Nikon’s 8–15mm fisheye is a premium (“Gold Ring”) lens that’s considerably larger and heavier than the other two and also by far the most expensive. An alternative is the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, which offers similar performance but for a considerably smaller outlay ($610). Being a prime, it is also the smallest and the lightest among these three lenses, with a price tag that falls between the two.įull-frame shooters have a very similar option of a fast prime fisheye in the Nikkor 16mm f/2.8, but at $1000, the only slightly pricier and more versatile 8–15mm might be considered the more useful addition to the camera bag. While you don’t have the convenience of the Tokina’s zoom, this prime lens produces noticeably sharper images across the frame, especially in the corners. The 10.5mm focuses as close as the Tokina, making it well suited to the close-focus wide-angle technique, and with an equivalent focal length of 16mm, its angle of view is essentially the same as the Tokina when zoomed out. With a maximum aperture of f/2.8, this DX lens is the fastest of the bunch, though the other two aren’t far behind, with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 when zoomed to their widest focal length. Nikon’s 10.5mm has been my personal go-to since I started shooting DSLRs underwater. (Indeed, this lens is so popular, we’ve got a whole “ Underwater Photographer’s Guide to the Tokina 10–17mm Lens.”) Tokina makes the same lens for both Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, making it a favorite among a large number of shooters. The caveat, as you might have guessed, is the optical quality: While it produces images that are acceptably sharp in the center of the frame, there is noticeable softness in the corners, especially with wider apertures, so it’s a good idea to keep important compositional elements out of the corners and use higher f-stops (e.g., f/8–f/11 and above). Other reasons for its popularity are its affordability and light weight. The Tokina 10–17mm is a staple for most underwater photographers using cropped-sensor Nikon cameras, and its zoom range-an equivalent focal length range of 15–26mm-means that it’s fantastic for shooting everything from big reef scenes to close-focus wide-angle critters. *with full-frame sensors, †with cropped sensors The first two are “DX” lenses designed for cropped-sensor DSLRs the third is designed for full-frame cameras, but also works on bodies with APS-C sensors, though with different characteristics.įisheye lenses for Nikon DSLRs compared Make/Model Three popular fisheye lenses for Nikon users are the Tokina 10–17mm, the Nikkor 10.5mm, and the Nikkor 8–15mm. Photographers can take full advantage of the extreme angle of view as well as the very close minimum focus distance with wide-angle subjects such as big animals, schooling fish, and seascapes, as well as techniques like close-focus wide angle. Fisheye lenses allow us to get really close to our subjects while still being able to get both subject and background in the frame.Ībove water, the fisheye effect-distorted lines-tends to be used only sparsely and for special effects, but underwater there aren’t many straight lines (other than some human-made structures like wrecks) so the distortion effect isn’t as noticeable. It’s all about reducing the amount of water between you and your subject: Less water means better contrast, better sharpness and better color. Underwater photographers love fisheye lenses-it’s like they were named for us! To get the ultimate wide angle and allow for extreme close focusing, fisheye lenses are the way to go. With a fisheye lens, you can get really close to the big stuff and still get everything in the frame
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |