The Inspiration
I recently was looking at a blog post by Jim Hughes where he used a fisheye lens to create some very interesting images in an urban location (https://jimhphoto.com/index.php/2022/04/05/street-and-sky/). I found the images so compelling that I just had to give a fisheye lens a try out in forest. I must say, it was a blast!
The Gear
Now as a professional photographers, or at least semi-pro, I tend to be a bit picky about the “glass” I use. Before acquiring a new lens I scour through reviews and study sample images carefully. That usually results in months of saving pennies or an increased monthly credit card bill. But in this case the cost was surprisingly low. Granted, the lens its self is pretty basic. No autofocus, auto controlled aperture or lens stabilization system. The thing is quite manual. Yet I’m quite happy with the results. The lens? An 8mm Rokinon fisheye lens with manual focus and aperture. This particular lens is designed for use on APS-C cameras, aka “crop sensor” camera. In other words its only useable with my 7D and 7D Mark II. Not with my full-frame Canon 6D Mark II.
Technique
The manual focus really isn’t a big deal on a wide angle fisheye lens like this. Basically set the aperture to f/5.6 or smaller, and put the focus at infinity and for everything but very close up subjects are going to be in focus! Easy – Peasy! I found shots involving a foreground object with the forest in the background especially fun. It was also great for the classic looking up into the forest canopy shot. I’m sure I’ll be experimenting with this chea… er, um, affordable little lens quite a bit more. So enough about the lens, here are a few images from the outing. Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments area.



6 Comments
I love the stump! The original multi-unit, high-density housing.
Crazy lenses are one way cameras can still do things that smartphones can’t. And while I’m doing wide-angle in the city, here you are with a fisheye in the forest.
Great one Bob.
Thanks Lou!
I recently was working a very cooperative heron. I had the thought of grabbing a shot or two of it with my phone camera for a quick upload to FB while in the field. The lighting was a bit challenging, but doable with my DSLR. The phone camera? Nope,nope,nope. It simply couldn’t handle the backlighing scenario. Phone cameras have came a long way, but they have a long, long way to go before truly catching up to pro and prosumer class digital cameras.
Great subject! I need to investigate this as well! I like the one looking up into the trees and sky! How much was this affordable little lens?
You can find them south or $200. For something that works with a full frame expect to pay a bit north of that number. They brand the same lens under a few different names. Mine is a Rokinon. I believe Samyang is another branding of the same lens.