Opinions: Opteka 6.5mm f/3.5 Fisheye

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.

Even at 3.5 everything looks in focus. I have mine set at 1.5ft all the time.

Good to know. I can't wait to get my camera back from Canon. Going crazy without a camera.

For what it's worth, I just got this one. It seems, no one's even heard of this company. I had the chance to get it for under $100, so no complaints. My review is in that link too.

http://www.amazon.com …age_o02_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

Grabbed this shot the other night at dinner.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/rCcd​X9

I really was impressed by the build quality on this lens -nice weight to it, metal mount, carrying pouch and lens hood included. I was on the fence about it at first but pictures on here and the flickr pool really helped me decide. I took the lens out on a recent vacation and it was a blast to use.

Opteka's web site states that they build this lens their self now; in China, no longer a Korean lens with different labels painted on. They also state improved optics and better coating than the Korean version. It takes a lot of Googling to come across this, but it is out there. I read it myself about 18 months ago. This is in reference to the Version II with removable Hood.

No good clear answer as to why they claim 6.5 instead of 8, but some have suggested it is in how it is measured, since it is an extreme design.

I have the Opteka Chinese made Version II with Removable Hood and am totally pleased with it. It does not disappoint at all. I bought mine Dec '13 for around $185 through Amazon/47th St.

Yes, so far I've been happy with the results. Just not much opportunity to shoot with it yet. I need to make a commitment to put this on a camera and just shoot.

I'm really impressed with the IQ this lens produces.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tiYH​kp

Fisheye lenses have different efffective focal lengths at the different frame locations - largest at the center, gets smaller as you move away (hence the "squashing" effect at the frame edges). From my own measurements, my Rokinon 8mm lens has actual FL of 8.5mm at the frame center, and it gets much smaller as you move towards the edge.

Given the above, it is not surprising that different rebranders cherry pick any FL in a fisheye lens in the whole effective FL range. Some stick to the central value (~8mm), others opt for shorter (Vivitar 7mm), and shorter still (Opteka 6.5mm). As others mentioned, these are the same Samyang lenses.

Talley wrote in post #17534088
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.

Odd, IMHO.

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 change important to useful.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17534382
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,

Exactly. I have a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8, which does not have AF. Liberating.
I like my Sigma 15mm f/2.8 FE a lot more with the AF shut off. If you are focusing a FE lens beyond about 30 inches, you are wasting potential.

I think of the focus ring as more-or-less a focus limiting switch. Unless there's something I need in focus closer than 30" I just leave it set at infinity.

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.

Found this on the Rokinon FB page, seems weird.

Quote from Rokinon: "the Opteka fisheye is made in China. The quality is not nearly as good. Our lenses are made in Korea. Also, the Opteka fisheye is not a true 6.5mm. It is mismarked purposely to fool you. If you test it, it is a 8mm"

Check this link and search for 'opteka' https://www.facebook.c​om …ses/posts/27989​9225459440

JoseCanseco wrote in post #17580406
Found this on the Rokinon FB page, seems weird.

Quote from Rokinon: "the Opteka fisheye is made in China. The quality is not nearly as good. Our lenses are made in Korea. Also, the Opteka fisheye is not a true 6.5mm. It is mismarked purposely to fool you. If you test it, it is a 8mm"

Check this link and search for 'opteka' https://www.facebook.c​om …ses/posts/27989​9225459440

Very interesting.....

And Opteka says they are not the same as well: https://www.facebook.c​om …ry_fbid=1015276​6381290594

It makes you wonder if Opteka and Samyang et. al. don't like each other...not very professional of a statement to have on a company page, that is certain. Contractual failure?

I'll stick with my (as it says on the box) Made in China Opteka. Wish I could find the Opteka statement I read back when I bought mine, concerning a supposedly superior design.