M4/3 fisheye question

Ambermile

Ambermile

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Arthur
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I suspect I already know the (expensive) answer to this question but...

Looking at fisheye (specifically 160+ degrees) lenses, are the £250 and upwards dedicated M4/3 lenses really 8 or 9 times better than the wide adapter lenses in the £30+ x0.3 area? Taking into account the inevitable "droop" inherent in the 14-42 on my E-PL1 - which will not be helped by the extra weight, should I just bite the bullet and start saving?

I suspect mostly I will be doing landscape shots, the majority of which will be tripod-mounted evening/night-time longer exposure images - but the option to bounce around events with a fat fisheye does have some appeal...

The killer though is that while I want a fisheye lens and have definite and defined uses for one, the standard 14-42 is such a handy all-round size that any new lens such as the fisheye will be at best a one in fifty or so shots lens, but for that one shot... :shrug:
 
For fisheye the real question probably is is the £250 Samyang Manual Focus fisheye better then the £500+ Panasonic AF Fisheye.....

I'd imagine an actual fisheye is better than the Wide Adaptor if thats specifically what you want.

You could also look at some of the wide angle lenses? (7-14, 9-18, 12)
 
Hi Chris, thanks for the input. I have found that the zoomy-type wider lenses are not really what I am after - especially in this format where they get a wobble on at max extension (unless one goes way further up the price scale than I can afford - just thinking about hitting £250 for a prime is making me nervous already!).
 
Hang on Arthur (remember me from SGL?)... do you want a fisheye, or rectilinear wide angle (which is what the zooms are AFAIK)?
 
Fisheye I guess, with 160+ degrees the other options are way too expensive or will have so much drop off in the corners that I might as well have gone fisheye anyway.
 
The Samyang 7.5mm produces fisheye distortions, but still covers the frame fully - see:

P1000248-800.jpg


and

P1000210-800.jpg
 
... about £250? There's the rub, can I justify the cost against the cheaper option.
 
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