BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

I have been lusting for the "SIGMA 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC Circular Fish-eye Lens for Canon."
It also is made for other cameras as to, Nikon / Sony... maybe others too(?)

I've always wanted to create those kind of images with a round black circle and lines bent till they meat each other! Yes I know it has distortion, its a fish-eye...

Product Information~
Digitally optimized circular fisheye lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor.This auto focus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in all directions. It is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras with the APS-C size image sensor. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors, it produces circular image within the frame.

I've read lots of reviews on it. Its pretty much $899.00 anywhere here in the states. So not cheap, but not out of this world...
Does anyone here have it?
Are you happy with it?
Do you like it?
Did its novelty wear off in a week?

Anything you can share about it, I would appreciate.
Many thanks,
Randy

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Have you compared this lens to the Samyang 8mm fisheye lens sold by many other brands? I am just wondering what things attracted you to this Sigma lens?

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

Well according to a review of the Samyang 8mm fisheye

"To date Samyang lenses don't feature any electronics so while you will be able to mount these lenses without an adapter you'll have to live without AF and a camera-controlled aperture. The Samyang 8mm f/3.5 is a dedicated full frame fisheye lens for APS-C DSLRs."

Also this the Samyang 8mm fisheye is F3.5 vs the Sigma at 2.8.

Also, "typical for fisheye lenses the field-of-view is immense - 180 degrees or to be precise: 167 degrees on Canon EOS APS-C DSLRs (1.6x crop rather than 1.5x )"

It is 8mm rather than 4.5mm and does not appear that it will give the full round circle with the image inside.
It appears to me that the Samyang is just a very WIDE angle lens.

RC0448 Loc: Tacoma WA

I have it. It was fun for a bit, but, didn't really fit with what I normally like to shoot. It just sits in my bag now....

Self portrait last Christmas... :-)

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Thank you for answering with solid information.

TomballLegend Loc: Tomball, Texas

I see no reason to own a lens that can take pictures of my feet facing straight ahead!

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

A stunning self portrait. To bad it just sits idle in your camera bag.

pigpen

I was thinking of the same lens. I wanted the full circular images. Thinking it would only be a "fun" lens, I could not justify the price. I opted for the Rokinon (a version of Samyang) 8mm. I am quite comfortable with manual, so that was no issue. The cost was $289. It is soft at f/3.5, but very sharp between f5.6 - f/11. I use it mainly for architexture. I set it to f/8, set the focus in between 10ft and infinity, and evreything is in focus from 10ft out. The fact that is 167 degrees instead of 180, lessens the whole "foot in the picture" problem

I am very happy with it. I bought it for fun, but recently sold a few images from it. Here is one, due to this forum's compression, it may not look that sharp, but it really is.

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

Thanks so much Pigpen. Always good to have new input and with a picture!

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

Hey RC0448, do you have any images with this lens posted somewhere you wouldn't mind sharing?
Thanks, Randy

RC0448 Loc: Tacoma WA

Hey RC0448, do you have any images with this lens posted somewhere you wouldn't mind sharing?
Thanks, Randy[/quote]

I just checked....the one I posted above and my avatar are the only ones I can find at the moment.... :-(

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

I just checked....the one I posted above and my avatar are the only ones I can find at the moment.... :-([/quote]

You need to get out and play with that amazing toy!
I like your profile image with it!
Again thanks for the reply,
Randy