Some of the fisheyes posted have really caught my attention. I'd like to toy with that perspective, but can't justify the expense of that particular lens for the amount of use it would get. It seems like a 12-24, or preferably a commonly used lens like a 24-70 and some photoshop alterations could achieve that distorted view. Do most people still cart around the extra lens for the occassional pic, or is there something unique about the combination of distortion and focus that can't be recreated digitally?

Good Idea! I don't have a fisheye, but now I'm thinking about doing maybe a 180 panorama and then turn the pano into a fisheye image. Good idea, again.

John Korduner wrote:
Some of the fisheyes posted have really caught my attention. I'd like to toy with that perspective, but can't justify the expense of that particular lens for the amount of use it would get. It seems like a 12-24, or preferably a commonly used lens like a 24-70 and some photoshop alterations could achieve that distorted view. Do most people still cart around the extra lens for the occassional pic, or is there something unique about the combination of distortion and focus that can't be recreated digitally?


Hi John

I don't have alot of experience with a fisheye and I don't use PS (yet) so I'm probably talking out my butt here. One thing to consider is that the rectilinear fisheyes can be "adjusted" for their fishyness by changing the angle of the camera. You can get more or less of the effect in areas like the horizon by simply tilting the camera up or down and watching the scene change thru the viewfinder. I'm not so sure that any PP method will give you that kind of flexibility. I think you're gonna be better off having more control at the moment you take the shot instead of hoping for what you want later on.

Just my two inexperienced cents.

Best,
Allan

you can get something like an 8mm peleng fairly cheaply if you end up not liking your PS results.