Fisheye

martinturner · 15 Oct 2009 at 14:27

I have decided to go to London next month to do a days photography. I think I am mainly going to concentrate on shooting architecture. It got me thinking about perhaps hiring a fisheye lens for a bit of fun. I was looking at lensesforhire.co.uk, so my options are

Sigma/N 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Circular Fisheye

or

Nikon AF 16mm f/2.8 D Fisheye

The problem I have is I will be using a D40, so I am inclined to go with the Sigma as its HSM and will autofocus. Before I proceed I wanted to make sure I am not missing something. Thoughts/opinions?

samcat · 15 Oct 2009 at 16:48

No thoughts on your choice of lens, but I have used lensesforhire.co.uk before and the service was good.

Gnomey · 15 Oct 2009 at 16:53

Both will give different results, the Sigma is a circular fisheye which will produces a small image circle that doesn't cover the whole sensor, which leaves you with a circle in the middle with a black border surrounding it.

The Nikon will cover the whole frame. Go with the lens which will give the result you want.

martinturner · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:05

Gnomey said:
Both will give different results, the Sigma is a circular fisheye which will produces a small image circle that doesn't cover the whole sensor, which leaves you with a circle in the middle with a black border surrounding it.

The Nikon will cover the whole frame. Go with the lens which will give the result you want.

Thank you; I did not realise this. I had a feeling this may have been the case. I am looking more towards the Nikon, although the manual focus feels like a pain. Maybe I will hold off for now.

ScarySquirrel · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:12

When are you planning on going?

I fancy going to London to do some candid street stuff in the day and then some long exposure shots of the skyline in afternoon/early evening.

Perhaps we could do a mini OcUK London meet?

martinturner · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:20

ScarySquirrel said:
When are you planning on going?

I fancy going to London to do some candid street stuff in the day and then some long exposure shots of the skyline in afternoon/early evening.

Perhaps we could do a mini OcUK London meet?

Yeah, that would be pretty cool. I was thinking of the 7th? Where is home for you? An ideal day for me would be a mix of architecture, some candids (borough/spitalfields market, cannot remember which ones which?) and then some long exposures over the South Bank or similar? Am sure we could get a small group of us.

Do you know if its illegal to take photos in tube stations?

Mud · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:21

martinturner said:
Thank you; I did not realise this. I had a feeling this may have been the case. I am looking more towards the Nikon, although the manual focus feels like a pain. Maybe I will hold off for now.

Autofocus and architecture don't necessarily mix, but at the kind of focal lengths you're talking about the depth of field is going to be massive anyway. The Nikon 16mm has DOF markings which may be useful.

Derek W · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:21

ScarySquirrel said:
When are you planning on going?

I fancy going to London to do some candid street stuff in the day and then some long exposure shots of the skyline in afternoon/early evening.

Perhaps we could do a mini OcUK London meet?

I'm hoping to go to london next week for a few days. totally irrelevant to when you're meaning but hey

Derek W · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:23

martinturner said:
Yeah, that would be pretty cool. I was thinking of the 7th? Where is home for you? An ideal day for me would be a mix of architecture, some candids (borough/spitalfields market, cannot remember which ones which?) and then some long exposures over the South Bank or similar? Am sure we could get a small group of us. Do you know if its illegal to take photos in tube stations?

I've seen a few folk taking pictures in the tube stations / platforms but there is a sign up saying do not use flashes as when the trains leave there is a flashy thing at the end which goes off. Something to do with the timings or something :confused:

ScarySquirrel · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:30

martinturner said:
Yeah, that would be pretty cool. I was thinking of the 7th? Where is home for you? An ideal day for me would be a mix of architecture, some candids (borough/spitalfields market, cannot remember which ones which?) and then some long exposures over the South Bank or similar? Am sure we could get a small group of us. Do you know if its illegal to take photos in tube stations?

I can't normally do Saturdays as I play football, but I can miss a game if we can get a group of 3 or 4 of us together for a trip

I live in East Sussex, so I would drive to Tunbridge Wells and get a train from there, so about 30 minutes drive and 45-50 minutes on the train.

I don't think you're allowed to take photos in the underground, but I've done it a few times and never had any problems.

martinturner · 15 Oct 2009 at 17:39

ScarySquirrel said:
I can't normally do Saturdays as I play football, but I can miss a game if we can get a group of 3 or 4 of us together for a trip

I live in East Sussex, so I would drive to Tunbridge Wells and get a train from there, so about 30 minutes drive and 45-50 minutes on the train.

I don't think you're allowed to take photos in the underground, but I've done it a few times and never had any problems.

Excellent. Do you want to start a new thread? Not everyone wants to read my Fisheye thread

I would drive down from Bristol, park on the outskirts somewhere and train in too.

ScarySquirrel · 15 Oct 2009 at 19:20

Ok will do. I know it's lame but I am too tired to think about it right now, so I'll do it tomorrow night

I think between 3-6 would be a good number

D.P. · 15 Oct 2009 at 19:54

martinturner said:
I have decided to go to London next month to do a days photography. I think I am mainly going to concentrate on shooting architecture. It got me thinking about perhaps hiring a fisheye lens for a bit of fun. I was looking at lensesforhire.co.uk, so my options are

Sigma/N 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Circular Fisheye

or

Nikon AF 16mm f/2.8 D Fisheye

The problem I have is I will be using a D40, so I am inclined to go with the Sigma as its HSM and will autofocus. Before I proceed I wanted to make sure I am not missing something. Thoughts/opinions?

I would go the Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye DX.

Very sharp, has AF-S

olv · 15 Oct 2009 at 20:12

I doubt the 16mm will look very fisheyed on your camera.

PaulyD · 15 Oct 2009 at 20:33

Bah I would have definately been up for this as would have learnt a great deal from you guys but i'm away in Bristol that weekend :mad:

martinturner · 15 Oct 2009 at 20:42

D.P. said:
I would go the Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye DX.

Very sharp, has AF-S

They have it listed as AF and not AF-S? are there two versions?