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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Fisheyes
Randy Abrams, Photographer
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Bath | NY | US | Posted: 12:02 PM on 10.13.09 |
| ->> How many make use of a fisheye lens shooting sports? I've been thinking about getting one, but I'm not sure how often I would use it. I'm not worried about it paying for itself, but I don't really want it sitting on a shelf either not getting used. Obviously not something that you are going to shot whole games/events with. I'd be interested in hearing from those of you use one regularly and what you use it for. |
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Brian Cripe, Photographer, Assistant
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East Lansing | MI | USA | Posted: 12:52 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> I have a Sigma 15mm for Canon (sharper and closer focusing than the Canon, which is significant for underwater use) and I use it regularly. I have owned the Canon also, but the Sigma impressed me more. It makes a good lens on a grab camera for those celebratory scrums after games (you have a HUGE depth of field, and on a 1.3 crop body it's not too "fishy" looking but still very wide). If you don't mind the fisheye distortion, it's sharper in the corners than comparable superwide rectilinear lenses like the 14mm. I also use it on underwater housings for surf and other photography, where it's an indispensable lens.
If you're shooting with a 1.5 or 1.6 crop body (d300 or 50d etc) the Tokina 10-17 is a surprisingly good lens, giving you an equivalent 16-28 fisheye zoom. It definitely focuses slower than the Sigma or Canon fisheye lenses. |
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Randy Abrams, Photographer
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Bath | NY | US | Posted: 12:56 PM on 10.13.09 |
| ->> Thanks Brian. I was looking at the Sigma 15mm and would be using it on my D3/D700, so full frame. Fisheyes seem to be hard to find used so I'm guessing either not a lot of people use them or people love them so much they never sell them. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 1:21 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> Brian,
Did you know that the Tokina 10-17 actually works on full frame at 15mm as well ? Still gives the 180 degree diagonal fisheye image.
Its a super handy lens to have if you've got both crop and 1.3x or 1.6x bodies as you can have just one lens and be able to get the same FE effect on all of them.
I'm sure its got to be like a dream in a housing as well since you can zoom in a little and I"m sure it works far better in a dome port than most rectilinear glass.
Randy, they certainly are a lens I think people hang onto. I've got the Sigma 15 (and the TOkina 10-17) and they are both very compact lenses that take little room. You never know when your going to need to get as wide as possible for a shot.
Works wonders for those shots of a whole arena or stadium, or some really big groups of crowds etc.
Times I've not taken it I've regretted it when I can't get everything into the frame due to not enough working distance. Just a very handy tool to have, and while you won't use it a lot, when you need it, nothing else really comes close |
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Eugenio Cebollero, Photographer
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Kernersville | NC | US | Posted: 1:23 PM on 10.13.09 |
| ->> I have to apologize upfront for not being an active user of a fisheye, but it sounds to me like you are looking for examples of a good usage of this type lens. The most common usage I've seen is for getting an entire shot of a stadium or venue from an elevated location. I've also seen them used to capture fly-bys in context with fireworks or other on-field events. The aforementioned scrums are another usage as are tight places like tunnel entrances and locker rooms. A fisheye just seems like it begs for artistic expression and challenges the shooter to make unique images at a rather common event. |
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Matt Kartozian, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 1:36 PM on 10.13.09 |
| ->> I have a 10.5mm and a 16mm Nikon fisheyes and generally use them for a few shots on almost every event I do. They are great for stadium shots and scrums as mentioned. I use it a lot for remotes in racing as well. The first 3 shots on my member page were with the 16mm FE. |
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Chris Parent, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Baton Rouge | LA | United States | Posted: 3:32 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> I have a 10.5 in my bag and constantly use it. Stadium shot, tight locker rooms, team shots, etc. It is great for what I do. I spend a lot of time looking for sidelines and secondary shots and love the lens.
Recently I've started using it more for just fun type shots with friends and such. It can make some neat effects. I'm going to start using it in portraits and such for something new. The only limit to what you can do with it is your own creativity.
The only downside to fisheyes is the constant overuse of them. The same shots gets boring, you have to keep new ideas flowing so it doesn't become stale. |
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Tim Snow, Photographer
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Montreal | Qc | Canada | Posted: 11:05 PM on 10.13.09 |
->> The best thing you could do is see if your local store has one at the rental counter. you'll never know if you like it until you try it. I personally love mine (Sigma 15mm) and have had it for over 10 years now, and it has withstood a lot of punishment. Also, this will have to be doublechecked, but when I bought mine Sigma had a 7 year warranty on the lens which was fantastic. I sent it in for a firmware upgrade 6 years after I bought it (mine wasn't compatible with digital at the time), and they paid for the shipping both ways and did the work for free. Sweet!
I use it for sports, concerts, portraits, weddings...the only limit is your creativity... |
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Scott Evans, Photographer
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Bay Village | OH | USA | Posted: 11:06 PM on 10.13.09 |
| ->> I'll agree with the above. I use the Sigma 15mm for most of my post game on field and sideline/dugout shots as well locker room stuff. Works great for fan and venue shots as well. Basically any where really tight or really wide. |
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Randy Abrams, Photographer
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Bath | NY | US | Posted: 9:36 AM on 10.14.09 |
| ->> Thanks for the replies. I've got the Sigma 15 on the road. Figures though that I just checked the tracking number and it has an exception "THE PACKAGE WAS LEFT IN A UPS FACILITY" so I won't be getting it today. Killer as it was shipped out of Brooklyn which is only about 5.5 hours from me. Oh well...I'm looking to try it out on Saturday at a HS football game and just want a day to play with it first. |
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Tim Snow, Photographer
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Montreal | Qc | Canada | Posted: 9:27 PM on 10.14.09 |
->> Remember the one fisheye golden rule...make sure your feet aren't in the shot!
Enjoy the new glass! |
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Steve Allen, Photographer
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Concord | CA | USA | Posted: 2:00 PM on 10.15.09 |
| ->> I like my 10.5 with my D300. I use it sparingly, and 1 shot paid for the lens, with a magazine using the shot for the opening 2 page spread on last years MotoGP at Laguna Seca. It is a fun lens to use here and there, and, my firends all like when i stick my camera 2" from their face and shoot them with it. |
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David A. Cantor, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Paul Alesse, Photographer
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Centereach | NY | USA | Posted: 7:53 PM on 10.17.09 |
| ->> It can sometimes be gimmicky and I wouldn't overuse it, but overall... a formidable lens to have in the bag at all times. |
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Colter Ray, Student/Intern, Photographer
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San Marcos | TX | United States | Posted: 9:58 PM on 10.17.09 |
->> Actually just stuck a fisheye on my camera on a monopod, held it up over the coin toss before a football game (fired it with a pocketwizard)
The idea was cool, photo could be better next time, but its definitely a cool way to do something different. |
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