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Archive 2007 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

DiamondCutter
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p.1 #1 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Hi there!

Tried a Canon-Fisheye one year ago and it was even wide open tacksharp. Astonishing.

OK, now i want to primarily shoot within my studio, maybe on a wedding.
On 5D and 1Ds2 (1Ds3 next summer).

Which one to buy? What about sharpness, contrast, colours and stray light?

Bye, Stefan.

Oct 07, 2007 at 07:29 AM

Carlo Botteghi
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p.1 #2 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Canon

Oct 07, 2007 at 08:41 AM

DiamondCutter
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p.1 #3 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Ah... And why?

Oct 07, 2007 at 08:44 AM

Carlo Botteghi
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p.1 #4 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

You used it and depending on your post you were glad of it, so why get a different one?

Mine one is a wonderful lens on any body I have: 20D, 1DMk3 and 1DsMk2.

Colour, contrast, sharpness are all really astounding and I must say that this lens neither distort so much with portraits: try it to believe this...

I have been having and using a Sigma 12-24 for four years now and I'm really glad with it, so nothing against Sigma but the Canon Fisheye is a wonderfull lens.

Carlo

Oct 07, 2007 at 08:50 AM

choiboyogg
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p.1 #5 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

i had the sigma one 3 years ago.
i dont remember too much about it but i didnt have any problems with it.
especially cause of the price, its a great deal.

now i have the canon one and its a nice lens as well.

i cant give you a side by side cause i didnt own at the same time and had a cropped body then.

you cant go wrong with either.

Oct 07, 2007 at 09:05 AM

Tentacle
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p.1 #6 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Canon EF 15/2.8 scores a 9 out of 10, based on 35 user reviews here on FM
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=26&sort=7&cat=2&page=1

Sigma 15/2.8 EX scores a 9.2 out of 10, based on 25 user reviews:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=76&sort=7&cat=38&page=1

I've had the chance to play with both, on separate occasions so I could not directly compare the two. The canon costs about 50% more than the Sigma, but based on my brief play with those borrowed lenses, I wouldn't be able to justify the premium for the Canon 15/2.8. The Sigma has an excellent build and optically it's a very flare resistant sharp contrast monster. The same can be said about the Canon. Canon has a slight edge when it comes to CA resistance.

Oct 07, 2007 at 09:08 AM

DiamondCutter
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p.1 #7 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Sigma non-DG is 359 Euros here.
Sigma DG for around 480 Euros.
Canon for 680 Euros.
Thats why...

I heard the Sigma has same great color-rendition and sharpness. And the DG-version has nearly nothing to do with flares. But what about the non-DG-version? And the Canon-one?

Bye, Stefan.

Oct 07, 2007 at 09:10 AM

Alistair Watson
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p.1 #8 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Points at Carlo and says 'what he said'.

I agree, my Canon 15mm fish is a brilliant lens. Don't have any experience with Sigma and personally I will keep it that way.

Oct 07, 2007 at 10:10 AM

coorz
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p.1 #9 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

At the moment I have both, the Canon is much sharper overall. The Sigma (EX-DG) has great color rendition but i think my copy needs calibration as it is really soft at most apertures.
btw using 5D.

Oct 07, 2007 at 10:11 AM

Tentacle
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p.1 #10 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Also check http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/573376/ (Sigma DG vs non-DG)

Provided you've got a good (or calibrated) copy, the Sigma will be tack sharp. And the DG version is a contrast-monster. (I haven't used the older non-DG version, so I can't tell how effective the special coatings are at getting the high contrast.)

Oct 07, 2007 at 10:31 AM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #11 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

They're all very good lenses. It's kinda like the whole macro choice thing.
I prefer the Canon edge sharpness/lack of CA and am brand loyal for the resale value.

Oct 07, 2007 at 11:35 AM

wtlloyd
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p.1 #12 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Well, here's a dubious claim of merit for the Sigma; I've dropped it twice and it works perfectly. It rolled out of my bag and onto the floor both times, I'd forgotten it was in there - fortunately, the lens cap provides a lot of protection on the fisheyes.

Not sure how i picked up a suicidal lens, it's the only piece of gear I own that has ever seen even the slightest bit of rough treatment (well, except for the time I fell off a cliff with my 600mm and dinged the hood :-) - it was otherwise unharmed, not so me.... )

Oct 07, 2007 at 12:02 PM

Mike Ganz
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p.1 #13 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

trenchmonkey wrote:
They're all very good lenses. It's kinda like the whole macro choice thing.
I prefer the Canon edge sharpness/lack of CA and am brand loyal for the resale value.

Ditto...I use the Canon 15mm fish on my 5D. Images are tack sharp, no CA, and very good color/contrast. All that's missing is the red ring

Oct 07, 2007 at 12:15 PM

ChrisDM
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p.1 #14 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

I have the Sigma and my partner has the Canon, and there is no discernable difference between the two (except for price of course). The Canon should have USM for what they're asking for it, but as it stands now the Sigma is the smart buy... FWIW, I buy Canon lenses almost exclusively, and the Sigma 15mm is the only non-Canon lens I currently own (and I own a lot....) I this particular case Sigma seems to be one up on Canon. As soon as Canon gives us a USM 15mm fisheye, I will retire my excellent Sigma.

Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com

Oct 07, 2007 at 01:44 PM

ChrisDM
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p.1 #15 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Mike Ganz wrote:
All that's missing is the red ring

Forget the red ring, give me USM!

Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com

Oct 07, 2007 at 01:47 PM

DiamondCutter
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p.1 #16 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

OK, these are nice news as i am also a Canon-Only-Buyer...
Until yet.

But... DG or not DG... That's the question.

Oct 07, 2007 at 01:58 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #17 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

Mox nix from what I've read....if you can get a deal on a non-DG you'd no doubt be happy with it. Tschuss!

Oct 07, 2007 at 02:08 PM

Tentacle
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p.1 #18 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

The biggest improvement for DG is that it reduces flaring and ghosting. Among other things, the DG lens has an anti-reflection coating on the rear element to reduce reflection between sensor and rear element. Less internal reflection means better contrast.

Given that you'll be shooting quite a lot with the sun in view, because of the wide field of view, I'd go for the DG version. But it's a close call.

I've found a direct comparison at pbase which pits a DG TC against a non-DG TC. The contrast is definately better for the DG version. But the color cast is different between the two, the non-DG is colder than the DG version, so there is a bit of personal preference involved. http://www.pbase.com/miljenko/dg_tcs

Oct 07, 2007 at 02:30 PM

Tentacle
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p.1 #19 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

WHOOOOPS

I stand corrected guys and girls

The Sigma 15/2.8 EX I borrowed... was the NON-DG version. So, I have to eat my own words, even the non-DG is a contrasty beast.

Oct 07, 2007 at 03:56 PM

coorz
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p.1 #20 · Which Fisheye? Canon or Sigma (with/without DG)?

DiamondCutter wrote:
OK, these are nice news as i am also a Canon-Only-Buyer...
Until yet.

But... DG or not DG... That's the question.
Unless you're looking to buy a second hand non-DG i think the only one in retail now are the DG's.

Oct 07, 2007 at 05:49 PM

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