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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
What are my fisheye options?

Renny
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Oct 23, 2005, 4:47 PM

Post #1 of 14 (1621 views)
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What are my fisheye options?	Can't Post

What are my options for a fisheye lens? I have a Canon Digital Rebel. Looks like Canon makes a couple in the $500 range. Is there anything cheaper that isn't a complete piece of manure?
Renny
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Storm Crow
Veteran

Oct 23, 2005, 7:33 PM

Post #2 of 14 (1614 views)
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Re: [Renny] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Good question Renny! Smile

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Good Friend, around these hearth stones, speak no evil of any creature.

Warning: Exposure to the Son can prevent burn!
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Renny
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Oct 24, 2005, 12:52 PM

Post #3 of 14 (1581 views)
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Re: [Storm Crow] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

Good question Renny!

Thanks! I thought so too.

Now, any good answers. Looks like Raynox has one for about $350. Still kind of pricey. Why is camera glass so much more expensive than video glass? Is it a resolution thing?
Renny

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Jeko
Enthusiast

Oct 24, 2005, 8:23 PM

Post #4 of 14 (1563 views)
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Re: [Renny] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Basically yes, it is a resolution thing. Higher resolution still sensor will be degraded by aberations more than low res video sensor. Thus, a higher grade of glass is necessary for still cameras.

Just as an added thought to help justify the expenditure on better quality.... As you get better cameras, will you need to buy new glass because you opted for a "sufficient" quality fish-eye now?

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.

Renny
User

Oct 25, 2005, 12:41 PM

Post #5 of 14 (1545 views)
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Re: [Jeko] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Good point Jeko. I plan to use the lens for a video project, a time-lapsed trip across the country, so resolution is not a major concern. Something dirt cheap and usable would be fine, I think. On the other hand, I do enjoy shooting photos otherwise, and I'm sure a dirt-cheap lens would not be so good for photo prints and such.

I've also been considering a very wide, but not fisheye, lens instead. What I'm confused by is that Canon makes a 16-35mm lens as well as the 15mm fisheye. If the lens is labeled "fisheye", does that mean it's vastly different than just an ultra-wide lens? In other words, will the 16-35 zoomed all the way out look all that much different than the 15mm fisheye?

Renny
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Jeko
Enthusiast

Oct 25, 2005, 1:28 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1541 views)
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Re: [Renny] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Absolutely different lenses.

The 16-35mm at 16mm does not bend the image at all. The fisheye will distort... and the effect is far geater with a full frame camera (remember, a Canon 20D sensor is smaller than a regular 35mm film frame).

I'll show an example shortly....

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.

Storm Crow
Veteran

Oct 25, 2005, 1:44 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1538 views)
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Re: [Jeko] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

... and the effect is far geater with a full frame camera (remember, a Canon 20D sensor is smaller than a regular 35mm film frame).

Such as the Canon 5D which I'm told is full frame!
_________________________________________________

Good Friend, around these hearth stones, speak no evil of any creature.

Warning: Exposure to the Son can prevent burn!
_________________________________________________

Jeko
Enthusiast

Oct 25, 2005, 1:48 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1538 views)
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Re: [Jeko] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

See comparison here
http://www.jekovideo.com/fishlens

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.

Renny
User

Oct 25, 2005, 1:54 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1536 views)
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Re: [Jeko] What are my fisheye options? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Cool. Thanks again. That clears up a lot of my confusion. I'm going to have to decide if I want the guppy/voyeur look or just a wide view of the road. Seems like the Sigma Fisheye for $470 is a nice lens as well. I guess the Raynox is actually a converter, like it fits over the stock Rebel lens. I don't think that's a good idea.
Renny
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JesseR
Enthusiast

Oct 28, 2005, 11:25 PM

Post #10 of 14 (1499 views)
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Tokina 12-24, not fisheye, but W I D E A N G L E [In reply to]	Can't Post

Not a Fisheye, but a really nice Wide Angle option for XT and 20D owners is the Tokina 12-24. I just love this lens thanks to the perspective it gives. Although not a Macro lens, I take most shots less then 6" from the subject to really fill the frame at 12mm.

You can see examples of the 12-24 on my photography website. You'll know when you see the images because they just look "different".

www.jessereich.com

--
Jesse R
www.Take5Video.com
www.JesseReich.com

Renny
User

Oct 29, 2005, 6:41 PM

Post #11 of 14 (1461 views)
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Re: [JesseR] Tokina 12-24, not fisheye, but W I D E A N G L E [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the tip Jesse. I wasn't completely sure which photos were using the 12-24. How about the ones where the couple is in the middle of the road? Not looking at photography that much, I have a hard time distinguishing the lenses. I can watch a video and have it pretty figured out where somebody is on the zoom spectrum and I can even take a pretty good guess as to what lens they might be using. Photos look so much different and shutter speed plays such a bigger role in manipulating depth of field.

Anyways, the lens is a good price and might be a better solution than the fisheye.

Renny
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Tim J
User

Oct 30, 2005, 9:24 AM

Post #12 of 14 (1433 views)
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Re: [Renny] Tokina 12-24, not fisheye, but W I D E A N G L E [In reply to]	Can't Post

I worked with a photographer last night who used this fisheye lens from sigma:

http://www.amazon.com/...=502394&v=glance

He was using it with a Canon 1D Mark IIn and he said he loved it. The images he showed me on the lcd looked fantastic.

Jeko
Enthusiast

Oct 30, 2005, 9:27 AM

Post #13 of 14 (1432 views)
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Re: [Tim J] Tokina 12-24, not fisheye, but W I D E A N G L E [In reply to]	Can't Post

Bear in mind that he was using a full-frame camera... the effect is more striking there than with 20D (not a full frame camera).

Yes, the fisheye is a great effect, and opens the door to a multitude of artistic shots. Not great for close-ups of people (exagerates noses), but I even like to sneak it in with group shots....

Jeko

Sony VX2100's, iRivers, M-audio 24/96, Canon 5Ds/20Ds (and too much glass), Vegas6, PhotoShop CS3, Lightroom, etc.

Renny
User

Oct 30, 2005, 9:55 AM

Post #14 of 14 (1428 views)
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Re: [Tim J] Tokina 12-24, not fisheye, but W I D E A N G L E [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, I've seen some great reviews on that Sigma. I think if I were going to go fisheye, I would get the Sigma instead of the Canon.

Jeko and others, as far as going fisheye or really wide for a time-lapsed drive across the country (the camera points straight out the window and snaps a picture every 10 seconds), does anybody see any thing worth pointing out? I see the fisheye as perhaps smoothing out the effect a bit. But I also worry that the fisheye might dwarf amazing lanscapes like a mountain and make it appear rather unspectacular. Any thoughts?

Here is a similar video using a fisheye.
http://www.stickypod.com/.../stickypod_drive.mov
Mine will be better obviously!

Renny
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