what does a fish eye lense do?

Question

I am new at all this trying to build a collection of lenses for different purposes.. need some advice

Answer 1

A fish-eye lens is the kind of lens that distorts the image into an almost-circular shape. A bit like the image you get on a dome-shaped mirror. They're usually used for architectural photography, for extreme panoramic shots (you get so much more in than a normal lens, but the image is distorted) and generally arty images. They can be really useful for getting certain shots, but if you're just starting to build your collection of lenses and you're using an SLR, it's unlikely to be worth the expense for a beginner as even 2nd hand it's not going to be cheap (at least not if its any good!). Just get a lens with a good wide-angle, but not as extreme as a fish-eye. If you're using something like a Finepix or some other non-SLR digital camera, then they don't cost too much (about £30-40, try ebay) so I'd say the opposite and highly recommend a purchase if that's the case.

Answer 2

A fish-eye lens is an extremely wide-angle lens that usually has a short focal length. The most common application of a lens like this is for landscape shots where you're shooting something far away and want to get as much of it in as possible (think along the lines of taking a picture of the Rocky Mountains from Denver). You won't find a fish-eye zoom lens, and fish-eye lenses are not the best choice for up-close-and-personal shots.

If you're building a lens collection, the best way to figure out which lenses to get first depends on what you intend to be shooting the most. Many 35mm SLR cameras come with 50mm lenses or adjustable focal length lenses (usually from 35mm to 80mm), and they're general-purpose lenses. If you intend to shoot stills where you have plenty of time to set up the shot, a lens with a shorter focal length (15mm to 35mm) would be a good buy. If you intend to do more close-ups or action shots, a telephoto lens (80mm to 200mm or 70mm to 300mm) would be your best bet. As already mentioned, a fish-eye lens would be good if you'll be shooting a lot of panoramic landscape shots from a distance.

Answer 3

If you have ever seen one of those mirrors that is convex, then you are seeing something similar to a fish eye lens. Those were made for houses that had servants so that the servants could look in the dining room to see if all the diners had finished their meals.

If you could think about the large arch in St. Louis, you can get an concept of how your picture were to look if you had two obelisks at each side of the lens, they would bend inward toward the center of the picture. It is a warped perspective and not used that much by amature, more by pros. You would seldom use it unless you had turned artistic with your photography and did work that the lens enhanced.

They come with different angles of view, some as great as 180 degrees, some in the 170 degree area. Anything you would photograph with one would have a warped perspective. I have one (18mm) which covers about 170 degrees and only bought it for a trip to Florence where I wanted to get everything in a picture with in a Piazza. It did not work that well and even though it had a shade on it, the shade vignetted most of the pictures taken.

I would not spring the cash on it.

Answer 4

A fish eye Len's distorts the image making it look like (IE... if you were taking a picture of a human face the nose area would be the largest then the eye and mouth area would be slightly smaller etc etc..
Imagine if you had a ball which was made of mirror and you looked into it that is what a fish eye lense does.

The results are very obvious on this sort of lense they are great.

Answer 5

The concept of a low-cost fisheye digital camera is very appealing. Unfortunately, fisheye lenses still carry the price premiums associated with limited market ``specialty'' item status. This paper describes how a commodity door peephole can be used as a fisheye converter lens, thus bringing the total parts cost of a serviceable digital camera with a fisheye lens to under $20 US.

or check this link for more info.
Hope this will help.

Answer 6

Here are a few examples of what a my semi-fisheye can do. I love the effect personally.

Fish eye lenses with an auto focus system are very expensive, upwards of five hundred pounds, but for old manual focus 35mm SLR's basically, not digital SLR's you can pick one up on ebay for about 90 pounds made by zenitar.

Its some russian bloke who is selling these, and as dodgy as it sounds, mine turned up when he said it would and in perfect condition...

All depends, do you like the effect of them? Do you have an old SLR film camera? Its the only reason i still use film, just for this lens to be honest...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilspike/196949266/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilspike/275288149/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/evilspike/298128613/

have a look and tell me what you think of the photos. Any other help with fiseyes, send us an email or leave a comment on the flickr page.

Take it easy...

Answer 7

It's a super wide angle lens of a focal length of f17 or less. You get very interesting distortion effects with it especially in close up with people; they end up looking like Pinocchio! Sometimes the lens is so effective that the photographers own feet end up in the picture. They can be pricey.

Answer 8

Beware of fish-eye lens' that don't even resemble fish-eyes. Go to a reputable dealer and touch one - don't be sucking yourself into these half-assed wannabees on ebay. Not ONE of them looks vaguely like a fish-eye lens.

Answer 9

It is a extreme wide angle(view) len that also distorts the picture as well really for more specialist photographers.

Answer 10

I has a 180° field of view. Verticallly and horizontally.