Zenitar 16mm f2.8 Fisheye

[thepepperman]

Well I thought this thread existed already, but I can't find one so let's kick it off! For anyone who hasn't come across it, this is an old Russian manual-focus fisheye made by Zenitar. Although I believe they now come in native EOS mounts, many people have them in M42 screw-type mounts on an EOS adapter.

16mm is not very "fishy" on crop cameras, but gives quite a nice effect on full-frame cameras. This is not a full circular fisheye, but rather gives a full corner-to-corner image.

One issue on the 5D (and possibly other full-frame Canon cameras) is a *very* slight interference with the camera mirror, possibly leading to error messages or darkened pictures. For me, I found that removing the rear filter cured any interference and I'm now happily snapping away. Others have had no issues whatsoever, so it may vary from one camera to another.

Anyway, please post pics, and state the camera and lens mount type you are using. Here are a few of my snaps from the past few days (not that they're anything special!!)

http://i38.tinypic.com/o6ffkm.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/ou78qw.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/ifplw1.jpg

Ignore my giant head (distortion is unflattering!)

http://i37.tinypic.com/2n8ajra.jpg

PS, if I missed the photo archive thread I apologize!

[00dahc]

I'm surprised more people don't have this bargain lens?

[thepepperman]

Grabbed these two shots on Friday; F/2.8 & ISO 1600 if I recall. Quite happy with this guy! This is the ceiling at a local Greek Orthodox church.

http://i45.tinypic.com/33w1nhs.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/ra200l.jpg

[newworld666]

I don't use it very often, but here sample test I did last summer ..

http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2753/623489945_xZi2m-XL.jpg (http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2753/623489945_xZi2m-O.jpg)

http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2759/623490011_hovUL-XL.jpg (http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2759/623490011_hovUL-O.jpg)

http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2767/623490073_cLvrP-XL.jpg (http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2767/623490073_cLvrP-O.jpg)

http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2771/623490158_MNBk8-XL.jpg (http://photos.corbi.eu/Architecture/2009-8-18-Canicule-à-Lyon/IMG2771/623490158_MNBk8-O.jpg)

It's sharper at F/8 ... and almost soft at f/2.8 .. and I use PTlens to correct geometry

I bought it on a M42 mount just to see what type of picture I could get witha 5DMKII .. but I think soon or late I will buy a canon EF 14mm ..

[nrowensby]

Distortion test for Canon crop-body cameras:
http://i40.tinypic.com/bd544.jpg

[Nikolas]

Love it on a full frame like the 5d2
The colour saturation is awesome.
http://nickaxrs.customer.netspace.net.au/html/Stuff/lenstests/zenitar%2016mm/cow1.jpg

http://nickaxrs.customer.netspace.net.au/html/Stuff/lenstests/zenitar%2016mm/cow3.jpg

[Brain Mechanic]

Hey I have this lens!! LOL!! I didnt saw this thread earlier!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/chaman3872/treeoflife.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/chaman3872/IMG_5409.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/chaman3872/TA1.jpg

Still experimenting with it....I think is great!

[thepepperman]

Very nice! It looks like you're using a crop-sensor camera? I originally had mine on a 30D and was quite happy with the "just-a-bit-fishy" perspective it gave to wide-angle shots on that size of sensor. Some people claim it as a knock against the lens because its not a "true" fisheye on such cameras but I thought it was great.

[Brain Mechanic]

Yep...I have a Canon 1000D.:D

[k4show]

How sharp is this lens in comparison to the Canon?

[Supersignet]

The Sigma is reported to be the best of the 3

[k4show]

The Sigma is reported to be the best of the 3

But what comes in second and third?

[Supersignet]

the Canon second and the Zenitar third. They're all good lenses. The Zenitar is all manual where as the others are AF and auto aperture compatible. All take good pictures.

[newworld666]

I don't use my zenitar anymore, since I received the samyang 14F2.8 ... samyang has got an amazing price/quality ratio

[ForcedFire]

I just got this in the mail today, here's my first shot on a T2i stopped down to f11:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5508434052_ed46cdfb50_b.jpg

I like how it's just a bit bendy but not full blown fisheye. Not easy to use but it's not bad stopped down.

[Brian_R]

im interested in seeing more samples from this bargain lens. i am considering it as my wider lens for general shooting and sports

[nrowensby]

If you want a fisheye on a crop... this isn't really the way to go. One a crop, you don't get much fishy distortion...

[Brian_R]

i know. i am simply looking for short focal length lenses that are a deal. i dont want to spend lots of money on canon brand wide angle lenses because i dont have lots of money to throw around so im looking at manual focus lenses, i am not specifically in the market for a fisheye

[thepepperman]

i know. i am simply looking for short focal length lenses that are a deal. i dont want to spend lots of money on canon brand wide angle lenses because i dont have lots of money to throw around so im looking at manual focus lenses, i am not specifically in the market for a fisheye

I sort of bought the Zenitar for the same reasons. However I did want it for the medium amount of fishy distortion it would bring to my crop camera (30D at the time). For that reason it matched my needs very well, and is even better on my 5D. I will see if I have any more recent shots from it at home.

[Brian_R]

im kind of torn because of price and what they have to offer between this and the rokinon 8mm.

i would consider the rokinon 14mm but honestly for the price and considering it will be a little longer than i want on my crop i am not looking at it anymore.

this lens happens to work both on crop or FF whereas the rokinon 8mm is intended for crop cameras. although i dont really see myself going FF since it doesnt not appeal to me for the photography i am doing which is why im looking for super wides to put on my crop to get the wide angle fov. i basically want to make sure that for what im buying between these 2 i get the best quality possible which i know is asking a lot in this price range but honestly both these lenses seem to perform fairly well.

i am reading that this zenitar isnt very sharp wide open which is a problem because ill be using it in low light sports situations quite often

[Thang Bui]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thangbh/6211809358/sizes/l/in/photostream/

I've shot with 3 photos in portrait mode, 3 exposures/photo, then use Photomatix Pro to merged them together, then use PTGui to stitch panorama. Photo taken with 5D mk2.

[jethou]

Re: Zenitar 16mm f2.8 Fisheye
Hey I have this lens!! LOL!! I didnt saw this thread earlier!

Hi Brain Mechanic,
I am considering buying this lens for my EOS 1000D, I was wondering how much wider (given the crop factor) than the standard 18-55 lens it is? Do you have any "before and after" photos showing the same subect with the standard 18-55 (at 18) and again with the Zenitar?
The quality looks pretty good.
Nice photos as well!

[miqlunator]

really cool shot, Bhang Bui!


its a nice lens for the cheap price, but not so fishy on crop
zenitar 16m on eos 550d
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7166/6784058379_6621ccf665_b.jpg

[ntldr]

Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye on Canon 5D MK-II Test Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyYq_706me8)

Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye on Canon 5D MK-II Test Video-II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRPs_lD9C44)

and

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/076/d/a/160320121847_by_alperkolemen-d4t2bnw.jpg

[p360]

Just ordered one off eBay. Excited..!

[p360]

First shot with the new lens - Sorry, no ducks.


http://pcdn.500px.net/6450515/820d9b179606beaa1088846f5b96f2ef6de9c1f7/4.jpg

[c2thew]

http://www.cpicture.net/zenitar/index2.html
sample images I found from someone who shot at al of the apertures and provided 100% crops.


http://www.flickriver.com/groups/zenitar/pool/interesting/
zenitar fisheye pool.

just got this lens and it has some specs under the front element which is annoying, but it doesn't affect the image. There is some flaring with the lens however it is pretty well controlled. The lens has decent image quality and renders images much like the 50mm 1.8 when shot wide open at 2.8 respectively. I definitely want to see what the fov of this lens in comparison to the canon 16-35l mk2 as I suspect this is slightly wider due to the fisheye effect. Lens does deliver good results from f/5.6-f/16

haven't tried ptlens or panotools yet to defish the lens.

[c2thew]

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/minimumfocusingdistance.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_0131.jpg

minimum focusing distance is 8 inches as shown by the ruler. the lens was directly above the tip of the ruler. Shooting with this lens makes me want to either 1) get closer which this lens doesn't allow due to the 8 inch MFD and 2) pick up a canon 24mkII because of the ability to get a tighter composition.

comparing the minimum focusing distance when using the 50d and the 5d2. To me, the 1.6X crop factor definitely makes composition much more pleasant. shot at f/5.6, 1/4, iso 320

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_0124.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_0738.jpg

[c2thew]

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_0111.jpg

and of course my first shot with this lens. pretty decent colors

[daveharlow]

Have just started my hunt for one of these, I was toying with idea of the Sigma or the Samyang, but if the novelty of the fisheye effect wears off quick then I won't have lost much!!

[ntldr]

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/145/0/e/250520121320_by_alperkolemen-d512ogm.jpg

[c2thew]

Took my zenitar for a walk around but I've found that I am really not a fisheye lens kind of guy. the distortion really makes me nauseous when shooting. Additionally, focusing is kind of tricky as well when shooting on the street.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2469.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2468.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2450.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2441.jpg

[c2thew]

Also hit up union station which was one of the reasons why I purchased this lens just to see what the perspective would look like.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2402.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2368.jpg

This would make a cool composite
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2552.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2554.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h120/c2thew/Zenitar%2016mm%20fisheye%20with%20canon%205d2/IMG_2556.jpg

[Brain Mechanic]

^^I really like the look of this lens in the crop body. Kind of a super wide look with some "fishy" distortion. Agree that focusing is a bit tricky.

[c2thew]

yeah I agree that the look (although not as fishy) would work better on a crop since there is slight distortion, but the field of view is still rather wide.

on a full frame camera, this lens is more of a 12mm perspective horizontally and a 14mm vertically but that's my opinion.

[thepepperman]

I've found with mine, now that I adjusted the focus, I can set it to ~3-5ft and f/5.6 and shoot away.

[Nickc84]

I had a lot of fun with this lens this year. Really good for HDR's

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7060/6839903024_a9c88f811a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/6839903024/)
Enter if You Dare (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/6839903024/) by Nicholas Caputo (http://www.flickr.com/people/nicholascaputo/), on Flickr


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7291438192_823ba18f6d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/7291438192/)
Brookgreen Gardens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/7291438192/) by Nicholas Caputo (http://www.flickr.com/people/nicholascaputo/), on Flickr


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5038/7199353358_a0737f7f4a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/7199353358/)
Brookgreen Gardens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/7199353358/) by Nicholas Caputo (http://www.flickr.com/people/nicholascaputo/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/6939022486_694741bedc_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/6939022486/)
Have a seat (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholascaputo/6939022486/) by Nicholas Caputo (http://www.flickr.com/people/nicholascaputo/), on Flickr

[pkilla]

For 200$ this lens looks like a steal they got on amazon for canon mount how is the IQ at 2.8 and how is this lens for video

[Nickc84]

2.8 sucks. I only use it at f6-f11.. its Ok for video if its stopped down enough for everything to be in focus. The focus ring is very small but the build quality is great.

[pkilla]

So the lens is not usable at 2.8 theres no point of getting this lens then

[Nickc84]

Why you say that? What kind of shooting will you be doing?

[c2thew]

if you want a "cheap" fisheye, this lens will be ok. If you want quality, than go with a rokinon 14mm which although it isn't a fisheye; the image quality is much better.

[p360]

I am thinking of selling mine. It’s practically brand new - may have taken 25 shots with it.

If someone is interested, PM me.

[Nickc84]

In my opinion it's a great lens.

[Brain Mechanic]

In my opinion it's a great lens.

It definitively an awesome little lens.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a198/chaman3872/IMG_5026a-1.jpg

[c2thew]

in my honest opinion, it's a adequate, not great lens. A great lens would be a 70-200mk2 or any of canon's super telephoto lenses.

my 2 cents

[Jay-Bird]

I have been eyeballing one of these for a while. Went ahead an purchased. I am not expecting L glass quality, just a different look. I will post up my results when I get it!

[Jay-Bird]

Just some practice shots:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/9028296259_aeb1c77bfb_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroedinphotography/9028296259/)
IMG_9355 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroedinphotography/9028296259/) by zeroedinphoto (http://www.flickr.com/people/zeroedinphotography/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/9030520546_af25b34d12_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroedinphotography/9030520546/)
IMG_9356 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroedinphotography/9030520546/) by zeroedinphoto (http://www.flickr.com/people/zeroedinphotography/), on Flickr

Full manual is gonna take some getting used to!

[Jay-Bird]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3762/9058337757_3918e0dbe3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroedinphotography/9058337757/)
IMG_9427 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zeroedinphotography/9058337757/) by zeroedinphoto (http://www.flickr.com/people/zeroedinphotography/), on Flickr