Fisheye Lenses

feileacan

Im sure its already been discussed here but., a friend is going to NY shopping and im considering getting a fisheye.

So two questions

Has anyone used the Canon 15mm f2.8 Fisheye? (and will it work on a 5D). Is it worth the money?

Were is the best place in NY to purchase (and do you make worthwhile savings by purchasing in NY rather than from HK?)

bovril

Don't have the fisheye but I think that is the one Fajitas! has.

As for shops in NYC, there are two main ones I know of B&H photo video and Adorama. You have to add sales taxes to the prices quoted on the websites but apart from that you should be able to compare them with HK to see if you'd save or not. B&H are run by jewish people so they close the shops on jewish religious days so just make sure they are open before you head down to them. Their opening hours are on their website.

pete4130

I'm going to be in NY in 3 weeks and I'm getting the Nikon 16mm fisheye. I've had the Sigma 15mm one for over 5 years and it's great. I'm switching to the Nikon because its half the size of the sigma! I've also had the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye on my D200.

Seriously, check prices up north in Belfast. I checked prices for the lenses I'm looking to get in B&H compared to Calumet or Warehouseexpress and most of the lenses were cheaper, as cheap or negligle difference between the UK prices and the US prices with the current exchange rate.

For example, yesterday the:

Nikon 16mm fisheye 2.8 lens worked out to be about €586 form B&H inc' state sales tax, compared to €595 from Calumet in Belfast.

Nikon 24-70 2.8 worked out to be nearly €50 cheaper from Belfast/UK depending where you bought it.

The Nikon 50mm 1.4 is only €16 more expensive up north/UK than America

The Nikon 105 2.8 VRII is less than €50 more expensive via UK (which is acceptable compared to here).

Only lenses that were significantly cheaper in the states were the Nikon 14-24mm 2.8 and the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR (which is out of stock everywhere anyway!).

The Canon 15mm fisheye is a full frame fisheye lens so it will definitely work on the 5D. Being a prime lens its going to be sharp too.

I'd rather get my stuff up north than the states and have the hassle with boxes in the states etc....so I've got a trip up north for next weekend!

jackdaw

what about the Canon 14mm L f2.8 ??

pete4130

It's not fisheye, its really wide but not fisheye. I have specific uses for fisheye that the Nikon 14mm just wouldn't be able to cover.

FX Meister

the 14mm is a lovely lens but its also a good bit more expensive than the fisheye from canon

pete4130

true.....I forgot how bling the straight 14mm is!!!!!

feileacan

the 15mm is a true fish eye and with the 5d the distortion is meant to be very good - isn't that why you would want to buy a fisheye - distortion?

good heads up on calumet and warehousexpress. prices when converted to euro are the same as they would be if buying in the US.

can i justify spending 580 euros on a (another) lens....

FX Meister

buy it and then think of how to justify it. Works for me.

Fajitas!

Howdy.

I have the Canon 15mm on the 5D. It's a really nice handy lens, more of a fun lens that you have to learn not to overuse.

It's very sharp, reported to be one of the sharpest Canon WA's.

AF isn't great. But then again, it dosn't take a whole pile to go from min to inf.

The lack of USM and full time manual focusing is annoying too.

It's very small and light, and easy to bring around.

The lens cap is annoying. Get some of the soft side of velcro to keep it on.

It gets filthy very fast.

It's easy to get creative with it.

It's lots of fun with a flash!

Build quality is terrible. I've not met someone with it that's not had a problem with it. Focusing is usually the first to go.

Fajitas!

Some examples:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/fajitasgtr/2465247039/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/fajitasgtr/2391905945/in/photostream/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/fajitasgtr/2464909329/in/photostream/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/fajitasgtr/2459282635/in/photostream/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/fajitasgtr/2392670820/in/photostream/

Oh, and it's too easy to get really bad exposures with it, because of the amount you're taking in, but it also has some really nice vibrant colours!

You're also gonna have to get VERY close with it!

pete4130

Al/Fajitas,

Is the build quality really that bad??? I'm really surprised at that!!! I've had my Sigma over 5 years and its been knocked around, seriously battered, used abused and still comes through. I thought it died last tuesday when I loaned it to someone and they forced the rear cap on the wrong way (turns out it was my D3 that needs a bit of servicing to my shock horror!!!!!!!!...nothing major thankfully!)

There is a tendency to overuse it too I'll agree. I'm trying to not use it these days if I can. Sometimes its the only thing for the job. I'm usually left thinking "go fish or go really long???" to avoid overusing it.

Here's a few pics of the Sigma 15mm results:









So if your concerend over build quality, I cannot fault the Sigma 15mm fisheye othere than its bigger size and weight.

Fajitas!

Wow, second one of those is a beaut Pete!

Yep, build quality is very bad, I reckon mine is due a trip to Canon. It's the lightest of light plastic around it, and I guess, it's so small, it dosn't take much to knock about the insides of it either, which is a shame!

Actually, just to add to my above list - For a fisheye, it handles flare very very well. Check my first shot for shooting into the sun.

pete4130

The 2nd one of mine is actually a 9 shot HDR (at f11) so thats where the exposure/colour is coming from. I get exposure problems too with the sigma as it take in so much (spot metering on jeans usually sorts out average exposure). I can't really commen on glare as I've learnt to avoid it if possible.

In saying that I DID shoot into the sun today (not uploaded yet) and it copes quite well, alebit contrasty exposure with direct sun & shadows ( I guess my 3rd shot is directly into the sun too I think?). Build quality on the Sigma is superb. A friend has one, has dropped it, dinted petal hood and it still shoots 100%. I hope the Nikon 16mm is built better! I'm going to guess it is seeing as the Nikon 10.5mm I had was top notch too.

jpfahy

Canon 15mm bought from gline on Adverts during the week on my 5D

Fionn

i had looked at getting something in this range too, but really couldn't justify having a lens that maybe i'd only use once in a while so decided to settle for the EF 16-35mm f2.8L II as my Wide Angle lens of choice (bought it a while back in the US way cheaper than HK or here).
Great lens especially on full frame.

feileacan

i actually have the 17-40mm wide angle red already which i use for landscapes.

i just love images taken with a fish eye and have always wanted one.

have to mull it over.

i want a new pair of skis as well....

Fajitas!

If it's something that you like, then go for it, simple as

Edit: My last photo there is actually just outside B&H. There's a great diner just up from it, if you're in the mood for breakfast.

jackdaw

Wow ...

I thought fisheye was really wide .. so below 16mm or so was automatically fisheye ..

Fajitas!

Nope, you can still get rectilinear lenses below 16mm.

rabbitinlights

Anyone have the 8mm Sigma?