This ultra-wide-angle lens has the shortest focal length in the L-series. Element 2 is an aspherical lens to correct distortion. Other aberrations such as astigmatism are also corrected, resulting in ideal image quality. The lens has a fixed, petal-type hood and a gelatin filter holder at the rear.
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What is 'Rectilinear,' What is a 'Fisheye'? 'Rectilinear' and 'Fisheye' are two different optical designs for wide angle lenses, resulting in very different looks. All modern ARRI/Zeiss wide angle lenses, including the Ultra Prime 8R, are of rectilinear design. When a lens projects a three-dimensional scene onto a two-dimensional piece of film, not all geometric properties of the original scene can be maintained. This is essentially the same problem as mapping the shape of the continents of our three-dimensional globe onto a two-dimensional map. The choices of lens design, focal length and distance to the subject determine the character of this mapping, which is commonly referred to as perspective, one of the cinematographer's most important tools. For wide angle lenses, the lens designer must make a choice between a rectilinear or a fisheye lens design, with different consequences for perspective. The most obvious differences can be seen by how straight lines and objects at the edge of the frame appear.