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It’s hard to get really wide on a DX camera without spending a lot. The AF NIKKOR 14mm f/2.8D ED which lists for $1,894.95 will get you to 21mm, and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED will get you from 15mm to 36mm for $899.95. But the Samyang/ProOptic 8mm f/3.5 lens is a great way to get REALLY wide on a budget.
Fisheyes are not for everyone, but properly used they can be fun and very creative. The advantage of this lens however is its full-frame, stereoscopic projection, which to tends to minimize the curved distortion inherent in other fisheye lenses. And at such a bargain price, with an impeccable build quality and optical performance, it’s a purchase that will bring many years of joy.
Build Quality ★★★★★
Solid, metal construction with black, speckle-paint finish which matches current Nikon bodies and G-series lenses. Etched metal focusing ring with paint-filled markings and rubberized grip. Satin-chrome metal mount.
Compatibility ★★★★
This lens is designed for DX cameras, but will also work with DX and 35mm film cameras where the lens hood visible around the periphery of the image. However, this is easily cropped out. Metering capability and available auto exposure modes varying depending on the body used, but it works in manual mode on practically every Nikon made since 1959. Although it also comes in mounts for Canon, Minolta/Sony, Nikon and Pentax, the Nikon works best due to mechanical auto-diaphragm coupling.
Focusing ★★★★★
Silky-smooth, perfectly damped manual focus. Of all the lenses, fisheyes are the least likely to need autofocus due to their enormous depth of field. You need only focus for close ups wide open, and the minimum focus distance is 1 foot.
Optical Quality ★★★★★
Has a unique and rather pleasing “stereoscopic” projection which produces less curvature than a regular fisheye. At f/5.6, center sharpness is as good as it gets, with very good border sharpness. At f/3.5, center sharpness drops off to “very good” levels, and corners become borderline “good”. Chromatic aberrations are in line with fisheye lenses, and minimize at f/11. Shoot at f/8 when you can for the best balance of sharpness with minimal CAs.
Value ★★★★★
At substantially less than half the price of the AF DX Fisheye-NIKKOR 10.5mm f/2.8G ED, this lens offers a great value for those wishing to explore fisheye photography. Many also prefer this lens’ stereoscopic projection to that of the Nikon’s standard projection.
Diaphragm
Six curved blades.
Filters
Six curved blades.
Filters
Does not accept filters.
Hood
Built-in and non-removable. Some users have modified this lens as a semi-circular fisheye for use with an FX or 35mm camera by “shaving off” the lens hood.
Specifications
You can view Samyang’s Specifications for this lens by visiting their website.
Operation
In manual operation, the aperture is controlled by the aperture ring on the lens, rather than the command-dial on the camera. However, you compose your shot at full aperture like any other lens, and it stops down automatically when you take the picture.
Some cameras may allow you to meter, and may even allow you to use one or more of the auto exposure modes, with the aperture controlled by the camera’s command dial. If not, set your camera to manual mode, select the aperture on the lens, and select a shutter speed via the command dial on the camera based on experience or an external meter reading. Take a test shot and Chimp (CHeck IMage Preview). Your histogram and a test shot are actually better than any meter.
With flash, again your camera may or may not meter, which will determine whether or not you can use TTL flash. If it can’t, set the on-board flash to manual at half power, set the aperture to f/8, take a test shot and Chimp. You can readjust the power to give you a good range, and use the aperture ring as you shoot to fine-tune the exposure, just like the good ol’ days. If you use an external flash, things are simplified because you can use the auto aperture mode; once you set the aperture, the flash’s intensity adjusts automatically.
Flash coverage is tricky with fisheye lenses because they are so wide. External flash helps the situation but if you are using the camera’s on-board flash, use a flash diffuser such as the Gary Fong puffer or Janco pop up diffuser; they help tremendously in distributing the light pattern for greater coverage.
Auto focus and VR offer little advantage on a fisheye lens, which has such great depth of field and amplifies camera movement very little. Shoot at f/11, set the focus to infinity and everything from 1 foot on will be in focus.
Sample Images
In manual operation, the aperture is controlled by the aperture ring on the lens, rather than the command-dial on the camera. However, you compose your shot at full aperture like any other lens, and it stops down automatically when you take the picture.
Some cameras may allow you to meter, and may even allow you to use one or more of the auto exposure modes, with the aperture controlled by the camera’s command dial. If not, set your camera to manual mode, select the aperture on the lens, and select a shutter speed via the command dial on the camera based on experience or an external meter reading. Take a test shot and Chimp (CHeck IMage Preview). Your histogram and a test shot are actually better than any meter.
With flash, again your camera may or may not meter, which will determine whether or not you can use TTL flash. If it can’t, set the on-board flash to manual at half power, set the aperture to f/8, take a test shot and Chimp. You can readjust the power to give you a good range, and use the aperture ring as you shoot to fine-tune the exposure, just like the good ol’ days. If you use an external flash, things are simplified because you can use the auto aperture mode; once you set the aperture, the flash’s intensity adjusts automatically.
Flash coverage is tricky with fisheye lenses because they are so wide. External flash helps the situation but if you are using the camera’s on-board flash, use a flash diffuser such as the Gary Fong puffer or Janco pop up diffuser; they help tremendously in distributing the light pattern for greater coverage.
Auto focus and VR offer little advantage on a fisheye lens, which has such great depth of field and amplifies camera movement very little. Shoot at f/11, set the focus to infinity and everything from 1 foot on will be in focus.
Sample Images
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Panoramic image with approximately 150° angle of view
created by geometrically correcting and cropping. |
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