Wider solution for Full Frame and 1.3x crop bodies"

Well look no further, partner! I recently ordered the EF 15mm Fisheye, which I've been wanting for quite some time. Notice I said want, not need. Anyway, this lens has been on my B&H wishlist for the longest time, so I just said screw it and squeezed the trigger. Might as well take advantage of the rebates no? As some of you know, I've had a keen interest in Thomas Pindelski's solution for achieving a hyper-wide FOV using the fisheye lens as seen here...

http://pindelski.org/P​hotography/?p=151
http://pindelski.org …5mm-fisheye-lens-part-ii/
http://pindelski.org …mm-fisheye-lens-part-iii/

I know his example primarily demonstrates that you can acheive a 12mm FOV on a FF camera, but I was very curious to see if I could achieve an equivalent 16mm FOV on the 1D series cameras. And why not? Theoretically it should work, but I wanted to see the results for myself. Here are side by side comparisons using my 16-35L and the 15mm Fisheye...

16-35L @ 16mm (21mm FOV equivalent on 1.3x crop)

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

Please ignore the fact that I still haven't hung up my elephant painting.

I downloaded and installed the trial version of the ImageAlign Pro plug-in for CS2. The trial version gives you 5 tries at aligning images. After that you'll have to fork up the $80 to purchase the license to continue using the product. Like Mr. Pindelski, I cranked up the Barrel Correction slider to 180 + 11.75 degrees to acheive the desired result. On the 5D, he had to correct to 180 + 86, so our adjustments don't need to be as dramatic, and you won't have to crop much from the top and bottom. As noted, you might loose some detail along the edges, but this issue has been addressed in a follow-up report here...
http://pindelski.org …e-thoughts-on-imagealign/

UPDATE: After de-fishing, when you manually crop the top and bottom of the image rather than using ImageAlign's correction to eliminate the dead space, not only do you retain much more edge detail, but you'll end up with an even wider FOV. In effect, the FOV of my dining area above should be between 14mm and 15mm! Another cool point to consider!

For 1.3x crop bodies users who feel slighted on the wide-end, I think this is well worth it. This is espcially appealing for those who may be interested in Sigma's 12-24 UWA solution, but don't want the headaches of dealing with a lens that has questionable build and image quality.

The 15mm lens itself is a nice little piece of glass. Though not USM, the AF is pretty fast, but very noisy. Much like the 50 1.8 and similar lenses. It has no full-time manual focus, so you'll have to utilize the AF/MF switch. Other than those minor quirks, the lens is awesome. Regardless whether you want to correct barrel distortion or not, this is just a fun lens to have for GP. If you've got some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to add a little spice to your photography, I highly recommend this lens.

So there you have it! Wow! A nice UWA 16mm FOV for your 1.3x crop bodies! And if you have a FF body, you can even acheive that hyper wide FOV you've always wanted! Have fun.

UPDATE: Those interested in exploring the wonderful world of distortion correction software may also want to have a look at Image Trends' Fisheye-Hemi plug-in. This plug-in is about $30, which is much less than ImageAlign. However, unlike ImageAlign, you don't have control of the disortion correction. There is no dialog box with sliders and such. It's fully automated, which means when you launch the filter it automatically goes into the conversion. Still, it does a really great job of remapping the fisheye image while improving the overall image resolution and not distorting people who appear at the edge of the image, which is a trait typical of using rectilinear mapping programs like ImageAlign.

You can find out more about Fisheye-Hemi and download the trial version here...
http://www.imagetrends​inc.com/index.asp

Depsite it's attractive price and ability to render people in the image relatively distortion free, I would still prefer to use programs such as imageAlign for architectural structurers and other scenes not having people in them (such as in the exmple above). If your aim is to correct the fish-eye distortion for images that have a lot of people in them, and you don't care to have them look distorted (i.e. group photos), the Fisheye-Hemi plug-in just might be your ticket. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have both plug-ins installed in your machine.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

Wow that's awesome, it's like you have full frame.

I thought the Sigma 12-24 was the only choice for a rectilinear 16mm FOV equivalent on the 1.3x crop, but this looks like a nice alternative. I'm going to the 1DMkIIN soon and will most likely keep my 20D as well, and it seems weird to keep doing wide angle with the smaller sensor camera.

Do you know if anyone has tried the Sigma 10-20 or Tokina 12-24 on the 1DMkIIN? It's supposed to work on 1.5x as well as 1.6x, so it might be ok on the 1.3x.

pcasciola wrote in post #2584216
I thought the Sigma 12-24 was the only choice for a rectilinear 16mm FOV equivalent on the 1.3x crop, but this looks like a nice alternative. I'm going to the 1DMkIIN soon and will most likely keep my 20D as well, and it seems weird to keep doing wide angle with the smaller sensor camera.

Do you know if anyone has tried the Sigma 10-20 or Tokina 12-24 on the 1DMkIIN? It's supposed to work on 1.5x as well as 1.6x, so it might be ok on the 1.3x.

I would only recommend a third party lens to this method if you shoot wide A LOT and don't want to go through the hassle of having to spend your time straightening out every image. However, being a CS2 plug-in, it should only be one extra step in your current workflow, and it only takes a couple of minutes or less to correct each photo. If you're not a CS2 user, a stand-alone version of the software is also available. I haven't heard very many rave reviews about the Sigma 12-24 designed for FF, and I was under the impression that the others were designed for APS-C sized sensors much like the Canon EF-S 10-22. For me, the FE+IA combo is the best and most cost effective solution if you want to go really wide with the FF or 1.3x cropped cameras. The software is easy to use and the 15mm Fisheye IQ is just absolutely amazing.

Nice little write-up and interesting views!! I can also recommend the Sigma 15 FE lens which I briefly owned last year. Build quality was good and IQ very good even though in typical Sigma fashion the colours were a little cooler than Canon's.........but quite a nice piece of glass if you don't want to spend too much for a true fisheye lens!

There is indeed other good Fisheye alternatives out there, but I personally want to stick with Canon glass. Besides getting a little something back on rebates, I've always just wanted the Canon Fisheye over them all. Call it brand loyalty I guess.

Great purchae Malone and with your talent I know it will be put to very good use...the picture above are really good

Broncobear wrote in post #2584421
Great purchae Malone and with your talent I know it will be put to very good use...the picture above are really good

Thanks for that. Though I doubt that photos of my dining table have any real artistic value. LOL

I do plan on putting this lens to the test in DC this coming weekend. Oh yeah.

Wow, congrats on the fisheye Lord, I love mine. One word of caution though, when in the camera bag and traveling, that hood has a tendency to come off, it can very easily leave a ding or two on the front element.

calicokat wrote in post #2585607
Wow, congrats on the fisheye Lord, I love mine. One word of caution though, when in the camera bag and traveling, that hood has a tendency to come off, it can very easily leave a ding or two on the front element.

Got it. I'll be sure to put a strip of electrical tape or something across the top to prevent this. Thanks for the heads up!

Awesome, I think this is exactly what I should get for a wide lens. I've been drooling over the 16-35, but I won't use it enough with FF. Fisheye adds a whole new element to wide angle, and it's good to know it can still play as a regular wide very well. Thanks for the review.

I have been wanting to shoot in DC for a while now, I haven't been there since the fireworks show.

Lord_Malone wrote in post #2585629
Got it. I'll be sure to put a strip of electrical tape or something across the top to prevent this. Thanks for the heads up!

You know, I bet a Crown Royal bag would offer great protection

Rumrunner wrote in post #2585677
You know, I bet a Crown Royal bag would offer great protection

There is an idea, Crown Royal

thanks a lot for the explanation (and a new rss feed as well )

Crown Royal bags were great for marbles when I was a kid. Good idea though. Now I've found another excuse to get sh!t faced.

The 15mm Fisheye is the most exciting lens purchase I've ever experienced. More so than any L I've ever owned. It's apparent that many do not share my enthusiasm about this lens, but that's okay. I'm going to wear out my shutter now for sure!