Fisheye Lens at DVinfo.net

Brian Rhodes · February 25th, 2008, 03:12 PM

Can any one recommend a good fisheye lens for the Z7.

Bob Ridge · March 14th, 2008, 02:06 AM

I found a whole bunch of them brand new on eBay, from primarily 3-4 stores. Just search for "72mm wide angle." They all seem to be about the same. I bought one for about $70 and love it so far. Good luck!

Sean Hsieh · March 22nd, 2008, 06:47 PM

I think Brian was referring to a fish-eye lens, not a WA. BH has this century optics fish-eye, but the price is hefty, guess you gotta pay for quality :-P

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...pter_Lens.html

John Gayman · March 22nd, 2008, 07:36 PM

Wow, at 3.58 lb that's a lot of weight hanging off the front lens.

Bob Ridge · March 23rd, 2008, 02:55 PM

I'm not sure what the technical definition of "fish-eye" is, but most of the results on eBay for "72 mm wide angle" were actually identified as and appeared to be fish-eye (.4x-.5x) lenses. The word "fish-eye" just wasn't in the titles. In fact, I found the "wide-angle" titles to be misleading, as I had trouble finding what I would consider to be "real" wide angles (.7x) on eBay. Good luck!

Sean Hsieh · March 23rd, 2008, 04:02 PM

I thought the difference was that fish eye was to give that bubble look on an image, where you would see the distortion because of the curvature of the lens, whereas wide-angle is simple just stepping down the magnification to give you a larger view in your composition? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, because then I definitely have my terminology backwards.

Bob Ridge · March 23rd, 2008, 07:44 PM

Here's an entire video shot with what I've always called my fisheye lens. It's not totally bubble-like, but it's pretty clearly distorted. What do you think - "fisheye" or no?

http://www.indyvisual.com/2008/02/tr...ot-111207.html

But here's what you're probably thinking of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4rlY1SYeKE

Sean Hsieh · March 23rd, 2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Ridge

Here's an entire video shot with what I've always called my fisheye lens. It's not totally bubble-like, but it's pretty clearly distorted. What do you think - "fisheye" or no?

http://www.indyvisual.com/2008/02/tr...ot-111207.html

But here's what you're probably thinking of:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4rlY1SYeKE

It feels like both of them are fish-eye lenses, although clearly in order for a wide-angle to work, it must be convex to capture more data. I'm beginning to think that the terms are interchangeable, but when it becomes extremely bubble like (youtube link), then it should be referred to as just a fish-eye. btw, your footage is great, what magnification is your wide-angle at?

Bob Ridge · March 23rd, 2008, 10:09 PM

Thanks. That "fisheye" is .5x, I think... Shot with the V1U.

Oh, goodness, I just checked and saw that it's .3x! I just used the new eBay one (72mm .45x) with my Z7U and did notice that it wasn't quite as distorted as I was used to. Now I know why. Duh... So I guess that's as "fisheye" as the common ones on eBay (search term "72mm wide angle") get. The .3x one is a Raynox 58mm that I got for about $130 at B&H.

Ryan Avery · March 25th, 2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Rhodes

Can any one recommend a good fisheye lens for the Z7.

Brian,

We are currently evaluating various options for creating a fisheye lens for the Z7. Sony wouldn't cooperate with us on obtianing a pre-production unit so we are forced to develop one just recently. We make all of our Century lenses for each camera specifically and the new optics in the Z7 require us to design a new attachment. I will keep all posted on developments of this product as I get more info from my Engineering department.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Brian Rhodes · March 25th, 2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Avery

Brian,

We are currently evaluating various options for creating a fisheye lens for the Z7. Sony wouldn't cooperate with us on obtianing a pre-production unit so we are forced to develop one just recently. We make all of our Century lenses for each camera specifically and the new optics in the Z7 require us to design a new attachment. I will keep all posted on developments of this product as I get more info from my Engineering department.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Thanks Ryan
Also let me know if you have a fisheye for the XDCAM EX

Ryan Avery · March 25th, 2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Rhodes

Thanks Ryan
Also let me know if you have a fisheye for the XDCAM EX

The Super Fisheye for the EX1 should be available late this week or next. I am on the road and haven't talked with the Factory in Van Nuys in a few days.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Brian Rhodes · April 18th, 2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Avery

The Super Fisheye for the EX1 should be available late this week or next. I am on the road and haven't talked with the Factory in Van Nuys in a few days.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

I tried the lens out at NAB looks good Ryan let me know when it is available for purchase.

Ryan Avery · April 23rd, 2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Rhodes

I tried the lens out at NAB looks good Ryan let me know when it is available for purchase.

It looks like we are going to have this lens shipping to customers around the end of May. We are currently working to produce as many units as possible.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Dave Williams · April 25th, 2008, 08:36 PM

I've been in touch with Schneider (Century Optics) on this issue.

"Regarding the Z7U, we anticipate .6X adapter and a 1.6X tele-
converter to be available in sixty days. The wide angle converters and fisheye's will not be available for some time as they require a re-design of our optics to work properly."

I would wait to see what they develop before plopping down your duckets. This company is great. I recently though I had a scratch on one of my lenses and sent it to them to see if they could do anything about it. I expected to hear the worst. Within a couple of days I was notified that something had splashed onto the lens and dried. They were able to clean it and sent it back at no charge. Schneider rocks!

February 25th, 2008, 03:12 PM	#1
Brian Rhodes Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 753	Fisheye Lens Can any one recommend a good fisheye lens for the Z7.

April 25th, 2008, 08:36 PM	#15
Dave Williams New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 16	Wait to see what Schneider Comes Out With I've been in touch with Schneider (Century Optics) on this issue. "Regarding the Z7U, we anticipate .6X adapter and a 1.6X tele- converter to be available in sixty days. The wide angle converters and fisheye's will not be available for some time as they require a re-design of our optics to work properly." I would wait to see what they develop before plopping down your duckets. This company is great. I recently though I had a scratch on one of my lenses and sent it to them to see if they could do anything about it. I expected to hear the worst. Within a couple of days I was notified that something had splashed onto the lens and dried. They were able to clean it and sent it back at no charge. Schneider rocks! __________________ Dave Williams DVideography

March 14th, 2008, 02:06 AM	#2
Bob Ridge Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 26	I found a whole bunch of them brand new on eBay, from primarily 3-4 stores. Just search for "72mm wide angle." They all seem to be about the same. I bought one for about $70 and love it so far. Good luck!

March 22nd, 2008, 06:47 PM	#3
Sean Hsieh Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 44	I think Brian was referring to a fish-eye lens, not a WA. BH has this century optics fish-eye, but the price is hefty, guess you gotta pay for quality :-P http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...pter_Lens.html

March 22nd, 2008, 07:36 PM	#4
John Gayman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 46	Wow, at 3.58 lb that's a lot of weight hanging off the front lens.

March 23rd, 2008, 02:55 PM	#5
Bob Ridge Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 26	I'm not sure what the technical definition of "fish-eye" is, but most of the results on eBay for "72 mm wide angle" were actually identified as and appeared to be fish-eye (.4x-.5x) lenses. The word "fish-eye" just wasn't in the titles. In fact, I found the "wide-angle" titles to be misleading, as I had trouble finding what I would consider to be "real" wide angles (.7x) on eBay. Good luck!

March 23rd, 2008, 04:02 PM	#6
Sean Hsieh Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 44	I thought the difference was that fish eye was to give that bubble look on an image, where you would see the distortion because of the curvature of the lens, whereas wide-angle is simple just stepping down the magnification to give you a larger view in your composition? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, because then I definitely have my terminology backwards.

March 23rd, 2008, 07:44 PM	#7
Bob Ridge Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 26	Here's an entire video shot with what I've always called my fisheye lens. It's not totally bubble-like, but it's pretty clearly distorted. What do you think - "fisheye" or no? http://www.indyvisual.com/2008/02/tr...ot-111207.html But here's what you're probably thinking of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4rlY1SYeKE

March 23rd, 2008, 10:09 PM	#9
Bob Ridge Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fishers, IN Posts: 26	Thanks. That "fisheye" is .5x, I think... Shot with the V1U. Oh, goodness, I just checked and saw that it's .3x! I just used the new eBay one (72mm .45x) with my Z7U and did notice that it wasn't quite as distorted as I was used to. Now I know why. Duh... So I guess that's as "fisheye" as the common ones on eBay (search term "72mm wide angle") get. The .3x one is a Raynox 58mm that I got for about $130 at B&H.