Which Fisheye

BRASH

BRASH

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The Sigma 8mm will give a slightly cropped circular image (possibly a bit more than slightly - not sure exactly how much difference the 1.6x makes compared to the 1.5 of Nikon's Dx sensor) on a crop body and gives both auto focus and aperture (IIRC, on Canons, the Samyang is completely manual). Not common second hand but they do come up from time to time.

Flickr is being an arris at the moment so can't post a cropped Sigma image to show the extent - will do so when possible (if I remember!)
 
Nod said:
The Sigma 8mm will give a slightly cropped circular image (possibly a bit more than slightly - not sure exactly how much difference the 1.6x makes compared to the 1.5 of Nikon's Dx sensor) on a crop body and gives both auto focus and aperture (IIRC, on Canons, the Samyang is completely manual). Not common second hand but they do come up from time to time.

Flickr is being an arris at the moment so can't post a cropped Sigma image to show the extent - will do so when possible (if I remember!)
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Cheers Nod. yeh, i was aware the Samyang is fully manual. I also looked at cheaper versions like Kiada, which do get pretty good reviews but I have to say the Canon 8-15 looks the biz but at a price.
 
I use the Samyang 8mm fisheye and love it.

The fact that it is manual is not an issue as it has an incredible DOF. I set the aperture to its smallest, F22, then select it via the camera, usually F8 to F11. Any fisheye with a bulbous front element can easily attract flare, so never shoot into the sun. It can be hand held as low as 1/4 or 1/3 of a second and will produce sharp images (as long as the subject is stationary).

Here's a few sample images taken with the Samyang, and yes I do use it for portraiture quite a lot.

The Streets of Shoreditch by Steve Bell, on Flickr

Clowning Around by Steve Bell, on Flickr

Mad Hatter (Flickr) by Steve Bell, on Flickr
 
Thanks, more food for thought.
 
I use to have the Samyang when I had crop cameras and it was a great lens. Did not use it enough though. I remember having to take it apart though as some don't focus to infinity. Common fault and easy fix with YouTube video help. I used it for a few landscape as if you set it us horizontal to the horizon the distortion is not to bad.
The 8-15 would really come into its own on a FF but at 3x the money it's a lot more on a crop camera.
 
The key fisheye question is whether you want full frame images or circular images.

For full frame images you need about 10-11mm for your 7D, so you have 3 choices of lens: Sigma 10mm, Canon 8-15mm, Tokina 11-17mm. On the 1D IV you need about 12-13mm and the only way to achieve that is the Canon 8-15mm. (I don't think the Tokina will fit.)

For circular images you need the Sigma 4.5mm for the 7D, and about 6mm on the 1D IV. I don't think the latter is possible.

One advantage of a circular image is that you can crop to get a rectangular image with any aspect ratio. A full frame fisheye gives you an image which is 180° across the diagonal, but only in the 3:2 aspect ratio. With a circular fisheye you can get 180° across the diagonal with any shape you like, including square. But of course you have a much smaller image because of the need to crop.

Hope this helps!
 
As Steve points out, the lack of AF isn't a problem with fisheyes - even at f/8, pretty much everything is within DoF. I do like automatic apertures though and the Canon fit Samyangs aren't.

As Stewart points out, cropping into a circular image to get other formats does lose plenty of pixels so a high MP count body might be needed if your final use needs loads of pixies!

TBH, I would suggest a short rental of a few contenders (or at least a decent trial - ? Calumet?)
 
I like the Samyang fisheye, a great match with the 7D, if anything happened to mine I would get the same again. As others have said, the manual focus is not an issue - infinity works just fine.

Here's a couple of samples taken on a sunny day in Ireland......


Eyeries, Ireland. 1 by Chris, on Flickr


Eyeries, Ireland 2 by Chris, on Flickr

The second on has had profile correction applied in LR.

Chris
 
Thanks for all the replies and picture examples. There sure are some lovely photographs taken by the Samyang and I'm very tempted but having more money than brains:D I'm being stupidly drawn to the Canon 8-15L. I know for the amount of use it'll get it don't justify £900 BUT I think the flexibility and auto feature are swaying me in that direction. I swore many years ago, after I got my first L lens I'd always get L glass or the equivalent if I had the funds. b****r, it's confusing:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
Keep an eye on the usual suspects (Ffordes, Mifsuds etc.) to see if one crops up second hand. I'm guessing that this is a want not a need so there's no great rush!
 
Samyang imho cant be beat value wise image wise canon is the best but at nearly 6x the price unsurprising really
 
Buy something as a future proof even it may not suits you today, but i bought few lenses when i started in photography for Canon, EF-s lenses, but i didn't wait longer until i bought a larger sensor cameras [1 series], then those lenses are no use and i couldn't sell them at good price and i regret that i bought few of them, so by now i recommend you to stay with EF compatible lenses as you may buy full frame of any brand, Canon/Nikon/Sony then those lenses for crop are not suitable and another wasting money or it is like buying twice.
 
Thanks for all the help and advice. I've plumped for the Samyang, and just ordered it from WEX. As much as I'd have loved the Canon 8-15L I couldn't justify the guts of a grand on a whim.


Cheers again.;)
 
Enjoy!

As I'm sure you're aware, fisheyes are a bit of a one trick pony BUT it's a trick that no other pony can do as well!!!
 
Nod said:
Enjoy!

As I'm sure you're aware, fisheyes are a bit of a one trick pony BUT it's a trick that no other pony can do as well!!!
Click to expand...

Aye, it'll not be an every day lens (hence I couldn't justify the Canon) but it's an option that'll be good to have in the bag.
 
Fun - but mind yer feet!!!

047047 by gpn63, on Flickr
 
:D:D
 
Some really inspiring stuff on there. Thanks.
 
BRASH said:
Some really inspiring stuff on there. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I found it helpful: just to take a bit more time to consider what you are doing and the effect a slight movement makes with such an extreme lens.
 
I know people really rate the samyang and say it's amazing value for money
 
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