A full-frame fisheye lens with 180° diagonal Angle of view. Unlike other AF (autofocusing) SLR lenses, close auto focusing is possible to a distance of 0.2m, enabling the creation of powerful images using the exaggerated near-far relationship and pan-focus effects characteristic of a fisheye lens. Despite being a fisheye lens, straight lines running through the center remain undistorted. The AF is driven by an AFD (Arc-Form Drive). This lens uses rear drop-in type gelatin filters, up to 3 filters at the same time.
This lens is definitely a keeper, Monday, 04 May 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Be it a circular or full frame version, the results of a fisheye lens has always intrigued. Several weeks back, I purchased a refurbished factory demonstrator from e**y with a UW date code and a one year warranty from the seller. The lens was pristine and generally sharper than expected. The corners sharpened nicely from f/4.
If you are not careful, the E-73 slip-on metal front lens cap can come off. The lens is not something you would want to walk around with the front element exposed to possible impact. There is a built-in gelatin filter holder in the rear which can accomodate a 31mm x 31mm filter.
The instructions do not explain how to clean the glass. I use a double valve system silicone blower followed by a microfibre cloth designed for polishing photographic lenses.
A compact Omni-Bounce or similar knock-off attached to your flash head with the flash pointed upward towards an 8 foot high white ceiling will create a diffused bare bulb effect which will give even coverage across the entire frame of your full-frame sensor.
If you are like me, this lens is definitely a keeper.
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Beautiful Lens, Monday, 04 May 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
This wildly wide fisheye takes gorgeous pictures and is excellent for nightlife, events and gatherings. The wide aperture works well in low light and the distortion provides a great effect. Now that I've moved up to full frame I can see even more of the distortion now. The lens is so small, I always pack this one no matter what event I do.
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Crazy Ultra Wide Wall bending fun!, Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
Pros:
Ultra Wide View Really light and small Get those really tight shots! Nice quality slide on metal lens cap
Cons:
No filter mount Auto focus makes loud buzzing sound Can not manual focus in auto focus mode
Unpacking:
I got my new Canon 15mm Fisheye today and my first thoughts were wow it's smaller then I thought it would be and lighter. Reminds me of my Canon 50mm F/1.8 lens. Not as light but very close to it. Sure wish I could mount a filter, but the front of the lens is round and won't permit it.
Mounting:
When mounting it on my Canon 5D Mark II it turns harder as you approach the locking point almost to the point where you think something is wrong and then it locks in place but there is no audible click. But it does mount solidly even more so then my L lenses.
I always purchase a lens filter with my new lenses but in this case there is no mount for one because of the curvature of the front element you can't mount one anyway.
I found myself keeping the lens cap on as much as possible setting up the shot first and then removing the cap at the last possible minute then putting it back on after the shot.
What's it like?
Well in a word AWESOME! Especially on a full frame sensor camera like the 5D. The auto focus (AF) makes a loud buzzing sound when it focuses but at 15mm there isn't much focusing to do. And you can get away with really low shutter speeds and still be pretty sharp. You could even leave the auto focus off and just run the manual focus ring to the middle and step down to say F9 and bang everything is in focus anyway! Just take note that you can't override the auto focus by grabbing the focus ring and turning it when the AF switch is in the AF position. It's not a USM system so there is no simultaneous manual / auto focusing allowed. I have found I don't really need it though because if it doesn't auto focus I just reconmpose until I one of the focus points is on a high Contrast object press the shutter part way get a focus lock recompose and shoot. When doing this you might just find a better composition anyway as little changes will really effect the look.
I find that items near the edges that are normally straight really get the bends when you uses this lens on a full frame sensor camera like my Canon 5D Mark II but very subdued when mounted on my cropped sensor cameras 40D and Rebel XTi.
The first hour I had the lens I ran around like a maniac photographing every small space I could think of closets, my daughters Honda Fit interior etc then over to the local park where I sat under some trees and pointed it up while laying on the ground.
The other neat effect is holding the camera with both hands and pointing it towards yourself you get this huge distortion of anything really close to the lens and your arms will look huge close to the camera.
Conclusion:
It's not a lens for everyone and after just a few photos of the same object there are only so many views to get so you don't want to over use it. But especially on a full frame camera like the Canon 5D Mark II you can photograph spaces much smaller then you could ever imagine and it will give your photos a unique look that can only be achieved with a fisheye. I heartily recommend.
Other lenses reviewed:
Canon 15mm Fisheye F/2.8, crazy ultra wide wall bending fun! Canon EF-S 17-55 F/2.8 IS Ultra sharp, great colors, great low light, poor zoom action Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Rebel XTi Kit lens Muddy, slow, pile of junk Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L Fantastic colors, sharp zoomed 17 to 24mm, ultra smooth zoom action, light weight Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L Fantastic colors and contrast, sharp zoomed 40 to 70mm, zoom a little stiff at first, heavy, repair prone! Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Good budget portrait lens, light weight, disposable, sharp from F/2.5 Canon EF 85mm F/1.2 L II The best portrait lens for female and children clients, buttery smooth Bokeh, heavy and expensive it shares sharpness with 135mm Canon EF 135mm F/2.0 L The best portrait lens for males and tied with Canon 85mm F 1/.2 for sharpest lens I own, buttery smooth Bokeh Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L fantastic colors, sharp for a zoom, very versatile ego boosting and attention getting and heavy! My favorite zoom lens!!! Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L great IS, super colors, sharp for a zoom, extremely versatile, variable Bokeh, even more ego boosting and attention getting when extended and 400mm reach!! Canon EF 200mm F/2 IS L Otherworldly, insane, impossible, rare, perfect, out of sight, crazy and very expensive!
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Fishy Fisheye Lens, Friday, 06 March 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This lens is GREAT! In most pictures, it doesn't seem to have a crazy bubble/fisheye effect. Depending on composition. The price was well worth it!
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Great lens for reasonable price, Tuesday, 03 February 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This lens performs at top quality levels in terms of contrast, Resolution, and color rendition. It is a full-frame fisheye design, i.e., on a 24x36mm sensor (or film) the diagonal angle of view is 180 degrees, and the full frame area is covered (not a "circular fisheye"). Autofocus is a Bit "buzzy" - it's not an ultrasonic motor type - but quick and accurate. For landscape work this wouldn't be an issue anyway, but good AF is very useful when making use of the possibilities for extreme close perspective portraits of animals, etc. The build quality is not quite like the Canon L series lenses, but is generally solid and confidence inspiring. The lens cap is important, since the convex front element is protected only by the petal shaped built-in hood, and a front filter cannot be used. I consider this lens well worth its price, and if you understand the optical workings of a fisheye (tangential straight lines become curved as part of the design) you will not be disappointed.
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Adds some drama, Sunday, 01 February 2009
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
I am a wedding and portrait photographer. I use the lens for these situations and love it.
1. To add some interest to dancefloor shots. I just hold the camera above the crowd and shoot down. The shots are playful and energetic. 2. To make a small, boring church look huge. Just shoot inside and watch out to keep your toes out of the shot.
and for fun
3. To shoot kids and pets with big, cartoony heads.
It's a great lens and fun to use.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Very, Very Sharp Lens, Saturday, 22 November 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
I have used this lens at Division 1A football games this season. I use it on a 5D to take shots of the stadium. It is tack sharp. Last night I saw a six foot wide (!) canvas print the university had made I shot with this lens; even with close inspection it held up nicely. If you must have a sharp lens this is the one.
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Nice., Thursday, 23 October 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
5.0
I really like the sparkly, crystal-clear images this lens produces. I was after the lens distortion, and was pleased to see the other benefits of using the lens as well. It's quite a versatile lens.
That it will not take a filter and the lens glass bulges outward is a little scary from a lens-protection standpoint. I would not recommend this lens to anyone with sloppy handling techniques, and I CERTAINLY would never loan it to ANYone, too much danger of damaging the glass.
It's pricey. That it's not a 'great deal' is the only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5.
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Canon Fisheye 15mm, Monday, 04 August 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
3.3
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
3.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
3.0
Fantastic! I have often wondered why they don't bring out a newer version of this lens as this is fairly old now and what with the specifics of the digital camera I was expecting to have to be careful how I used this lens (especially as I am using the 5D). In actual fact the quality is amazing. No picture fall off like you can get on the zooms with the large sensor (such as 24-105 for example). I must however add that this is just based on my first impressions and first experiments with the lens but my feeling is that it won't let me down.
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Here fishy fishy fishy...., Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
3.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
3.0
Enjoy using this canon wide fishy eye lens. Not so fishy when I first used it on my canon 40d but learned to love it. I take it everywhere. It's kinda loud but if its to loud your to old to use it.
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Totally Fun, Sunday, 02 December 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This has been an Amazingly fun lens. Although the quality is not an "L" series canon, the very minor lack in sharpness and contrast, is made up by the awesome "fisheye" images produced by this lens. Talk about seeing things differently, this lens will will do that and some.
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Good fisheye but not an L, Thursday, 06 September 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
4.0
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
3.0
I have been a fisheye fan for years. Photos taken with this type of lens can be very striking because they enable a viewer to see all at once a scene that cannot be viewed as a whole normally. A fisheye or other superwide lens is often the best way to capture a big landscape. No other lens has better Depth of field making it possible to take photos in sharp focus from a few inches to infinity. Barrel Distortion is largely eliminated or disguised in a landscape photo by putting the horizon in the center of the shot.
My only quibble with this lens is that the corners can break down on a full frame camera such as a 1Ds or a 5D. At f4.0 and above focus in the corner is noticeably soft and there is considerable chromatic fringing. It is only in the extreme corner so cropping that out or shooting at a higher aperature solves the problem.
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amature, Thursday, 08 March 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTIN INTO WHEN I BOUGHT THE LENS BUT I'M SUPER HAPPY WITH IT. IT HAS A HUGE ANGLE OF VEIW AND WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM PHOTO EDITORS U CAN MAKE SUPER LONG PANARAMIC PHOTO'S. THING TO BE CAREFULL ARE GETTIN ARMS AND FINGERS ETC. IN THE PHOTO'S. IT'S EASY TO FORGET ABOUT THE WIDE ANGLE OF VEIW. THERE IS DISTORTION OF COURSE WITH ANY FISH EYE BUT IF A FISH EYE IS WHAT UR LOOKING FOR THEN THIS IS THE LENS FOR YOU. WITH A AFFORDABLE PRICE.
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wonderful pictures, Wednesday, 07 February 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This is an amazing Fisheye, a must have lens for items that are too large to be captured by regular lenses.
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Great lens in the right context, Sunday, 28 January 2007
Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
When used on a camera with a crop factor , the 15mm lens isn't as extreme as it seems. For example, on my EOS 20D the "35mm equivalent" is 15mm * 1.6 = 25mm. I do plan on getting a full-frame body in the next few months, and plan to enjoy the lens even in its full super-wide-angle glory.
This lens does have barrel distortion inherent in all fisheye designs BUT these can be enhanced, diminished or completely removed by commonly-available plugins. (I use ptlens, dxo, and to a lesser extent, the ones built into Photoshop CS2 and CS3.) Here's the important part: if you're willing to deal with barrel distortion in post-processing (and you should be), the 15mm is the best super-wide lens available. It's lighter, much cheaper, and, to my eyes, equal in image quality to the 14/f2.8L.
Bottom line: Excellent lens, excellent value. The total cost of the lens plus post-processing software is much less than the more expensive rectalinear 14mm lens. This lens is one of my favorite possessions. You will not regret owning it!
---
I have since did as I promised and purchased a full-frame body, and would like to "revise and extend" my remarks. Basically, at full-frame the 15mm starts to show more flaws. The chromatic aberrations in the corners are pretty bad (not as noticeable with a cropped body), and the fisheye effect is much more pronounced. The CAs can be cleaned up somewhat in CS3, but beware stark contrasts in the corners; those purple fringes are really tough to get rid of! You can still "defish" the images using ptlens, but dealing with corner perspectives is tougher.
It's still a great lens, but just for a more limited use. I wound up getting a 16-35 II zoom as its complement (and to replace the 10-22 EF-S lens that won't work on full frame cameras).
