Fisheye-Nikkor 8-15 mm f/3.5-4.5

[longzoom]

I see a great potential for this zoom to be used on DX, intermediate settings especially. 15 on DX will act as an extra wide one, with relatively less de-fishing, if needed. A lot of interesting things could be done, on FX and DX. Let us see the owners opinions! THX!  LZ

[Roland Vink]

On an FX camera the 8-15 is one of two things: either an 8mm circular fisheye, or a 15mm full-frame fisheye. I don't see much scope for zooming in between, unless you like truncated circular images. Zoomed just a little wider than 15mm you could crop for a squarer format and still get a full-frame image, but I'd say the majority of photographers would use it almost exclusively at one end or the other.

On DX it's a bit different. At the widest settings from 8-10mm you can get a truncated circular image, similar to what can be achieved on FX between 12-15mm. At 11mm it becomes a full-frame fisheye like the DX 10.5mm fisheye. Zooming further it remains a full-frame fisheye but the angle of view and "fishiness" is reduced. I imagine this could be quite useful if a less extreme fisheye effect is desired. It would also be handy for landscape photography, allowing for more precise cropping or framing of the scene. After all, just because it is a fisheye, there is no reason it has to have a 180° field of view.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

If you want to do square or less rectangular (I commonly use 4:5) aspect ratios then it makes sense to zoom in as much as possible to get the most detailed image without leaving relevant parts out. There is even a 4:5 crop mode in some Nikon models that can help find the right setting. However, I suppose one can also just shoot at 8mm and decide on the exact framing in post-processing.

[Michael Erlewine]

I repeat my question for those who know. Is this new zoom lens as sharp (or sharper) than the early 16mm Nikkor f/3.5 lens?

[Tejpor]

Here is your answer, Michael. From underwater shooters, whose workhorse lenses are fisheyes. http://wetpixel.com/articles/review-nikon-8-15-mm-f-3.5-4.5-fisheye-lens/P4

[Michael Erlewine]

Here is your answer, Michael. From underwater shooters, whose workhorse lenses are fisheyes. http://wetpixel.com/articles/review-nikon-8-15-mm-f-3.5-4.5-fisheye-lens/P4

I still don't see where the new zoom fisheye is compared to the the earlier nikon 16mm f/3.5. There were two earlier Nikkor fisheye lenses, one at f/3.5 (sharpest) and one at f/2.8 (less sharp). Perhaps I missed it in that longish article, but If did not find the new zoom compared to the earlier f/3.5 Nikkor fisheye for sharpness. 

[longzoom]

I still don't see where the new zoom fisheye is compared to the the earlier nikon 16mm f/3.5. There were two earlier Nikkor fisheye lenses, one at f/3.5 (sharpest) and one at f/2.8 (less sharp). Perhaps I missed it in that longish article, but If did not find the new zoom compared to the earlier f/3.5 Nikkor fisheye for sharpness.

     You need a direct comparison - copy to the copy. Your own copies, of course. The rest is a wordings only. My last copy of the Sigma fish was better, of any respect, than my best copy of Nikkor 3.5 fish, and way better than 2.8 one. This new zoom looks like delivering better color/contrast ratio than any of them, mentioned here, equal to my former Leica or Rollei one I'd say, but your direct question needs direct comparison of the 100% crops. This way or that, the info, sensitively touching all of us, will be released soon, I believe. LZ