AstrHori 18mm f/5.6 APS-C Review: Ultra-Wide on a Budget

  This is a lens i ended up getting from the Asthrori marketing team.  They didnt have any input in any of the content on this blog post they only asked for a fair world review.  I wasnt sure where i was going to take this lens out until i found out that old town san diego was going to be having “Dia de los Muertos” celebration.  This is a very popular celebration in Mexico where they celebrate those that have moved on to the afterlife.  Old Town SD is of course a very popular destination down here in San Diego for tourists.  It is a park filled with small museums, galleries and a couple of restaurants.  I figured I would go down there to get some food and a couple of shots to test this lens.  I shot this lens with my Sony A7CII.

I spent a full day shooting with this lens in Old Town San Diego, putting it through real‑world scenarios: architecture, street scenes, close‑ups, and low‑light environments. After hundreds of frames, I walked away with a clear sense of what this lens is — and who it’s for.

This review breaks down my experience, the optical performance, and whether this compact ultra‑wide deserves a spot in your bag.

AstrHori 18mm f/5.6 APS-C Lens Specifications (from Asthrori’s site):

• Focal Length: 18mm

• Maximum Aperture: f/5.6 (fixed)

• Format: APS-C

• Focus Mode: Manual focus

• Minimum Focus Distance: 0.3m

• Focus Range: 0.3m to infinity

• Filter Thread: 58mm

• Shift Capability: ±6mm

• Angle of View: 76.8°

• Lens Construction: 7 elements in 5 groups

• Mount Options: Sony E / Leica L / Fuji X / Nikon Z

• Dimensions: Approx. Ø63 × L36mm (E-mount)

• Weight: Approx. 169g (E-mount)

Build Quality:

• The AstrHori 18mm f/5.6 features a solid all-metal build that feels durable despite its compact, pancake-style design. The focus and shift controls have smooth, deliberate resistance, giving the lens a premium feel well above its price point

Price for the Money:

• The current cost of the lens on AstrHori’s site is $119 USD.  I liked what i got for that price.  The build is good and the image quality at that price mark is excellent.

User Experience:

Shooting with the AstrHori 18mm f/5.6 on Sony E at Old Town San Diego was a smooth, low-stress experience, especially in bright daylight where the fixed f/5.6 aperture felt right at home. The ultra-wide field of view made it easy to capture the park’s architecture and open walkways, and the deep depth of field meant I rarely had to think about focus once it was set. Paired with a compact Sony E-mount body, the lens stayed lightweight and unobtrusive, making it easy to walk, frame, and shoot without drawing attention or slowing the pace.  This lens is so small it fits in your jeans pocket.  There’s noticeable vignetting at f/5.6, especially in bright outdoor scenes. Again, this is expected for a compact ultra‑wide and can be corrected with a single slider.