only for close-up macro work, but it also works as a 60mm (equivalent to 90mm full frame) mild telephoto lens for portraits and landscape photography. I found that focusing was not too difficult for portraits, even though there is only a very short amount of focus throw available from 1 meter to infinity. Focusing is aided by very good contrast, so focus peaking operates quite well with sufficient light. I included a sample portrait image with this lens.
Lighting is of course a critical issue with macrophotography, since the depth-of-field is so narrow at high magnification that you need to stop down quite a bit to get more than just a sliver in focus, but that of course significantly reduces the light from the image. This is where a good flash and diffuser is important with macrophotography, but it is here that one major issue did emerge with the Brightin Star lens. What I discovered was that with certain orientations of my flash diffuser the Brightin Star lens seemed to exhibit significant internal reflection, characterized by sort of a haziness of the image. I’m including a side-by-side example of the Brightin Star lens with another well regarded 65mm macro lens using identical lighting setups. This greatly reduces the quality of the image, and is the primary serious flaw I encountered with the lens. I was debating whether this factor was serious enough to deduct a star from my review, but in the end I decided that the other excellent image quality aspects at this budget friendly price overweighed this flaw, especially since it only occurs under certain lighting conditions.
Brightin Star 7.5mm F2.8 Ultra Wide-Angle Fisheye Manual Focus APS-C Mirrorless Camera Lens, Fit for Sony Alpha ZV-E10, A7IV,
4 | 306 ratings
Price: 129.99
Last update: 08-13-2024
About this item
[Attention Please] In order to provide you with a satisfying experience, please make sure you've READ and UNDERSTAND the below information before purchasing. Please kindly note this Brightin Star camera lens is only used for Mirrorless Camera, NOT for SLR Camera.
[Note] This product is a manual lens without an auto-focus function. And the most important thing is to make sure you've set the "release without lens" mode, or your camera may unable to take pictures or videos. If you need any help about tha contact our customer service team directly.
[Ultra Wide-Angle Fisheye Lens]- Brightin-Star 7.5mm F2.8 has an extraordinary 180° angle of view, and at the same time can minimize picture distortion., such as starry sky, buildings, grasslands, beaches, wilderness, exhibition halls.
[F2.8 Large Aperture]- The Lens with an industry-leading f/2.8 Aperture, creating perfect Bokeh-Effects, while ensuring that more light can still be obtained in night scenes and dim environments.
[Sharp Focus & Soft Out-Of-Focus Image Quality]- The lens structure is 11 elements in 9 group, it can make the picture near the focus point sharp and clear when focusing, while ensuring that the picture outside the focus range is soft.
[Compatible Information] Fit for Sony E-Mount FS7, FS7M2, FS5, FS5M2KA7, A7II, A7R, A7RII, A7S, A7SII, A7III, A7RIII, A7R4, A7S3, A3000, A6500, A6300, A6400, A6000, A5100, A5000, A6600, NEX-3, NEX-3N, NEX-3R, NEX-C3, NEX-F3K, NEX-5K, NEX-5, NEX-6, NEX-7, NEX-5N, NEX-5A, NEX-5T, NEX-5C, NEX-5R. *For Sony A7, A7II, A7R, A7RII, A7S, A7SII, A7III, A7RIII, please switch to APS-C before using. The brand name listed herein are for reference purposes only, Brightin Star is an independent brand.
[Note] This product is a manual lens without an auto-focus function. And the most important thing is to make sure you've set the "release without lens" mode, or your camera may unable to take pictures or videos. If you need any help about tha contact our customer service team directly.
[Ultra Wide-Angle Fisheye Lens]- Brightin-Star 7.5mm F2.8 has an extraordinary 180° angle of view, and at the same time can minimize picture distortion., such as starry sky, buildings, grasslands, beaches, wilderness, exhibition halls.
[F2.8 Large Aperture]- The Lens with an industry-leading f/2.8 Aperture, creating perfect Bokeh-Effects, while ensuring that more light can still be obtained in night scenes and dim environments.
[Sharp Focus & Soft Out-Of-Focus Image Quality]- The lens structure is 11 elements in 9 group, it can make the picture near the focus point sharp and clear when focusing, while ensuring that the picture outside the focus range is soft.
[Compatible Information] Fit for Sony E-Mount FS7, FS7M2, FS5, FS5M2KA7, A7II, A7R, A7RII, A7S, A7SII, A7III, A7RIII, A7R4, A7S3, A3000, A6500, A6300, A6400, A6000, A5100, A5000, A6600, NEX-3, NEX-3N, NEX-3R, NEX-C3, NEX-F3K, NEX-5K, NEX-5, NEX-6, NEX-7, NEX-5N, NEX-5A, NEX-5T, NEX-5C, NEX-5R. *For Sony A7, A7II, A7R, A7RII, A7S, A7SII, A7III, A7RIII, please switch to APS-C before using. The brand name listed herein are for reference purposes only, Brightin Star is an independent brand.
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 0.39 x 0.39 x 0.39 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.1 pounds |
| ASIN | B07VJM5SG8 |
| Item model number | 7528 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars
306 ratings
4.0 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #8 in Mirrorless Camera Lenses |
| Date First Available | September 25, 2019 |
| Manufacturer | BRIGHTIN STAR |
Top reviews from the United States
Ken Y
Sharpness and Image Quality hit above its price point
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
Ken Y
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
The one I received was the updated version of this lens, distinguished by the metallic orange trim near the end of the lens as well as a thinner aperture ring and added depth-of-field scale imprinted on the lens barrel. The aperture now goes down to f/22, one stop smaller than the previous model. Macrophotographer Micael Widell has reviewed the older version of this lens and one issue he discovered was that the aperture markings were incorrectly marked, such that they indicated a wider aperture than what was actual (eg. f/8 was more realistically f/16). This appears to have been resolved in this updated model based on my comparison with another macro lens I have.
This is a weighty lens, over 600 grams in weight. This can be an issue in the field when you’re trying to hold the camera steady with one hand while maneuvering a leaf just right to try to capture that critter that’s on the other side, especially for more compact cameras that have a smaller grip. My hands certainly tired much sooner than when using a lighter lens.
One key advantage of a true macro lens over extension tubes is that the single lens can cover the full focusing range from the minimum focusing distance (and 2:1 magnification) all the way to infinity. So this lens can be used not only for close-up macro work, but it also works as a 60mm (equivalent to 90mm full frame) mild telephoto lens for portraits and landscape photography. I found that focusing was not too difficult for portraits, even though there is only a very short amount of focus throw available from 1 meter to infinity. Focusing is aided by very good contrast, so focus peaking operates quite well with sufficient light. I included a sample portrait image with this lens.
Lighting is of course a critical issue with macrophotography, since the depth-of-field is so narrow at high magnification that you need to stop down quite a bit to get more than just a sliver in focus, but that of course significantly reduces the light from the image. This is where a good flash and diffuser is important with macrophotography, but it is here that one major issue did emerge with the Brightin Star lens. What I discovered was that with certain orientations of my flash diffuser the Brightin Star lens seemed to exhibit significant internal reflection, characterized by sort of a haziness of the image. I’m including a side-by-side example of the Brightin Star lens with another well regarded 65mm macro lens using identical lighting setups. This greatly reduces the quality of the image, and is the primary serious flaw I encountered with the lens. I was debating whether this factor was serious enough to deduct a star from my review, but in the end I decided that the other excellent image quality aspects at this budget friendly price overweighed this flaw, especially since it only occurs under certain lighting conditions.
Images in this review
Dave
Great inexpensive macro lens
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024
Dave
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2024
My only gripes are that the listing says it takes a 62mm filter so I purchased one of that size. The lens and box both say 67 and the 62mm is useless. I got the updated version (orange band) with the glass seal in front so it isn't really a worry.
Also the bayonet mount was loose, but tightening the three tiny torx screws tightened it right up and it works flawlessly without the reported wobble that several YouTube reviews mention.
Those are worth mentioning but for a lens of this quality at this price point, I'll over look those two things.
I do wish the aperture adjustment was just a bit looser, but thank goodness it does not have detents! Those would be unacceptable on a manual lens with this kind of magnification level.
Don't forget, the closer you get the less light you get, so you will need more. The way focusing works on this lens is to move it closer and further from the sensor. So think about lighting the same as if you were using extension tubes.
Images in this review
Shen Y.
Brightin Star 10mm F5.6 Fisheye Manual Focus Prime Lens for Micro 4/3 Cameras
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024Danno
Fisheye Lens on a Modest Budget
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2024