Aug 1, 2018

Irix 11mm F4 Firefly & Blackstone

Introduction

Announced on March 2nd, 2017, the Irix 11mm F4 is the second lens offered by this relative newcomer in the photography market.

Irix has made a splash with their first lens, the 15mm F2.4. With its ultra wide, rectilinear field of view and automatic aperture control, the newer 11mm F4 is a compelling offer filling a gap in many manufacturer’s lineup. Available for Canon, Nikon and Pentax, the full frame lens has a lot going for it on paper. A rectilinear 11mm lens is an almost incredible product, and is certainly a daring enterprise for a relatively small player.

Like its 15mm sibling, the 11mm lens is offered in two versions. The standard Firefly is made of plastic, while the higher-end Blackstone features a weather-sealed, metal body and fluorescent markings to improve readability in low light. Both versions offer manual focus only, but do allow automatic aperture control and exposure.

Any newcomer in the conservative camera market is likely to be received with a small dose of skepticism until it has proven its mettle. The Irix 11mm is almost devoid of user reviews in our user database, showing that the lens is still an unknown for many users. Our review should help to answer many questions that photographers might have regarding the Irix 11mm F4.