Opinions: Opteka 6.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye

Came across the Opteka 6.5mm f/3.5 fisheye on Amazon for $149. Looking at some of the photos posted on Flickr using this lens it seems to be pretty nice IQ for the price. But I can't find any info on it hear.

Anyone have any experience with this lens to share?

I've read elsewhere that this is a rebadged version of the Samyang/Rokinon/Bower 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, which if true makes it a nice bargain.

I have the Rokinon 8mm and it is a fun lens to play with. I've read that this lens shares the same build with the others and if this is the case, $150 is a steal.
An example of the perspective you can give to your images:

Kind of amazed that nobody else has this lens. Is it because there's something known bad?

For $149 I might just order it to check it out. I can always return it.

I was going to actually start a new thread on this as this is very interesting to me.
The same exact lens, the same exact arrangement and grouping, same coating, same, same, same.
When under Rokinon, Samyang, vivitar, bowe and few others, is called: 8mm LENS and when marketed under Opteka is named 6.5mm.
Are we cheated or what. BTW I did buy it for $135 when on sale last month from biggest cheater of all, Amazon and is it the right time to start a class action lawsuits on this company (Better richer Amazon) to fraudulently selling us 8mm under name 6.5mm (And I guess no smart company undersales it 6.5mm lens as 8mm)...

bumpintheroad wrote in post #17528506
Kind of amazed that nobody else has this lens. Is it because there's something known bad?

For $149 I might just order it to check it out. I can always return it.

Heya,

It's a super niche lens, not everyone is into ultrawide, let alone fisheye ultrawide, and it's designed for APS-C so further narrowing it's audience. Nothing wrong with the lens. It's known to be a great performer, for it's cost.

If you want ultrawide fisheye for fun, go for it!

Personally I'd want the Rok/Samyang 8mm.

Very best,

Thanks Malveaux. I already have an 11-22 and I love it. This would be more for the fisheye effect (though I've seen some very good de-fisheyed images posted using this lens).

Looks like I'm going to pull the trigger on this.

samsen wrote in post #17528519
I was going to actually start a new thread on this as this is very interesting to me.
The same exact lens, the same exact arrangement and grouping, same coating, same, same, same.
When under Rokinon, Samyang, vivitar, bowe and few others, is called: 8mm LENS and when marketed under Opteka is named 6.5mm.
Are we cheated or what. BTW I did buy it for $135 when on sale last month from biggest cheater of all, Amazon and is it the right time to start a class action lawsuits on this company (Better richer Amazon) to fraudulently selling us 8mm under name 6.5mm (And I guess no smart company undersales it 6.5mm lens as 8mm)...

Manufacturers fudge the specs on products all the time. Granted, the difference between 6.5 and 8mm is a lot more significant than between 293mm and 300mm. But if you do some research it's a pretty well known issue, and it doesn't bother me that I'm only getting 8mm when every other lens of this type costs twice as much.

And it isn't Amazon's fault. Amazon is selling the product as marketed and advertised by the manufacturer. If anyone is liable it would be Opteka.

I just got the Vivitar 8mm 3.5 for $150 shipped.

Its the same lens as the samyang/rokinon 8mm.

Went on eBay, found a couple sellers selling brand new ones for $170. Offered $140 and one countered at $150 so I took it.

No taxes and 2 day shipping Included! I was so happy.

Amazon also has the Vivitar for $170 but I don't think you can submit offers there.

Even more crazy you can even find the vivitar 85mm 1.4 for around $110 new now!(at least on eBay)

Which samyang originallly sold for $390.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17528729
Heya,

It's a super niche lens, not everyone is into ultrawide, let alone fisheye ultrawide, and it's designed for APS-C so further narrowing it's audience. Nothing wrong with the lens. It's known to be a great performer, for it's cost.

If you want ultrawide fisheye for fun, go for it!

Personally I'd want the Rok/Samyang 8mm.

Very best,

All these lenses are exactly the same thing. Made by exactly the same company. Boxed and named under different names.
It really doesn't mater which one you get, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY ONE OF THEM. Only read more for one important point.

bumpintheroad wrote in post #17528760
Thanks Malveaux. I already have an 11-22 and I love it. This would be more for the fisheye effect (though I've seen some very good de-fisheyed images posted using this lens).

Looks like I'm going to pull the trigger on this.

Sorry to hear that and BAD decision. Read more as to why...

bumpintheroad wrote in post #17528772
Manufacturers fudge the specs on products all the time. Granted, the difference between 6.5 and 8mm is a lot more significant than between 293mm and 300mm. But if you do some rese arch it's a pretty well known issue, and it doesn't bother me that I'm only getting 8mm when every other lens of this type costs twice as much.

[B]And it isn't Amazon's fault.[/B] Amazon is selling the product as marketed and advertised by the manufacturer. If anyone is liable it would be Opteka.

1- Yes difference between 6.5mm and 8mm is astronomical Not to the scale but something like 300mm and 5000mm (IMPORTANT ISSUE: FOR THE SAME F STOP...
To give you an example, Nikkor 6mm F2.8 lens (Probably less 100 are totally made in the world, is priced at about 100,000 dollars, that is if you can find one. OK I just found one and here is the link to actual sale on ebay: LINK.
Nikkor 8mm F2.8 are easily found about 1000-3000$, sometimes less. HERE IS A LINK to actual sale.

So never get to wrong side of compering each mm on either side of focal length as equivalent all across the scale. A lot of people have been fooled by this.

2- I doubt if they can totally run away in court when allowing their site provide wrong information over reasonably long time. I am sure a good lawyer knows how to put them under hot spot (Amazon being the Richest seller on the earth and Samyang a poor company that makes really excellent product at lost cost)(Rich is always guilty if lawyer can nail them).

3- Though as I said, all these lenses including Opteka 6.5mm (Acutally 8mm and made by Samyang) and every other identical lens, made by the same manufacturer (Samyang) under different names, (and I believe there are more than 8 names for the same exact products) (And not only in 8mm but at multiple other focal lengths), There is a major difference between those that were made few years back and those that are built in last 1-2 years. There is no difference in name such as Mark I or II or etc so you, the buyer needs to know... and that is thought this lens is a fisheye, and can be used on full frame body, its is primarily built for crop factor bodies.
Additionally you need to know though fisheye, these are engineered to provide a rectangular image, not a typical full circle (Better known as fisheye, minus the distortion effect).
The older version lens and to my knowledge all Opteka, have permanent lens hood attached to the front of lens, where as the last year products are having a better design, REMOVABLE petal hood in front or lens. NOTE: I just checked and actually the newest Opteka also have removable hood. So you are at least fine in this regard, if what you bought is Opteka with removable hood. If not you are cheated for the price.
You ask what the heck is difference? Well none on crop factor when result is a rectangular image but if you use it on any full frame body you own, you will see that ugly boarders of lens hood to cause a very ugly black area at borders of your image. The newer lenses that hood can be remove, will cause a nice circle to semicircle black periphery of the picture frame to give you a more believable FishEye Effect, as the name of lens suggests.
Also don't forget those who buy second hand item are usually more educated about choices availability, price and options and therefor your return on a resale (In case you feel the lens is not for you) is much more with the newer, removable hood Samyang lenses. So you loose if what you get is a non removable hood lens... and don't forget when on sale, new or old will go at the same rate (Another reason I hat Amazon that will not let you know these stuff).
One more additional point. There is one version of Rokinon that has letter "C" in the name and that is the one made for videographers or primarily video shooting people as lens wont make "So called Annoying" sound when changing the F stop, that seems to be a big deal for video people, necessitating to have additional audio post processing. That lens is the best of all if you can find it for the same price, given resale value and demand.

Nonetheless as Wise says, this is a fantastic lens, like anything else Samyang makes and for the price, you will be happy with what you get. Only make the right choice and buy the newer version Samyang/Rokinon etc and avoid old version nonremovable hood Opteka/other Samyang ones.

samsen wrote in post #17528951
All these lenses are exactly the same thing. Made by exactly the same company. Boxed and named under different names.
It really doesn't mater which one you get, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY ONE OF THEM. Only read more for one important point.

Correct.

And I still would prefer the Rok/Sammy. Specifically Samyang, since they made the stuff. My preference.

Very best,

samsen wrote in post #17528951
All these lenses are exactly the same thing. Made by exactly the same company. Boxed and named under different names.
It really doesn't mater which one you get, THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY ONE OF THEM. Only read more for one important point.

Sorry to hear that and BAD decision. Read more as to why...

1- Yes difference between 6.5mm and 8mm is astronomical Not to the scale but something like 300mm and 5000mm (IMPORTANT ISSUE: FOR THE SAME F STOP...
To give you an example, Nikkor 6mm F2.8 lens (Probably less 100 are totally made in the world, is priced at about 100,000 dollars, that is if you can find one. OK I just found one and here is the link to actual sale on ebay: LINK.
Nikkor 8mm F2.8 are easily found about 1000-3000$, sometimes less. HERE IS A LINK to actual sale.

So never get to wrong side of compering each mm on either side of focal length as equivalent all across the scale. A lot of people have been fooled by this.

2- I doubt if they can totally run away in court when allowing their site provide wrong information over reasonably long time. I am sure a good lawyer knows how to put them under hot spot (Amazon being the Richest seller on the earth and Samyang a poor company that makes really excellent product at lost cost)(Rich is always guilty if lawyer can nail them).

3- Though as I said, all these lenses including Opteka 6.5mm (Acutally 8mm and made by Samyang) and every other identical lens, made by the same manufacturer (Samyang) under different names, (and I believe there are more than 8 names for the same exact products) (And not only in 8mm but at multiple other focal lengths), There is a major difference between those that were made few years back and those that are built in last 1-2 years. There is no difference in name such as Mark I or II or etc so you, the buyer needs to know... and that is thought this lens is a fisheye, and can be used on full frame body, its is primarily built for crop factor bodies.
Additionally you need to know though fisheye, these are engineered to provide a rectangular image, not a typical full circle (Better known as fisheye, minus the distortion effect).
The older version lens and to my knowledge all Opteka, have permanent lens hood attached to the front of lens, where as the last year products are having a better design, REMOVABLE petal hood in front or lens. NOTE: I just checked and actually the newest Opteka also have removable hood. So you are at least fine in this regard, if what you bought is Opteka with removable hood. If not you are cheated for the price.
You ask what the heck is difference? Well none on crop factor when result is a rectangular image but if you use it on any full frame body you own, you will see that ugly boarders of lens hood to cause a very ugly black area at borders of your image. The newer lenses that hood can be remove, will cause a nice circle to semicircle black periphery of the picture frame to give you a more believable FishEye Effect, as the name of lens suggests.
Also don't forget those who buy second hand item are usually more educated about choices availability, price and options and therefor your return on a resale (In case you feel the lens is not for you) is much more with the newer, removable hood Samyang lenses. So you loose if what you get is a non removable hood lens... and don't forget when on sale, new or old will go at the same rate (Another reason I hat Amazon that will not let you know these stuff).
One more additional point. There is one version of Rokinon that has letter "C" in the name and that is the one made for videographers or primarily video shooting people as lens wont make "So called Annoying" sound when changing the F stop, that seems to be a big deal for video people, necessitating to have additional audio post processing. That lens is the best of all if you can find it for the same price, given resale value and demand.

Nonetheless as Wise says, this is a fantastic lens, like anything else Samyang makes and for the price, you will be happy with what you get. Only make the right choice and buy the newer version Samyang/Rokinon etc and avoid old version nonremovable hood Opteka/other Samyang ones.

You probably didn't notice, but I did post a link to the actual lens I bought, which is the new version with a removable lens hood.

Came across the Opteka 6.5mm f/3.5 fisheye on Amazon for $149. Looking at some of the photos posted on Flickr using this lens it seems to be pretty nice IQ for the price. But I can't find any info on it hear.

Not that I would find the non-removable hood to be a disaster at this price, when it is clearly labeled and advertised for crop-sensor, not full-sensor cameras, and I could crop out the funky edges. So I think I didn't make that BAD decision you warned me against. I will see next week when my camera gets back from CPS (lens should be here on Saturday).

I used the 8mm on a FF body and just cropped it down. Mainreason I moved to the 8-15L was the ability to autofocus and to have a non cropped fisheye look on FF.

I'm not sure how important autofocus is with a fisheye. At f/8 pretty much everything from 2ft to infinity will be in focus.

I would like automatic exposure control, particularly when shooting video on the move. I'll have to see how it works in practice. Unfortunately, the camera is still at Canon.

bumpintheroad wrote in post #17534367
I'm not sure how important autofocus is with a fisheye. At f/8 pretty much everything from 2ft to infinity will be in focus.

I would like automatic exposure control, particularly when shooting video on the move. I'll have to see how it works in practice. Unfortunately, the camera is still at Canon.

Heya,

I've never needed AF on any ultrawide for that reason. I just set it to what I want, with what aperture I want, and shoot away. It's really nice since you never have to worry about focus, and can instead pay attention to composition and exposure instead freely.

Very best,