Fisheye Lens at DVinfo.net

Denny Kyser · March 5th, 2008, 11:11 AM

Is anyone using a fisheye lens with the A1, I see century optics makes a couple but not sure which one is recemended, also they are pricey and wonder if someone else makes one that is good, but less money.

Ryan Avery · March 5th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny Kyser

Is anyone using a fisheye lens with the A1, I see century optics makes a couple but not sure which one is recemended, also they are pricey and wonder if someone else makes one that is good, but less money.

Check out the below link for footage. Click on the lens and then look at the samples tab.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/centu...h-g1/xh-g1.htm

The .3x Ultra Fisheye has a slight amount of vignette at the corners. This is the same effect as our best selling .3x Ultra Fisheye for the VX1000 in that it creates the clipping in the corners that extreme sports shooters want.

We also make the standard Fisheye adapter which is roughly .5x but with a good amount of barrel distortion. This has no clipping but isn't as wide.

I am sure others will confirm the quality of our attachments. They are the industry standard for Fisheyes.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Denny Kyser · March 5th, 2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Avery

Check out the below link for footage. Click on the lens and then look at the samples tab.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/centu...h-g1/xh-g1.htm

The .3x Ultra Fisheye has a slight amount of vignette at the corners. This is the same effect as our best selling .3x Ultra Fisheye for the VX1000 in that it creates the clipping in the corners that extreme sports shooters want.

We also make the standard Fisheye adapter which is roughly .5x but with a good amount of barrel distortion. This has no clipping but isn't as wide.

I am sure others will confirm the quality of our attachments. They are the industry standard for Fisheyes.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Not sure which one would work better for weddings, any suggestions?
The .3 if you zoomed in a little would that get rid of the clipping?

John Moon · March 5th, 2008, 08:38 PM

Hey Denny. We use the EX compact super fisheye lens from 16x9 and love it. It is not zoom through but that is fine with me because we always keep it wide to get the full effect. Very light lens. You will have to remove any lens filter you might have on the front for it to function at max.

John

Jack Walker · March 6th, 2008, 12:17 AM

Here's the 16x9 .45x referenced above:
http://16x9inc.com/products/16x9/169...72-can-a1.html

Here are the choices from Century:
http://www.schneideroptics.com/centu...h-g1/xh-g1.htm

I have the .6x from Century, but obviously not the fisheye, but very nice image and lightweight. Reasonable amount of barrel distortion. It is $400 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...arch&Q=*&bhs=t

The XH-A1 has a reasonably wide lens to begin with, so you may not need as wide an adapter as you think. Exactly what look are you going for? The Century .3 Fisheye will give you a true fisheye luck, and it should manage to make the bride look pretty ugly in closeup! B&H has it for $812.50:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...arch&Q=*&bhs=t

The HD Fisheye, which also seems to be .3x, is cheaper at 507.95:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...a_Fisheye.html

I don't know what the difference is between the two Century .3x adapters, except that the less expensive one is non vignetting. So I guess the more expensive one gives the super exaggerated distortion with vignetting (and thus costs more)>

The choices all seem to be the same relative price based on the amount wide angle and effect. It looks the the 16x9, and .45x is a nice compromise between the Century .3x and .6x choices.

It depends on the look you want what you are shooting. What are you shooting specifically that you want the wide angle look for?

One final thought, it is my opinion it is better to get one of the quality adapters (which I believe both Century and 16x9 are) as opposed to saving a couple of hundred dollars and getting something cheap. The cheap ones are okay for stunt shots, but for quality video on a regular basis, the better quality adapters are worth it.

Denny Kyser · March 6th, 2008, 12:34 AM

This will be mainly for inside and outside church shots, and probably some reception shots. Mostly for the decor, and special efects type video.

leaning towards the 16X9 .4 and Century .5 with the wide angle of the A1 I think this may be my best bet, I love that fisheye look, do you think these will still give that good distortion?

Jack Walker · March 6th, 2008, 01:40 AM

If you haven't seen it, here's some example footage from the 16x9 adapter:
http://16x9inc.com/products/16x9/169...72-can-a1.html
(Click on the word Video in the horizontal menu in the center of the page)

I don't think Century has a .5x. I don't see one. The .6x (which I have) is not near as distored as the 16x9 .45. With the .6x it depends on what you are shooting as to how much barrel distortion actually show in the image.

I don't think any of them are the same, but rather each offers a different wide angle look along the scale from .3 to .6.

March 5th, 2008, 11:11 AM	#1
Denny Kyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Pa Posts: 785	Fisheye Lens Is anyone using a fisheye lens with the A1, I see century optics makes a couple but not sure which one is recemended, also they are pricey and wonder if someone else makes one that is good, but less money. __________________ 2 Canon XF305's Kyser Photography www.kyserphoto.com

March 5th, 2008, 08:38 PM	#4
John Moon Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 446	Hey Denny. We use the EX compact super fisheye lens from 16x9 and love it. It is not zoom through but that is fine with me because we always keep it wide to get the full effect. Very light lens. You will have to remove any lens filter you might have on the front for it to function at max. John __________________ John J. Moon www.northernlightfilmworks.com - Event DV Top 25 Recipient

March 6th, 2008, 12:34 AM	#6
Denny Kyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Pa Posts: 785	This will be mainly for inside and outside church shots, and probably some reception shots. Mostly for the decor, and special efects type video. leaning towards the 16X9 .4 and Century .5 with the wide angle of the A1 I think this may be my best bet, I love that fisheye look, do you think these will still give that good distortion? __________________ 2 Canon XF305's Kyser Photography www.kyserphoto.com

March 6th, 2008, 01:40 AM	#7
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	If you haven't seen it, here's some example footage from the 16x9 adapter: http://16x9inc.com/products/16x9/169...72-can-a1.html (Click on the word Video in the horizontal menu in the center of the page) I don't think Century has a .5x. I don't see one. The .6x (which I have) is not near as distored as the 16x9 .45. With the .6x it depends on what you are shooting as to how much barrel distortion actually show in the image. I don't think any of them are the same, but rather each offers a different wide angle look along the scale from .3 to .6. Last edited by Jack Walker; March 6th, 2008 at 02:21 PM.

March 6th, 2008, 12:17 AM	#5
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	Here's the 16x9 .45x referenced above: http://16x9inc.com/products/16x9/169...72-can-a1.html Here are the choices from Century: http://www.schneideroptics.com/centu...h-g1/xh-g1.htm I have the .6x from Century, but obviously not the fisheye, but very nice image and lightweight. Reasonable amount of barrel distortion. It is $400 at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...arch&Q=&bhs=t The XH-A1 has a reasonably wide lens to begin with, so you may not need as wide an adapter as you think. Exactly what look are you going for? The Century .3 Fisheye will give you a true fisheye luck, and it should manage to make the bride look pretty ugly in closeup! B&H has it for $812.50: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...arch&Q=&bhs=t The HD Fisheye, which also seems to be .3x, is cheaper at 507.95: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...a_Fisheye.html I don't know what the difference is between the two Century .3x adapters, except that the less expensive one is non vignetting. So I guess the more expensive one gives the super exaggerated distortion with vignetting (and thus costs more)> The choices all seem to be the same relative price based on the amount wide angle and effect. It looks the the 16x9, and .45x is a nice compromise between the Century .3x and .6x choices. It depends on the look you want what you are shooting. What are you shooting specifically that you want the wide angle look for? One final thought, it is my opinion it is better to get one of the quality adapters (which I believe both Century and 16x9 are) as opposed to saving a couple of hundred dollars and getting something cheap. The cheap ones are okay for stunt shots, but for quality video on a regular basis, the better quality adapters are worth it.