Best fisheye for canon.

[Nate]

Hi,

I am looking to get a fisheye for my 5D3, but I can not find any site where I can compare the image quality. Not even the-digital-picture has any sample shots.

The canon 8-15 is out of the range of what I want to spend.

I was thinking on a second canon 15 2.8 or a sigma.

What are my possibilities? Anyone had both of them? Also how is Rokinon?

What else I could consider?

I do not mind manual focus if its way sharper that the ones with auto focus.

Also, I could not find it. If I take a picture with a fisheye and than de-fisheye it do I loose a lot of image quality?

Thank you very much!

 

[eml58]

I own both the 15f/2.8 Canon & the 8-15f/4 Canon, I use them Primarily for Underwater Photography, the 8-15f/4 @ 15mm is streets ahead of the much older 15f/2.8.

I also own the Zeiss 15f/2.8 Distagon T, but it's a Manual Focus Lens, and damn expensive, but it Kills both the above mentioned Lenses, including the Canon 14f/2.8 L II, which I also own & used a lot until I purchased the Zeiss.

I also have the new 17 & 24 Canon TSE lenses, but again, they are somewhat expensive and Manual Focus, the Image quality though is superb.

I dont have any experience with other Brands on the Super WA side unfortunately, but if you can afford the Zeiss and don't mind Manual Focus, you cant go wrong.

 

[lol]

The Rokinon (a.k.a. Samyang) is a crop sensor lens. It'll fit on a full frame camera but you get a small rectangular image due to the built in lens hood. If you cut off the hood, you get a cropped circle in the middle instead, but still wont cover the whole sensor. Note the lens cap fits onto the hood if you're considering that. All in, I wouldn't recommend this lens for a full frame sensor, unless you have a very particular need for it to fill. It is great value for crop bodies though.

 

[noisejammer]

I use an Zuiko OM 16/5.5 FE with a Fotodiox Pro adapter on a 5D2. Image quality is great and the colours are well saturated. See for example this...

In case the image tag didn't work, here's a link.http://flic.kr/p/bUjf4u

The lens has built in orange and iirc green filters - useful for B&W but of limited value for a digital camera unless you have MaxMax convert it. The lens also works well on my X-E1 ... a 24mm equivalent fisheye is a strange but likeable beastie.

I picked mine up from KEH for about $600, so price wise, it's halfway between the 8-15L and a Samyang.

 

[infared]

Pick- up a used (maybe new on eBay), Canon 15mm f/2.8). Small, sharp and well built...I even like the whirring of the older focus motor...it is a cute novelty. Fisheye shooting is a lot of fun.

 

[Nate]

so at around $600 the sharpest lens I can get is the canon 15 2.8?

 

[privatebydesign]

so at around $600 the sharpest lens I can get is the canon 15 2.8?

Yes.

I own the Canon EF15, it is a much better lens than the 14mm for a fraction of the money (well my 15 is better than the two 14mm lenses I have used). It is not just a one trick pony either, with software being so powerful now things like FisheyeHemi make it a really useful lens.

 

[Nate]

And what about the quality loss at de-fisheyeing?

 

[Random Orbits]

And what about the quality loss at de-fisheyeing?

Defishing degrades IQ more toward the edges and especially the corners because those are the areas that need to be stretched out more. However, a defished image is still "wider" than a 14mm prime, so it does have some unique capabilities. A defished image will lose to good UWA lenses, but may be good enough anyway if subject is not at the edges/corners and if you're not demanding edge-to-edge sharpness (i.e. landscapes). Most likely, the IQ loss won't be obvious for web sizes, but it will when viewed 1:1.

 

[Nate]

I own both the 15f/2.8 Canon & the 8-15f/4 Canon, I use them Primarily for Underwater Photography, the 8-15f/4 @ 15mm is streets ahead of the much older 15f/2.8.

When you have some time can you please put 4 full sized jpegs, taken with the 8-15 @ 15 and the 15 2.8, both at f4 and f11.

I am just interested in the difference.

Thank you!

 

[eml58]

Wasn't able to find exactly what you wanted, but I've attached a couple of Images so it may help.

Keep in mind the "Fish Eye" effect is lessened considerably Underwater, mainly due to the Curvature of the Housing Dome, what you do still get is Fall Off to the edges & mostly the corners, using software for Underwater Images to "fix" the distortion is often a lesson in futility.

At 15mm the 8-15f/4 is just simply streets ahead of the older 15f/2.8, but it comes at a price difference, and the 8-15f/4 at less than say 14mm is of debatable real value (to me), although I have seen a lot of very nice Images even @ 8mm, so it's always going to be down to the user & their "artistic" view, someone posted earlier about the positive value of the older 15f/2.8, and they are right, it's a good Lens as well, it's just not up to the IQ of the 8-15f/4.

The Manta Shot: 5DMK II 8-15F/4, Shot @ f/7.1 & 1/125th ISO200

My Son's First Dive B&W: 5DMK II 15f/2.8, Shot @ f/8.0 & 1/125th ISO100

 

[Brand B]

The Rokinon (a.k.a. Samyang) is a crop sensor lens. It'll fit on a full frame camera but you get a small rectangular image due to the built in lens hood. If you cut off the hood, you get a cropped circle in the middle instead, but still wont cover the whole sensor. Note the lens cap fits onto the hood if you're considering that. All in, I wouldn't recommend this lens for a full frame sensor, unless you have a very particular need for it to fill. It is great value for crop bodies though.

On the other hand, it's on sale for $229 at adorama today.

 

[privatebydesign]

As I have said I found my 15mm fisheye to be better than the two 14mm Canon lenses I have used.

Here is an image shot with the 15, the second is the same image defished with FisheyeHemi and stretched to retain aspect ratio. The third is a 100% crop from the defished image corner. No post processing other than auto Lightroom import basics.

 

[lol]

The Rokinon (a.k.a. Samyang) is a crop sensor lens. It'll fit on a full frame camera but you get a small rectangular image due to the built in lens hood. If you cut off the hood, you get a cropped circle in the middle instead, but still wont cover the whole sensor. Note the lens cap fits onto the hood if you're considering that. All in, I wouldn't recommend this lens for a full frame sensor, unless you have a very particular need for it to fill. It is great value for crop bodies though.

On the other hand, it's on sale for $229 at adorama today.

Attached shows the coverage of the Samyang on a full frame body. You can kinda see the image circle it gives which you can expand into if you cut off the hood. There are some examples out on the internet of people who have cut off the hood.

 

[infared]

eml....GREAT images...especially love the one of your son....fantastic composition, focus point...it has it all!!!!
I was not aware of the IQ (sharpness) differences between the old Canon 15mm f/2.8 and the new Canon 8-15mm Zoom @ 15mm, (but you know your stuff so I am not questioning your observation).Since the new zoom is 24 years newer...I guess it should have better IQ! LOL!
What the 8-15mm brings to the table is weather sealing, more versatility (I have no real interest in making circular images on my FF...just not my thing) and better flare & CA control....
I have to say...I rarely use my 15mm, but do enjoy the process...many times I get it out of the bag and check a scene only to put it away as it is not working for me...one has to choose ones images carefully with that lens. I find the small size and lesser cost are also benefits to me for a lens that is not used that often. ...and I have to say that I find that the images that I do take with the lens to be plenty sharp, even for the age of the design. They are very sharp across the frame. I do need my CA sliders in LR for this lens, too...no doubt...but it cleans up nicely. Cost around $600 on ebay...could be cheaper if you get lucky.
I have noticed that some posts are bringing up the Canon 14mm, and also the Zeiss 15mm (killer lens) and the Canon 17mm TSE (double killer lens)...but, (respectfully) these are all rectilinear lenses and I just don't see how they fit into a "fisheye" discussion...They do not apply for me in this context. If I want a fisheye...I WANT the curvature and distortion. That is the whole point to me when I grab that lens. (now if our discussion was about running fisheye shots thru software to remove distortion, I could see those comparisons to be useful).
I guess it would be nice to have the new 8-15mm zoom on site...but the cost, weight and size (vs. amount of use) deter me from that purchase...although apparently the IQ is better. (Have looked for side-by-side image comparisons of the 15mm f/2.8 vs. Canon 8-15mm f/4L on the web @ 15mm...but am coming up empty )

 

[Nate]

I guess it would be nice to have the new 8-15mm zoom on site...but the cost, weight and size (vs. amount of use) deter me from that purchase...although apparently the IQ is better. (Have looked for side-by-side image comparisons on the web @ 15mm...but am coming up empty )

Yes, I could not find any good compaction ether...

 

[Ellen Schmidtee]

The Rokinon (a.k.a. Samyang) is a crop sensor lens. It'll fit on a full frame camera but you get a small rectangular image due to the built in lens hood. If you cut off the hood, you get a cropped circle in the middle instead, but still wont cover the whole sensor.

This lens is now made with a detachable hood, which I've bought. The image circle is 29mm, or a wee over, just enough to cover a Nikon DX sensor.

I can shoot a couple of pictures on a 5Dmk3 without the hood and upload the result somewhere, if anyone's interested.

 

[nda]

i have the canon 15mm fisheye picked it up used on ebay for $650 a couple of weeks ago. i have used the 8-15L my photo buddy has one and i was going to get one my self but, i couldn't part with the price of entry for the L zoom just to expensive for a specialized lens for occasional use so i went for the alternative, wonderful lens, sharp at f/2.8, fun to use and reasonably cheap, recommended

 

[Ellen Schmidtee]

I was thinking on a second canon 15 2.8 or a sigma.

What are my possibilities? Anyone had both of them? Also how is Rokinon?

I have the Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 and the Rokinon, but do notice that (a) the former is an FF lens, and the later is a crop factor lens, (b) the lenses have different projections.

 

[infared]

i have the canon 15mm fisheye picked it up used on ebay for $650 a couple of weeks ago. i have used the 8-15L my photo buddy has one and i was going to get one my self but, i couldn't part with the price of entry for the L zoom just to expensive for a specialized lens for occasional use so i went for the alternative, wonderful lens, sharp at f/2.8, fun to use and reasonably cheap, recommended

So....can you borrow your bud's Zoom and give us a side-by-side at 15mm f/4 with a 100% crop for comparison???!!!!???!!!!????
Actually ...I don't really need it...I am very happy with my Canon 15mm f/2.8..paid same price as you..bought it new just as the 8-15mm zoom hit the market. Its a cool lens, and perfect for "my" needs!!!!!