Fish Eye Lens for Z5 - Tell me something about it! at DVinfo.net

Silas Barker · January 2nd, 2010, 07:14 PM

I just ordered a fisheye lens for my Sony Z5..... its a 135 degree field of view. Can anyone tell me any tricks, ideas, comments for when I start shooting with it? It comes next week!

I got 16x9's model for the Z5.

Lukas Siewior · January 3rd, 2010, 09:59 AM

I want one too - please post some framegrabs or footage once you receive it.

David Dwyer · January 3rd, 2010, 10:03 AM

I take it its the same size for the Z1? 72mm?

Post up some videos please.

Tom Hardwick · January 3rd, 2010, 10:59 AM

72 mm attachment, yes. Generally fisheyes are single element wide-angle adapters with about a 0.35x power, though the v expensive Century is a cemented doublet. You'll be able to zoom through for more than half your zoom, which should prove pretty useful.

Fisheyes make a feature out of the pronounced barrel distortion, and all straight lines that don't cross the centre point will bow outwards. Not much good for cathedral interiors, but fun for skateboarding pov shots and the like.

Genuine fisheye lenses see 180 degrees in all directions, and as such place a circular image within the frame, causing lots of 16:9 frame vignetting. More useful are the full frame fisheyes that fill the frame but only see 180 degrees corner to corner.

Hard to hood, difficult to keep your shadow and feet out of shot but great fun to use.

tom.

Silas Barker · January 5th, 2010, 01:50 AM

Its the same as the Z1, a 72 mm thread.
Its 16x9 's model found in BH Videos add-ons for the Z5.

135 degree angle view.

Let me know if anyone else has anything to say about it! Comes next week in the mail and I will post footage too!
Check out my website in the meantime at Wedding & Corporate Video, Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Auburn or become a Facebook Fan at
Silas's Videography | Facebook

January 2nd, 2010, 07:14 PM	#1
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Fish Eye Lens for Z5 - Tell me something about it! I just ordered a fisheye lens for my Sony Z5..... its a 135 degree field of view. Can anyone tell me any tricks, ideas, comments for when I start shooting with it? It comes next week! I got 16x9's model for the Z5.

January 5th, 2010, 01:50 AM	#5
Silas Barker Major Player Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 577	Hi, I am back! Here are the answers to questions: Its the same as the Z1, a 72 mm thread. Its 16x9 's model found in BH Videos add-ons for the Z5. 135 degree angle view. Let me know if anyone else has anything to say about it! Comes next week in the mail and I will post footage too! Check out my website in the meantime at Wedding & Corporate Video, Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Auburn or become a Facebook Fan at Silas's Videography \| Facebook

January 3rd, 2010, 09:59 AM	#2
Lukas Siewior Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lyndhurst, NJ, USA Posts: 408	I want one too - please post some framegrabs or footage once you receive it.

January 3rd, 2010, 10:03 AM	#3
David Dwyer Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chester, North West Posts: 565	I take it its the same size for the Z1? 72mm? Post up some videos please.

January 3rd, 2010, 10:59 AM	#4
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	72 mm attachment, yes. Generally fisheyes are single element wide-angle adapters with about a 0.35x power, though the v expensive Century is a cemented doublet. You'll be able to zoom through for more than half your zoom, which should prove pretty useful. Fisheyes make a feature out of the pronounced barrel distortion, and all straight lines that don't cross the centre point will bow outwards. Not much good for cathedral interiors, but fun for skateboarding pov shots and the like. Genuine fisheye lenses see 180 degrees in all directions, and as such place a circular image within the frame, causing lots of 16:9 frame vignetting. More useful are the full frame fisheyes that fill the frame but only see 180 degrees corner to corner. Hard to hood, difficult to keep your shadow and feet out of shot but great fun to use. tom.