Rectangular Fisheye lens/filter for canon? HELP!

[kiki_w]

<p>Hi there! I have a Canon EOS Digitil Rebel XSi. I really want to get a fisheye lens because I love the warped effect but they're way too expensive. I know filters aren't as great, but I decided the cost is much more managable.</p>

<p><strong>My dilemma:</strong> I really don't like the 'black circle' that most fisheye lenses/filters cause. I have been researching around the internet trying to find what I think is called a 'rectangular fisheye' filter so that I can get the same warped effect without the black circle. I am having THE HARDEST time finding a fisheye filter for my Canon that creates a rectangular fisheye image.</p>

<p>I am a somewhat beginner in photography- Can someone please break it down for me and explain what I'm looking for, what kind of filter I need, suggestions, advice, anything?! <strong>PLEASE HELPP!!!</strong> thank you very much :)</p>

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[howard_m]

<p>what about the Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens?</p>

[hjoseph7]

<p>Not sure what "Black Circle" you are talking about ? can you elaborate.<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-Fisheye-lens-3-5-Canon/dp/B002H0AZBA">http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-Fisheye-lens-3-5-Canon/dp/B002H0AZBA</a> </p>

[howard_m]

<p>he's referring to a classic 180 degree circular fisheye vs. a rectangular frame fisheye.</p>

[craigd]

<p>For the Rebel XSi, or any APS-C camera, I do NOT recommend the Canon 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye. It's a perfectly good lens, but it's most useful on full-frame cameras such as the Canon 5D. The fisheye effect, by its nature, is strongest around the edges of the image, and that's exactly the part that gets cropped off when you use a reduced-size sensor.</p>

<p>For a Rebel (or 60D or 7D), you are probably best off checking out Sigma's 10mm fisheye:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-10mm-Fisheye-Sony-Digital/dp/B001HRXXZ4">http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-10mm-Fisheye-Sony-Digital/dp/B001HRXXZ4</a></p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Don't forget the Tokina 10-17/3.5-4.5 fisheye zoom as well.</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>As a budget option, I've used an 8mm Peleng fish-eye (photozone.de reviewed one) on a 300D, which is a circular fish-eye on full frame - some day I'll either get it remounted or get a replacement for my Nikon system, since I miss it. You get small black corners on a crop sensor, but cropping the image would remove them. There are probably sharper options... I'm assuming you only want a 180 degree view - if you want larger than that so you still have a distorted image but have a little more coverage, it's tricker (google "6mm Nikkor"). A quick google for fish-eye filters game up with a horribly plasticky kludge; I'd go with an off-brand real lens in preference. Good luck.</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>For reference, <a href="http://www.zen60163.zen.co.uk/Private/Photonet/Soda_fisheye.jpg">here</a>'s a shot with the Peleng 8mm I mentioned (cropped a bit to get rid of the black corners, and my legs). I make no claim that this is the best the lens can do. I was waving the camera around near my cat's nose, making sure she didn't touch it.</p>

[craigd]

<p>The Peleng is a nice lens in some ways, but it flares horribly. Aside fromt that, color and sharpness are quite decent. If you can live with the manual focus and manual aperture, it's a good deal for the money.</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>Craig - agreed. Well, I've not noticed the flare much, but then I live in the UK so we don't have much of a problem with the sun being in the frame. :-) (It's true that, with a fisheye, it's very difficult to avoid getting either your feet or the sun in the frame, so I can't deny that a more expensive lens with better coatings may help. Being a complete 180 degree fish-eye, there's absolutely no hood on the Peleng, which doesn't help. Still, the 6mm Nikkor would be worse - I've stood behind one, stuck my arms out to the side, and seen both hands in the viewfinder; freaky.)<br />

<br />

To clarify for Kiki's benefit: with the Peleng, you have to use the camera in Aperture Priority (or Manual) mode and set the aperture on the lens. There's a way to toggle between stopped-down and full aperture so you can see what you're doing until you're ready to shoot. As for focus, you really have to try to make anything significant out-of-focus with these lenses - the photo in my previous post manages it, but I was focussing about 5cm in front of the lens, and the cat's nose was almost touching it. At f/3.5, hyperfocal distance is still within arm's reach; closer than that, you'll probably want to manual focus anyway, because you can't really be looking through the viewfinder without blocking the light or being in danger of hitting the lens on something. These inconveniences compared with a fully-automated lens aren't the issue they might seem.</p>

[craigd]

<p>I thought of including a sample photo from the Peleng in my last comment to demonstrate the flare problem, but decided not to bother. Here it is, with flare quite noticeable along the lower-right quadrant of the circular image, opposite the bright clouds:<br>

<img src="http://craigd.smugmug.com/Street-Scenes/Street-Scenes/IMG2805/781833244_BZWEQ-L-1.jpg" alt="" width="641" height="600" /></p>

<p>I agree about the ease of shooting a lens like this in aperture priority mode with manual focusing; one hardly notices. But the flare is irritating, and I think a 10mm (rather than 8mm) fisheye is better suited to producing the rectangular (frame-filling) fisheye effect that was originally requested; hence my suggestion of the Sigma.</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>Craig: I definitely now miss my Peleng (flare or no). I'm going to have to get it adapted for Nikon. :-)</p>

[kari v]

<p>Samyang 8/3.5 covers full frame on a crop sensor and it beats Peleng in every way. IQ is very good corner to corner even on 7D and if you remove the hood it's a sharp circular fish on 5D. Surprisingly, it's not very prone to flare (as far as extreme wide angles go), at least that's my experience so far.<br>

Price is around 280€ new, a lot cheaper than Canon / Sigma.<br>

It has no AF but really, who cares.</p><div></div>

[kari v]

<p>I can provide some fresh outdoor sample shots if someone's interested... provided the sun rises today. :)<br>

(December in Finland: ISO 400, f5.6, 1/10 in daylight at 9:30 AM, great.)</p>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>I've heard good reviews of the Samyang, although I'm not sure how well it plays with de-fisheyeing software because the projection is unusual; it's certainly a newer design than the Peleng. Off topic (because the OP has a crop camera), Kari - can you point me at any reviews on a full-frame camera? I know you have to cut the "hood" off and it stops the front fitting, but I'm curious whether you still get a 180 degree view, given the odd projection. (I'd be putting it on a D700, FWIW.)</p>

[kari v]

<p>I would call the projection highly enjoyable and useful rather than odd. :D But ok, I know what you mean.<br>

I have 7D & 5D myself but I'm struggling should I shave or not, it's very unprotected that way, I tend to play a bit rough and my actual needs for circular fish are limited... we'll see.</p>

<p>Here we go, a bit more technical than your average lens review:<br>

<a href="http://michel.thoby.free.fr/SAMYANG/Early%20test%20report.html">http://michel.thoby.free.fr/SAMYANG/Early%20test%20report.html</a></p>

<p>"The unveiled projection geometry of the Samyang has ignited some hot debate on some forum about its advantage compared to the other more classic fisheye lenses.<br>

Some see very clear and sharp Nadir view while another seasoned panographer pretends that there is no difference to be expected when all processing is correctly done."</p>

<p>"Early tests and measurement on the shaved Samyang 8 mm fisheye have been giving some stunning results. That lens imaging features are mostly awesome when it's mounted on the EOS 5D. The angle of view is restricted to ~182° @ f/3.5 (it is barely 180° at smaller aperture openings), and the projection method looks rather unusual: that might be the reason for the nice overall imaging performance."</p>

<p>"Take note that the image circle diameter is exactly the same as from a shaved Nikkor 10.5 mm. The Samyang has however 2 mm and 20° of focal length and FOV respectively less than the Nikon lens!"</p>

<p>I don't know much about panoramas and nadirs but I know that this lens is absolutely worth its rather modest price.</p>

[kari v]

<p>Here's one reason I like it. A shot from my sister's place shows rather "non-fishy" and realistic wide rendering, very nice for indoors even uncorrected, a rectilinear ultra-wide would mess things a lot more.</p><div></div>

[Andrew Garrard]

<p>Thanks, Kari. It looks like a nice lens, but it also holds up with my concern that getting a full 180-degree circle on the frame won't work (although the Peleng is cropped slightly, too). It looks like the Sigma might be my best bet, but it's awfully pricey for something I'd not use much. Oh well, perhaps making some money first would be a good idea. :-)</p>

[kiki_w]

<p>Thank you all VERY much for your responses! The thing is, I am a poor college student and can't afford even the cheapest lens right now. Does anyone have experience with the 'fisheye adaptor filters'? Ideally I'd like to find a filter for under US$100 that creates a warped full-frame fisheye. Does this exist? Any suggestions?</p>

<p>I really appreciate all of your extensive feedback...I'm learning so much :)</p>