All About Fisheye Lenses

Photo equipment is offered in different modifications, and the availability of a high-quality lens directly affects the shooting result. Thanks to the optics, you can get a clear and bright image. Fisheye lenses are often used by professional photographers and can be used to capture unique images. There are several varieties of such optics, the technical characteristics of which are slightly different. To choose the right lens like this, you need to familiarize yourself with its features in advance.

The fisheye lens is a short throw lens that has natural distortion... In the photograph, straight lines are highly distorted, which is the main distinguishing feature of this element. To increase the viewing angle, manufacturers can install three negative menisci. This scheme is used in cameras of different manufacturers: both domestic and foreign.

More information can be placed on ultra-wide-angle formats, which is unrealistic in the case of standard optics. Also Fisheye is suitable for shooting in a small space to create a wide shot. This allows you to push the limits of the photographer and get stunning panoramic shots even at close range.

With the fish-eye effect, you can make an original image if you set up the equipment correctly. However, due to the use of such optics, the perspective is very distorted. Vignetting may appear in some images, lighting may change. This often occurs for technical reasons, but professional photographers can use this technique for artistic effect. The downside is the large diameter of the optics, which causes some inconvenience.

Fisheye depth of field large, so every subject in the shot will be in focus, which means you can create a shot with an interesting scene. This should be taken into account if the objects in the foreground need to be selected, and the background should be blurred.

There are two types of such optics: diagonal and circular.

Circular optics have a field of view that is 180 degrees in any direction. The frame will not be completely filled with the image; a black frame will form on the sides. These lenses are rarely used unless the photographer has a special idea to get vignetting.

Concerning diagonal lens, it covers the same angle of view, but only diagonally. The vertical and horizontal are less than 180 degrees. The frame is rendered as a rectangle with no black edges. These lenses are considered to be more practical, and photographers use them when shooting nature, interiors and architecture.

Circular fisheye mounts on film and digital cameras with a 35mm sensor. True lenses that do this are lenses that capture the full 180 degrees at their widest locations. Some manufacturers have optics models with coverage up to 220 degrees.

If we talk about models of such optics, then we can mention Canon EF-S. It has a built-in stabilizer, and the focus is automatic and does not make noise. The lens's sharpness is excellent, even when shooting moving subjects or in conditions where there is not enough light.

16mm focal length offered in model Zenit Zenitar C with manual adjustment. Samyang 14mm - this is a manual lens. The convex lens is protected from mechanical damage and glare. The special UMC coating suppresses flare ghosting. Sharpness is adjusted manually, as there is no automation in this model.

When choosing a lens for your camera, there are a number of factors to consider.

Optics type plays an important role, so first you need to decide what effect you want to get when shooting.

Viewing angle is the main characteristic. The wider it is, the less time and frames it will take to create a panoramic shot. It is recommended that you read the instructions for the lens to see if it is suitable for the camera you are using.

For original shooting of celestial objects you can build a compositionby placing the horizon in the center. The use of an implicit line will be relevant when photographing landscapes. If the horizon in a landscape shot is not clearly visible, do not worry, as the bend will be hidden by hills or mountains.

You don't always have to start from the horizon.... The camera can also be pointed downward, focusing on a beautiful corner of nature. Complete freedom of creativity manifests itself in foggy weather, when distant plans are not visible at all. In such cases, you don't have to worry about the curved line by shooting in any direction. When shooting curved tree trunks, you don't have to try to straighten them; they can be used to frame the landscape.

A win-win fisheye application would be close proximity of a beautiful foreground. A small minimum distance, which is present with such optics, allows you to take macro photography. It is convenient to photograph spherical panoramas with a wide viewing angle. This is suitable for nature and architecture photography. Concerning portraits, they will come out rather comic, but you can experiment.

Professionals consider the fisheye lens to be the best underwater lens. It is in such conditions that the distortion becomes less noticeable, since the process takes place in the water column, where there is no straight line and horizon.

Now let's look at the correct sighting technique.

1. The first step is to press down on the viewfinder to see the full frame.
2. Make sure that the subject is close, and you do not need to take the camera away from your face to see the desired picture.
3. It is important to view the frame across the entire diagonal so that it is completely filled. A common mistake photographers make is not paying attention to the periphery of the image. Therefore, it is extremely important to inspect everything so that there is nothing extraneous in the frame.

Below is a video review of the Zenitar 3.5 / 8mm lens with a fixed focal length of the circular fisheye type.