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oatman911 · 03-10-2009, 01:08 PM

Hey all,

I love normal and macro photography, but fisheye has always interested me. I don't own any lenses for it right now, but I'd like to. I figure my first one can be a nice cheap one to learn the basics with, what do you think of this:

Amazon.com: Opteka .35x HD² Super Wide Angle Panoramic Macro Fisheye Lens for Pentax K200D, K110D, K100D, K20D, K10D, & *ist Digital SLR Camera: Electronics

Its only $30 new at amazon, is it worth it for a "learn to shoot fisheye" lens?

Thanks,
Oren

kthung · 03-10-2009, 02:17 PM

Personally, I would rather invest in an actual fish eye lens. With that one there is very pronounced vignetting and for $30 dollars I doubt the optical quality is very good. In addition if you decide fish eye isn't for you, then an actual fish eye lens will hold its value much better

stevebrot · 03-10-2009, 02:26 PM

The lens on the link is a auxiliary lens that you screw onto the front of another lens. These usually suffer from significant softness, vignette, etc., but can be a lot of fun too!

Steve

Quicksand · 03-10-2009, 03:00 PM

That ".35X" designation means that if you attach it to your 18-250mm lens set at 18mm, multiply that by 0.35, and you'll have a 6.3mm-equivalent fisheye. That's extreme! (Not necessarily bad, but results may be quite wacky, and you'll probably see the worst side-effects such as softness and vignetting at this setting.)

To start with, try setting your zoom lens to something in the 40-50mm range, which should still provide a good fisheye effect but not be entirely freakout-worthy!

And like Steve and kthung said, you tend to get what you pay for, but if just experimenting is worth $30 to you, then go for it -- you might end up enjoying the results anyway.

SpecialK · 03-10-2009, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by oatman911

I figure my first one can be a nice cheap one to learn the basics with...

No. There are no nice cheap ones. There will be no "learning" - just crying. Save your daily change and just get the 10-17mm and don't look back.

mycarsoots · 03-10-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

No. There are no nice cheap ones. There will be no "learning" - just crying. Save your daily change and just get the 10-17mm and don't look back.

Exactly! A lot of money is wasted on cheap products that only marginally work as advertised, or not at all. The Pentax 10-17 is very good, and very reasonably priced for what it does. After experimenting, you can decide to keep it, or sell it for close to the purchase price. A no-brainer if you ask me!

mikeSF · 03-10-2009, 10:40 PM

I am saving for the DA 10-17, but at $350+ (used), I thought it reasonable to spend $45 for a cheapie to make sure the real FE will have staying power with me.
I bought the one made by Bower on eBay for $45 or so - it looks to be very similar to the one in the link you posted, and comes with a close focus macro accessory.

OK, i gotta say, the thing has pretty low quality optics; it may be in focus in the center and totally soft all around. Also, mine attaches to a 52mm filter ring, which for me limits me to my DA 18-55, which is not a sharp lens to begin with, so there is much degradation of IQ.

OK, that said, for under $50, i have had much fun with it already; I found it worth the money, at least for the practice until i can afford the DA 10-17mm.

Incidently, I HAD the money last week and just blew all of it on a Cosina 55mm f/1.2 and a SMC Takumar 105 f/2.8 that hit the marketplace over the weekend...ugh LBA!!

i will post a few pics from my cheapie FE so you can get an idea anyhow.

Last edited by mikeSF; 03-10-2009 at 11:36 PM.

mikeSF · 03-10-2009, 11:32 PM

here are some pics i took using my screw-on FE lens (.42x) attached to a DA 18-55 kit lens.

Kit lens at 33mm (~14mm equivalent):

User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous

Kit lens at 28mm (~12mm equivalent):

User Photo Gallery - People

I rarely go wider than 25mm (~10.5mm), but it will pretty much do 180 degrees if you want. These other two photos are also at 30mm (x .42 = 12.6mm equivalent)

Urkeldaedalus · 03-11-2009, 07:30 AM

If you're willing to spend $30 to $45 to try it out, another option is rent the lens for a week and see if you like it.

I've never used these guys before, but I think by all accounts they are a pretty good service.

CameraLensRentals.com - Camera Lens Rental for Canon, Nikon, and PENTAX Cameras

03-10-2009, 01:08 PM	#1
oatman911 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bronx Posts: 70	good beginners fisheye? Hey all, I love normal and macro photography, but fisheye has always interested me. I don't own any lenses for it right now, but I'd like to. I figure my first one can be a nice cheap one to learn the basics with, what do you think of this: Amazon.com: Opteka .35x HD² Super Wide Angle Panoramic Macro Fisheye Lens for Pentax K200D, K110D, K100D, K20D, K10D, & *ist Digital SLR Camera: Electronics Its only $30 new at amazon, is it worth it for a "learn to shoot fisheye" lens? Thanks, Oren

03-10-2009, 11:32 PM	#8
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	here are some pics i took using my screw-on FE lens (.42x) attached to a DA 18-55 kit lens. Kit lens at 33mm (~14mm equivalent): User Photo Gallery - Miscellaneous Kit lens at 28mm (~12mm equivalent): User Photo Gallery - People I rarely go wider than 25mm (~10.5mm), but it will pretty much do 180 degrees if you want. These other two photos are also at 30mm (x .42 = 12.6mm equivalent) Last edited by mikeSF; 06-08-2011 at 11:25 AM.

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03-10-2009, 02:17 PM	#2
kthung Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 359	Personally, I would rather invest in an actual fish eye lens. With that one there is very pronounced vignetting and for $30 dollars I doubt the optical quality is very good. In addition if you decide fish eye isn't for you, then an actual fish eye lens will hold its value much better

03-10-2009, 02:26 PM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	The lens on the link is a auxiliary lens that you screw onto the front of another lens. These usually suffer from significant softness, vignette, etc., but can be a lot of fun too! Steve

03-10-2009, 03:00 PM	#4
Quicksand Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Ohio (formerly SF Bay Area) Posts: 1,519	That ".35X" designation means that if you attach it to your 18-250mm lens set at 18mm, multiply that by 0.35, and you'll have a 6.3mm-equivalent fisheye. That's extreme! (Not necessarily bad, but results may be quite wacky, and you'll probably see the worst side-effects such as softness and vignetting at this setting.) To start with, try setting your zoom lens to something in the 40-50mm range, which should still provide a good fisheye effect but not be entirely freakout-worthy! And like Steve and kthung said, you tend to get what you pay for, but if just experimenting is worth $30 to you, then go for it -- you might end up enjoying the results anyway.

03-10-2009, 08:06 PM	#5
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Originally posted by oatman911 I figure my first one can be a nice cheap one to learn the basics with... No. There are no nice cheap ones. There will be no "learning" - just crying. Save your daily change and just get the 10-17mm and don't look back.

03-10-2009, 08:44 PM	#6
mycarsoots Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 100	Originally posted by SpecialK No. There are no nice cheap ones. There will be no "learning" - just crying. Save your daily change and just get the 10-17mm and don't look back. Exactly! A lot of money is wasted on cheap products that only marginally work as advertised, or not at all. The Pentax 10-17 is very good, and very reasonably priced for what it does. After experimenting, you can decide to keep it, or sell it for close to the purchase price. A no-brainer if you ask me!

03-10-2009, 10:40 PM	#7
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	I am saving for the DA 10-17, but at $350+ (used), I thought it reasonable to spend $45 for a cheapie to make sure the real FE will have staying power with me. I bought the one made by Bower on eBay for $45 or so - it looks to be very similar to the one in the link you posted, and comes with a close focus macro accessory. OK, i gotta say, the thing has pretty low quality optics; it may be in focus in the center and totally soft all around. Also, mine attaches to a 52mm filter ring, which for me limits me to my DA 18-55, which is not a sharp lens to begin with, so there is much degradation of IQ. OK, that said, for under $50, i have had much fun with it already; I found it worth the money, at least for the practice until i can afford the DA 10-17mm. Incidently, I HAD the money last week and just blew all of it on a Cosina 55mm f/1.2 and a SMC Takumar 105 f/2.8 that hit the marketplace over the weekend...ugh LBA!! i will post a few pics from my cheapie FE so you can get an idea anyhow. Last edited by mikeSF; 03-10-2009 at 11:36 PM.

03-11-2009, 07:30 AM	#9
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	If you're willing to spend $30 to $45 to try it out, another option is rent the lens for a week and see if you like it. I've never used these guys before, but I think by all accounts they are a pretty good service. CameraLensRentals.com - Camera Lens Rental for Canon, Nikon, and PENTAX Cameras

good beginners fisheye?

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