To wide angle or not ..fisheye...lensbaby??

[ravynne40]

For those more experienced with photography my question to you, what exactly is wide angle good for?
also what is fisheye good for?
I went to check out some wide angle lenses, and wasn't sure if I liked them, they seem to squish everything down in the centre and give lots of foreground and lots of upperground..
the fisheye just made me feel seasick..it was weird and funny.
but really, what are they used for and would you consider using it for landscapes? or indoors? buildings? (trying to justify buying a new lens here..)

also would a lensbaby give you the same/or similar effect? (justifying prices here too 200 as opposed to the 800$) LOL

would appreciate some thoughts on these

thanks
Irene

[Kin Lau]

Wide angles include a lot more, and properly used, can make for some spectacular landscapes. However, it does include a lot more foreground and often, the foreground is only so-so. The secret to a good landscape shot, is interesting foreground, subject and then background, and that is a lot tougher to do than it sounds. The wider the angle, the harder it is to use one properly.

Fisheye's are very specialized, and even harder to use well. I find them better for party pics than nature/landscape.

Lensbabies are still an interchangeable format, you can get wide, fisheye and other lenses.

[Michael Tam]

To understand the need of a wid-angle lens that is essential in capturing the grand perspective of the landscape, one must be able to juxtapose zonal elements.  

The following article outline the choice of wide-angle zooms from different landscape masters is helpful to learn which zoom is right for one's needs:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/gear ... -zoom.html

For even more detail understanding, please read the following article:

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how- ... angle.html

Good birding and photography.

[ravynne40]

Thanks for the help and advice..also thanks for the links they are very interesting and I have also bookmarked them for further reading.

[Michael Tam]

Learn the judicious use of the wide-angle lens, one could bring out the grand splendor of a landscape vista or a great hall of an interior architecture.  Upon reviewing a photograph from a publication I had taken with a 20 mm (35 mm equivalent) wide-angle lens of a Buddhist main shrine, the view was a glorious "greater than real" perspective of the grand hall.

The following article with a somewhat zealous view describes the steps to master the skill in the use of a wide-angle lens:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/how-to- ... lenses.htm

Good birding and photography.

[ravynne40]

Thanks Michael, I am looking at the websites and enjoying the reading, and on one studying the photographs of the photographers..their photos are beautiful.
The info is very informative and encouraging.

[Michael Tam]

There are many wide-angle zoom lens on the market.  For those interested in purchasing one from the popular name brands, the following updated comparsion chart may be a starting point in one's search:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/digital ... /chart.htm

Good birding and photography.

[Brian Bailey]

Irene,

A wide angle lens offers a whole different set of opportunities and challenges from the "big guns" you use to shoot birds.  I wouldn't bother looking at fisheyes.   They're a very expensive one-trick pony.  I also wouldn't look at fixed focal length wide angles.  You can get very high quality zooms, offering more versatility for much less money.

As others have suggested, the primary use for wide angles is landscape photography.  I get far more use out of my 10-20 on vacation than any other time.  Be very cautious using wide angle to shoot people:  the wide angle distortions can be very unflattering.  (Those same distortions can be exploited for a variety of interesting effects on all sorts of subjects.)  On the subject of distortion, I should point out that ALL wide angle lenses distort.  They have to to fit such a wide view into a flat rectangle.  A lens that renders straight lines straight to the edge of the frame is great, but in order to do that, some other parts of the image have to bend.  Normal looking buildings can have warped-looking people in the foreground if they're near the edge of the frame.  (Once you experience it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.)

When you are shopping and looking at reviews, pay close attention to the model descriptions.  There are often several different versions of the same or similar focal range, particularly with the third party lens makers.  I have a slightly older version of the Sigma in that Ken Rockwell review and it's a great lens.  The one that replaced it was generally considered inferior.

A couple of useful lens review sites: Photozone and SLRgear

BB

[ravynne40]

Thanks Brian and Michael, I found Ken's website at work(gasp) yes I was surfing the net...i found it interesting and informative, I still have not decided if I really "need" this lens, Like you said Brian, I shoot birds...I might just play around with the hubby's 50mm for a while before I make any rash decisions on a lens. I did actually purchase a flash! woohoo..its very neat, Nikon SB-600, so I'm going to play with that for a bit and have fun with it.
It will help with photographing functions for work as well, I do our staff pics and parties, so the flash was a good thing to get..
I will still research the wide angle option, and keep bugging the poor people at henry's to see it again, and again...to really make sure its what I want. Not so sure I like the distortion...this is not something I"m going to make a rash decision about.

Thanks again for the help
Irene

[Kin Lau]

Do you still have the kit lens that came with the camera? It's a fine way to get started, since the wide end is often quite adequate.

[Michael Tam]

"To buy or not to buy, that is the question?"  In general photography, including social settings, a 28 mm (35mm equivalent) is adequate for most situations without creating unflattering appearance to a particular individual  

Without resorting to a full-frame format lens, the Tokina wide-angle zoom lens in APS-C format is probably a top quality and cost efficient choice within the third party manufacturers.  Please see the review below:

http://www.dpreview.com/products/tokina ... 4_4/review

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/666-tokina1116f28eos

Good birding and photography.

[ravynne40]

Do you still have the kit lens that came with the camera? It's a fine way to get started, since the wide end is often quite adequate.

yes I do, its a 18-105mm, that is why I was questioning some of the wide angles out there, if I get a 10-24, i'm actually getting 10-18 right? because from 18-24 I already have that in the kit lens..if i'm not mistaken, or is that how it doesn't work?...I wanted to check out the 8-16 but they didn't have any in stock at the time so I am going to wait and play with the lenses I have at the moment.

[Brian Bailey]

For social gatherings, I think you would find the extra coverage of the wide angle zoom isn't worth the hassle of changing lenses.  Your 18-105 would be a much better choice.  Also, your flash is unlikely to cover a 10mm field of view unless you bounce it off the ceiling.

As for lens overlap, I know that at the same focal lengths, my 10-20 has much better sharpness & contrast and less distortion & chromatic aberration than my 17-85.  No contest.

If you're still not sure about getting one, see if you can borrow one from a fellow Nikonian or rent one for a day.

BB

[Michael Tam]

In architectural, landscape and nature photography, it is best to have at one's disposal a 24 mm or wider lens to bring out the grandeur of the scene. By converting the crop factor of 1.5x for Nikon, one needs only a 16 mm in APS-C format lens (or DX lens) to achieve a 24mm coverage. With the example of 12-24mm Tokina lens above, the coverage is a more than adequate 18-36mm at 35 mm equivalent field.

It is precisely the issue of crop factor that benefitted bird photographer, whereas it is a "detriment" to the need for a wide perspective. For further understanding of the Crop Factor, please read the following:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

The only DX lens in my personal collection is the Tokina wide-angle since FX lens offers the flexibility of up-grading to a full-frame DSLR body in a future time.  The performance of the Tokina is more than superb for the price paid.

Good birding and photography.