Tested – The NiSi 15mm f/4 Lens
Of course, NiSi is best known for its range of excellent filter products, offering holders and ND/ND grad accessories. The brand has released cinema lenses before, so has pedigree in the lens making game, but the 4/15mm is NiSi’s first lens for what can be called general photography.
Available for Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E and Fujifilm X-mounts, the lens is lightweight and highly portable, measuring just 7.5cm long and tipping the scales at only 470g – this makes this optic suitable for pro photographers who are looking to travel light or for those who don’t have much room in their kit bags.
The build of the lens is interesting and features a ‘12 elements in 10 groups’ design and this includes one aspherical and two Extra-Low Dispersion elements to provide enhanced image quality. If you’ve always relied on autofocus then the 4/15mm won’t need too much getting used to. The wide focus ring gives a lot of precision and, with the ability to magnify the live preview on a big LCD, you should have no problems achieving sharp focus.
One of the best USPs about this lens is its 10-bladed aperture, which creates fabulous starburst effects from light sources in the scene. This could work well with landscapes making use of the sun in the frame, or there could be multiple starbursts from streetlamps when capturing architectural imagery at dusk – the applications are numerous and serve to add interest to the frame.
A smaller ring around the lens barrel enables the aperture to be changed quickly and the 4/15mm features a 72mm filter thread, enabling users to quickly add a holder and make use of those impressive NiSi ND filters that so many landscape photographers love to use.