Fisheye lenses - How much do you use them ?

NeilMc

NeilMc

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Been tempted by a 10.5mm F2.8 Nikon DX Fisheye lens as I often shoot gigs in very small venues.

I currently shoot everything on a 17-55mm F2.8 on my D7000 and absolutely love the lens to bits but I had this crazy notion of sticking the 10.5mm on my D90 backup for those awkward tight shots.

I know a few people have one in their kit bag but do you actually use the lens ?


I just dont want to spend loads of cash on something I'm not really going to get that much use out of so I thought I'd ask how many people have one and how much use to they get out of it and what sort of shots do you take with it
 
Use mine occasionally for some 'fun' shots, or with lens correction for wide angle ... these from the D800 at the Roman Baths, Bath - FX but might give you a bit of an idea :thinking:


Out of camera

RJB_0038_zpsaaec0334.jpg



With non-adjusted lens correction

RJB_0038-1_zps8cdd7b59.jpg
 
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I can't recall ever using one.

Incidentally, what's the point of shooting with a fisheye, and then correcting the spherical distortion? Isn't that the point of a fisheye? Still... kinda get where you're coming from.... 2 lenses in 1 right?
 
Yeah I kinda got the feel it was a 'fun' shot lens really, although on a crop body a 10.5mm is going to be around 17mm so not quite as fisheye perhaps ??? or am I getting that wrong ?
 
Pookeyhead said:
Incidentally, what's the point of shooting with a fisheye, and then correcting the spherical distortion? Isn't that the point of a fisheye? Still... kinda get where you're coming from.... 2 lenses in 1 right?
Click to expand...

Sort of, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't ... I don't think I would rely on it though.
 
I use mine a fair bit when I'm in the mood. Mine's a Sigma 8mm which gives a circular image on FF and has a 180 degree FoV in all directions. I never apply any corrections to the images - if I want an ultra wide corrected image, I use my 12-24 at the short end. I have however used the fisheye to get 180 degree panoramas with no stitching.

I was very lucky to get mine through the classifieds on this forum. It was described as "as new" and was just that. In fact, it was still sealed in the original plastic bag! The original owner had bought 2 identical lenses since he relied on them for many of his professional shoots but had never needed the spare so sold it on to free up some cash. It's probably my most used prime.

Not sure I'd use it for gigs - the sort of images it produces would leave the performers rather lost!
 
I use my Siggy 8mm for 360 panos. I occasionally use it 'stand alone' after which I de-fish the images with either Rect-fish or Fisheye Hemi.
 
Always considered it a fun lens, one to be used on holiday to get some "different" shots.

Its not one I reach for very often unfortunately (maybe I should!)
 
I'm sat here with a huge canvas on the wall in front of me taken using a 10.5, amusingly enough I had considered it a massive luxury/gamble to take a fisheye travelling with me. Even better I bought it second hand and sold it for the exact same amount.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/harry_s/sets/72157612100966154/

I wouldn't have a second thought in buying another if I was going back to New York or somewhere like that, but for general day to day use, probably not.
 
depending on where you go & what you're shooting it doesn't hurt to have one on a second body or in your bag :thumbs:
some people say they're like marmite :shrug:

i recently read (maybe on here?) that they are like Tequila..

a few shots are fun, but too many will make you sick :gag:

:lol:
 
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