These are the best Leica fisheye options, chosen for how they deliver dramatic 180° character, clean color, and practical handling across Leica’s R, M, and L systems (with smart adapted choices where native picks are scarce). Fisheye is about coverage and control: hemispherical views that exaggerate space, foregrounds that loom inches from the dome, coatings that keep neon and sunbursts tidy, and mechanics you can set by feel in the dark. For pure Leica heritage, the Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16mm f/2.8 is the iconic diagonal-fisheye: sharp center, classic contrast, and T*-grade flare resistance in a robust R barrel that adapts beautifully to SL (L-mount) and mirrorless bodies; when you want the full circular look, the rare Leitz 8mm f/4 Fisheye-Elmarit-R paints a perfect circle with cinematic edge falloff—spectacular for creative interiors, star fields, and specialty transitions. M-system shooters get compelling modern third-party choices that preserve the rangefinder vibe: the TTArtisan 11mm f/2.8 Fisheye (M-mount) is the value headliner—solid metal build, close-focus for “looming” foregrounds, and surprisingly controlled color fringing—while the 7Artisans 10mm f/2.8 Fisheye (M-mount) goes a hair wider with similarly tactile focusing; both use external finders or live-view and bring playful curvature to street, architecture, and night scenes without blowing the budget. SL (L-mount) users wanting autofocus or broader availability can adapt proven full-frame fisheyes: the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG Fisheye via MC-21 gives fast AF and crisp rendering with a diagonal 180° view, and the Samyang/Rokinon 12mm f/2.8 or 8mm circular fisheyes (EF/Nikon + adapter) offer manual-focus, budget-friendly alternatives with punchy color and predictable mapping; Laowa’s compact circular fisheyes for smaller formats can be repurposed for creative circular frames on L bodies when paired appropriately. Practical priorities that make these the “best” in real use: well-damped manual focus or reliable AF for quick near-to-far pulls, multicoatings that keep veiling flare down with the sun or LED walls in frame, and rear-gel or holder solutions for ND when bulbous fronts block screw-ins. Workflow tips seal the look—center horizons to tame bowing, tilt slightly up or down to balance ceilings and floors in tight rooms, compose with a bold near-field anchor inches from the dome to sell depth, and de-fish selectively in post when you need straighter plates for comps; keep a microfiber ready for that exposed front element, and consider a slim CPL sparingly (fisheye coverage can make skies patchy). A simple kit recipe is clear: if you’re Leica-R or adapting to SL, anchor with the Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16/2.8 for the definitive diagonal look and add the 8mm circular for specialty shots; if you’re M, run TTArtisan 11/2.8 (or 7Artisans 10/2.8) for compact, characterful curvature; if you’re SL and want modern convenience, adapt Sigma 15/2.8 (plus a manual 8–12mm circular) to cover both aesthetics. Whether you’re crafting vertigo-inducing transitions, playful travel frames, stylized automotive bays, or star-washed night scenes with towering foregrounds, the best Leica-compatible fisheye lenses deliver huge vision, clean color, and robust handling that make extreme wide-angle look intentional and cinematic.