Skip to main content

At 11mm, this wide-angle lens is designed to eliminate barrel distortion

irix launches 11mm lens
Irix
Lens startup Irix is launching its latest option and it is an 11mm lens designed to minimize distortion and maximize usability.

Irix, a group of photographers and engineers working together to develop lenses and accessories, displayed the 11mm f/4 lens at Photokina late in 2016, but now the details are out. The lens will come in two different variations, selling for $599 and $825.

Wide-angle lenses are notorious for barrel distortion where the image appears to curve toward the edges and the wider the lens, the more obvious the distortion becomes. Irix says the lens is unique because it is designed specifically to minimize that distortion — in fact, the company says the lens is rated with as low as 3.13 percent distortion. The 11mm uses four refractive lenses, two ED lenses, and three aspherical lenses to make that minimal distortion happen. With all those pieces, the lens uses 16 elements in 10 groups.

The lens can focus as close as 0.9 feet away. The nine-blade aperture, while not as bright as the company’s first lens, ranges from f/4 to f/22. The lens doesn’t use threads at the front for filters, but a rear slot allows for the use of gelatin filters.

While the optics remain the same, Irix offers two different housing options to cater to different needs. The Firefly is lightweight, designed for travel and the most affordable of the two. The Blackstone variation, on the other hand, is designed for durability and weather sealing over portability, with an aluminum-magnesium alloy and even glow-in-the-dark markings for making adjustments during those low-light shoots. Both lenses include a focus lock control and an infinity click stop.

The full-frame lenses will be available in Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mounts. While the lens is now listed on the company’s online store, there is no word yet when the lenses will ship.

The lens is only the second for Irix, behind a 15mm f/2.8. The company plans to release a 45mm f/1.4 lens next.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
Watch the construction of a 270-degree fisheye lens, the widest ever
widest yet fisheye lens handheld

Assembling the Widest Fisheye Lens Ever

The widest lenses currently available cover 180 degrees, but a team of optics geeks just designed a custom fisheye lens that can see 270 degrees -- which includes some of the space behind the camera. Lensrentals founder Roger Cicala recently shared a look at a custom prototype lens created for C-4 Optics. The C-4 lens isn’t likely to head to camera stores anytime soon -- but what photographer doesn’t want to geek out over a 4.9mm f/3.5 circular fisheye lens, the widest fisheye lens yet?

Read more
Best Camera Deals: Save on Canon, Panasonic, Nikon, and GoPro
fujifilm x t4 review set 2 dm 1

Whether you're looking for the best digital cameras or the best travel cameras, there are a ton of options out there, sometimes too many options, especially for those who aren't familiar with the photography world. Luckily, we've done a lot of legwork for you and collected a range of great camera deals across the spectrum, so even if you want something more sports-oriented, like a GoPro, there are a couple of deals for those too. So, let's jump right into it.
Today's Best Camera Deals
One of our favorite deals is the Canon EOS Rebel T7 going for $400, as it's one of the better DSLR cameras on the market, and it has a reasonably budget-friendly price on it, making it a great starter camera. Of course, if you've been in the game for a while and are looking for a powerful upgrade, the Sony Alpha 7R IV is one of the best full-frame cameras on the market, and while it still costs a hefty $3,200, that's still $300 off the usual $3,500 price tag. That said, if you're looking for something more portable and action-oriented, you can't go wrong with the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini, although if you're a professional content creator, the GoPro HERO9 Black 5K is probably the one to go for instead.

Do I Need a DSLR or a Mirrorless Camera?
Like most things, this really depends on what you're trying to do. Mirrorless cameras have fewer internal moving parts, which generally means they can capture images quicker, so if you're taking pictures of action-packed stuff like sports or animals in the wilderness, a mirrorless camera is a great option. On the other hand, DSLR cameras are great for low-light conditions and are great for anything from portraits to landscapes. DSLRs are also cheaper and have much better battery life, as well as having a decade or two worth of lenses to choose from.

Read more
How to blur a background in photos
A person photographed with iPhone 11's portrait mode.

Introducing a background blur to your photos can draw attention to a specific subject, such as an individual in a portrait or an item in a still life, while also adding a professional flair to your image. This beautiful background blur, also known as bokeh, can be achieved even after shooting your photo, thanks to advances in editing software. This guide will walk you through the process on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

Read more