Olympus 8mm Fisheye Review // De-Fishing Examples

[@MicroFourNerds]

Something I learned this week: lending products for review is going to bankrupt me. My 8mm fisheye arrives tomorrow... 🙈📸♥️🎉

[@johnmcfarland2055]

Are you borrowing the lens from someone or lending it to someone else?

[@tosvus]

I think her point was that she was lending (borrowing, really) one for reviewing, and ended up buying one because she liked it so much ;)

[@yelkao8]

A really good presenter who has cut out the crap and given a review which is to the point. A good selection of actual examples using the lens

[@alexwade9921]

Great review Emily. You’re right to caution about the specialist nature of the beast. It’s a heck of a lot of money! I bought a Samyang 7.5mm f3.5 not long after they came out (maybe 6 years ago now?). It’s seen very limited use. The best shots I got with it were 360 degree panoramic stitches (six shots on a Nodal Ninja into a complete 360). It’s very very sharp edge to edge at f5.6 and at that point has pretty much infinite depth of field so doesn’t really need AF. I usually set f5.6 and move the focus ring about 1.5mm away from infinity and just leave it there. I’d be very surprised if the Oly bests it by far for absolute acuity. You can get them for £200 now! For someone who doesn’t need the low light capability it would still be worth a punt.

[@extremelydave]

It's amazing how well the software does in defishing images!! It would be a fun, if expensive, lens to play with!!!

[@Istoproductions]

Had to stop in the middle of the video to say I loved this review! I was really curious about this lens and now I feel alot more confident about it!

[@weizenobstmusli8232]

I bought this lens on your recommendation and I am very happy with it. Still have to learn what to photograph with it, but I am convinced that I will create some good shots with it.

[@MadisonBPhotography]

Just came across your channel, great to see a British female photographer smashing it with photography content! I may just go find my fisheye..

[@MicroFourNerds]

Madison Beach thank you!! 🎉📸🎉📸

[@YoSpiff]

I bought a Rokinon 7.5mm fisheye. Fun lens I've missed having a wideangle since I moved to M 4/3 from Canon aps-C. I usually end up de-fishing the photos, as you say. No idea how it compares to the Olympus offering, but it was cheap used at $125 USD, so I can't complain at all.

[@terrywbreedlove]

YoSpiff I hear that is a great lens. I have the Rokinon 12mm and it is very well built and sharp.

[@Husky828]

its so fun listening and watching your review, great work! you deserve way more viewers

[@Eikenhorst]

Hey Emily, how does this compare to the Panasonic 8mm F3.5alternative? Both lenses would work fine on a Olympus camera right? The depth of field is anyway nearly non existent with 8mm focal length and the Panasonic is much smaller.

[@Kenpixelpusher]

Is this lens suitable for 360 photography for virtual tours? I realise this also requires specialist software and a pano head.

[@olafweyer859]

The OM-D 1 II can now defish the lens and you see the effect through the viefinder/onscreen. The lowest of the 3 defishing settings makes the lens wider than the 7-14mm Olympus and since that's the case it's also wider than the Laowa 7.5mm nonfisheye. Doesn't work in video though.

[@BrainDesmo]

Ty. Man, if defishing worked for video, that would be killer!

[@tkarlmann]

I've always carried a fisheye with me; my question is about the in-camera corrections available. I think you said that the (rectilinear) wide-angle lenses were better at wide angles than this lens converted in-camera to 'rectilinear'. Can you expand on this thought? (I realize this is an older video.)

[@juniormmmm]

I don't know how you do it. I am always in awe of what you produce. It makes me wish that I had gone to school for photography. Whats your story on how you became a photographer?

[@MicroFourNerds]

juniormmmm thank you so much! As for my story, I'm completely self-taught. I studied music and sound design for my degree instead of photography, always being a photography enthusiast as a hobby. I ended up gradually having paid work on the side as I studied, and that sort of snowballed over time until I managed to make it my full time job last year.

[@aaronperkinson8314]

Thanks so much for this review! Bought this today (got a good deal) and can't wait to try it! I loved your review...makes me a happy buyer even before I have the lens!

[@Fishcakebuttie]

Is this compatible with Sony full frame. Need a fisheye for low light. Sony A7s iii

[@tomasbordi362]

How would you compare this lens to the 7artisans 7.5mm F2.8, TTartisans 7.5mm F2.0 and Pansonic 8mm F3.5? all fisheyes :)

[@jamespayne4759]

Great video on the Olympus 8mm Fisheye !!!!!!!! YOU DONE GOOD !!!!!!!

[@JohnOsCreations]

Hello from Ireland? What Panasonic Lumix are you using? Thanks

[@rightfeelI]

Loved the video. That's unbelievably sharp!

[@tkarlmann]

Did you not have the Fisheye Compensation WITHIN the E-M! mk2 available -- specifically for this lens? I've heard it's live as well!

[@MicroFourNerds]

tkarlmann I shot this on the Gh5 unfortunately, but that feature sounds so interesting and handy!

[@andreask.3752]

Great video! Love it. Thanks. I really like this lens, it is super sharp and so much fun to work with. However, just recently I have encountered issues when using Starry Sky AF. Pictures Turn super soft and blurry. Tried everything settings-wise without any success. Are there any known incompatibilities when using this lens and Starry Sky AF?

[@psionicdreams]

I got myself the 9mm F8 bodycap lens. Cos the F1.8 is a bit (a lot actually ;) above my budget... but it's sharper than i expected.

[@jonbarnard7186]

Great video. You indicate that it won't replace a wide angle lens and that you can only de-fish to some extent. Is this because you can't remove all of the barrel distortion or are there other reasons? Do you know what the angle of view or lens length equivalent is when de-fished? I read somewhere that Olympus Viewer gives you up to a 5.5mm equivalent in rectilinear terms. I'm not sure I understood this right; that seems pretty wide. I'm looking for a wide angle lens and considering the Panasonic 8-18 or the Olympus 7-14, but if I can get a wider image with software correction, this would be a less expensive alternative.

[@tappersreviews4677]

Great video. Well explained and lots of examples. Subscribed.

[@YoshimiGames]

Love your videos! Ive just bought my first camera, a G80 with 12-60mm lens. I'm a bit clueless when it comes to lenses. Any lenses i should be buying right away? Using it for video and stills.

[@MicroFourNerds]

John Stuart thanks!! Hmm, I'd say you can't go wrong with a new fast prime lens, like the Panasonic 25mm 1.8, or the Olympus 17mm 1.8.you have stabilisation built into your camera so you have loads more options for lenses, good choice!

[@PrabhjotSinghTech]

I think you should totally go for the lumix 25mm 1.7 Here is a review (non-scientific) if you wanna take a look!! 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5u1oWWhaZeMjrM

[@PrabhjotSinghTech]

Oh yeah the leica 1.4 is very beautiful lens, would love to have that as well 😍

[@luigigrasso4289]

Great video Emily thank you for your effort. I have a question for you. I've got an Olympus OM-D E-M1 MarkII. Do you know if the defishing feature of the body will effect the ORF file or just the JPEG? Thank you in advance for your assistance. Bye!

[@terrywbreedlove]

I think this is another Lens I must add to my kit. This one and the 300 f4 and I will be set for life.

[@Music_Light_Show]

For the best results you should use a specialist defishing program like Hugin, i find Lightroom and Photoshop pretty poor at defishing.

[@prasanthgn]

Hi , need help in choosing lens, between 8mm1.8 and 7-14mm2.8. 70%for astrophotography and 30 for landscapes. Does defishing 8mm in lightroom has any issiues? Am I loosing anything by defishing.

[@MicroFourNerds]

I’d probably for for the 7-14 for landscape and astro, much more versatile imo! The 8mm is great but there is such a thing as TOO wide in landscapes composition wise. The 7-14 will still be great for astro and give you options. And no de-fishing 😁

[@prasanthgn]

@@MicroFourNerds thank you

[@andresgonzalezcerda7635]

Hello. Looking your astrophotography videos, it seems your experience with this Olympus fisheye was earlier than 7 artisans fish eye. Why go to that Lens if you already have the Olympus? Thanks and regards!

[@MicroFourNerds]

I sold it and got the lumix 25mm 1.4 and the cheaper 7artisans fisheye. Just seemed sensible given how little I use fisheye. I have no doubt at all that this Oly would be ideal for astro tho!

[@slothlovechunk]

Beautiful work! I want this lens. I did some videos with my samyang 7.5mm fisheye on my gx9--which has a heavy 4k crop but also IBIS. It looks great. it's like it perfectly cropped out the wobbly bits and left just a nice wide angle, barrell-distorted center (and no perspective distortion). It's perfect for what it was (following my 1 year old as she walked around the space needle).

[@zavirza]

Nice review. Also, i love your lightroom preset. Could you please share it to us?

[@ChristiaanRoest79]

Great video! I just received my olympus 8mm mft f 1.8 for my panasonic g9. I really like the reviews. Looking forward to shooting with it. I have one question. According to a friend of mine the panasonic leica 8-18mm has no fisheye distortion on the photos. Is it easy to remove the distortion in post? I have heard that its easy with the olympus workspace. Thanks.

[@MrTobamory]

Yes it’s a setting in lightroom also remember this is F1.8 so a mega lens for low light and Astro

[@chinitopinoy1726]

Great review! I'm thinking of getting this lens. I'm just curious what do you do in software to correct the fisheye look in video? Thanks.

[@MicroFourNerds]

I use an Alex 4D plug-in, it was free :)

[@chinitopinoy1726]

@@MicroFourNerds thank you!

[@JodyBruchon]

Fisheyes can be good for video. If you have a gimbal you're good, but for anyone holding a Canon APS-C body (which of course begs the question: why are you here?) there's an awesome lens called the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM. It's useless for MFT but it's a stabilized 16-28.8mm equivalent lens with great quality, and it's dirt cheap. I wish there was an equivalent lens on MFT.

[@robfielding100]

Great review video. I ordered mine a few days ago😃

[@paulgilbert4]

Hey there! I love your videos and your color grading style! Do you mind making a color grading tutorial? Or even the zoom in transition. I've always wanted to learn that. Thank you so much for your inspiring videos! They keep me motivated to make more videos!

[@MicroFourNerds]

Dark Chikin thank you so much that's lovely for you to say. I think I will make a transition and grading video in the future 📸🎉☺️🎉

[@paulgilbert4]

Awesome! I will look forward to that.

[@andrew1925]

Dark Chikin just look up sam kolder transition

[@paulgilbert4]

Andrew yeah I know but I like how she teaches and explain her videos

[@andrew1925]

Dark Chikin same shes very good.

[@nono-i7t]

Still a great review today! Was very helpful!

[@closeshot7161]

Nice review, but I wish they had made a rectilinear version.

[@BemCorrido]

Thanks a Lot, Just loved the way you talk. Cheers from Brazil.

[@victorbart]

I dont like the fishlook. I'm waiting on a normal 9 or 10mm F1.8 Olympus lens build like the 17mm with manual focus. That would be so great as vlogging lens!

[@MicroFourNerds]

+Victor Bart - RETRO Machines it really would!! I know I did it as sort of a joke, but when I de fished my room I thought it was quite a cool angle haha

[@stupa55]

Are there any out ?

[@PB4U]

Still waiting in 2023 😂

[@tosvus]

Great video (and your other ones as well!). Quick question; How did you do the defishing effect in the video, and also what do you defish the pictures with? Thanks!

[@MicroFourNerds]

tosvus hi! In photos, you can use the Transform sliders in Lightroom, or any lens correction sliders. For video I found a free plugin by (I think!) Alex4D. Once it is installed (I use Final cut but I'm sure plugins for other software will be available) you can fix it with just one slider 📸🎉

[@tosvus]

Thanks! Just a note that I tested some defishers, and ended up buying something called Fisheye-Hemi from Imadio. (not affiliated, lol) - it is not too expensive, and you can either get a photoshop or lightroom plugin. Really no options to speak of, but there are tutorials on the internet how to get the most out of it, and even if it takes a few minutes to get it perfect - the results are far better than anything else I've seen so far. Will try out DXO later too though.

[@jeffreybeigie5244]

I noticed you did a fair amount of de-fishing, so did you consider the Oly 7-14 f2.8 pro? I have that lens, and no-need to de-fish. When I'm feeling fishy the Rokinon 7.5. works for my purposes.

[@MicroFourNerds]

Jeffrey Beigie that lens looks brilliant. With the fisheye, I love the fisheye for certain shots, but primarily I really want to try it for astrophotography. With micro four thirds we need all the aperture we can get haha

[@jeffreybeigie5244]

Micro Four Nerds I’ve only tried astrophotography 1 time (excluding moon shots). I had real problems with light pollution. I tried using the Rokinon 12mm f2.0. I look forward to seeing you do a video on how to take good shots using m43 gear.

[@chris1223able]

I have to agree that this lens looks like it would excel at astrophotography@@MicroFourNerds

[@Eduardo.conteudos]

very ..very interesting review for video makers for the distortion of borders!!..thans a lot!!

[@stupa55]

Are there any other options lensewise for wide angle but not having the fisheye effect ? I thought to get the zuiko 8mm but it really looks strange for filming.

[@MicroFourNerds]

7artisans are supposed to be fantastic I think they have a 7.5mm?? Give them a Google. It really want one myself haha

[@stupa55]

hehe.. but they are manual lenses aren't they ? :-D

[@MicroFourNerds]

@@stupa55 yes unfortunately. Wide angle auto focus you're stuck with the olympus and lumix offerings unfortunately. Which are brilliant... But super pricy! The one I own is the olympus 9-18

[@stupa55]

Hmm that what I though as well :-/ I'm happy with the 12-60mm Lumix lens that I got but sometimes a little bit more angle would be preferred that's why I was looking into the 8mm :-P

[@MicroFourNerds]

@@stupa55 the plus point of such wide angle lenses, is depth of field really is basically everything is in focus anyway, so manual focus isn't hard at all if you were to consider manual focus options

[@mikey7326]

There's some weird flickering on your world map at the end.?

[@benzeglam]

What do you think of Panasonic 14mm f2.5?

[@MicroFourNerds]

Muhammad Jamal I haven't tried it yet but it looks really compact and good value!

[@kbruff2010]

Thank you for sharing this information

[@zardosspinosa6944]

I found it, rectilinear 7.5mm prime m4/3 lens by Laowa

[@fatherchristmas2998]

great live photos

[@davidsilva8695]

Your videos are interesting and informative, thank you! :)

[@cbartsch]

Liked the video, although the fisheye look is not for me. Just got myself an ex-demo Laowa 7.5mm f2 (rectilinear) and hope to give this some try runs soon. I found I needed a bit more field of view when travelling with my 12-60mm last summer so finally took the plunge on a reasonably priced ultra wide angle lens.Keep up your great vids and explanations!

[@brendang37]

How did you find it? Tossing up between the 7.5, the new 6mm this fisheye and the 9mm 1.8 Panasonic leica... so torn

[@skyflamech]

Good review

[@duskbatrabbit1199]

now I want one of these cool lens!

[@BobK58]

Gosh darn it. Now I want it!

[@markrichardson8153]

Great video really enjoyed that thank you.

[@WylunCustoms]

finally a good review! thanks!

[@phaselead_dj]

Your review is so amazing! Subbed right away :)

[@johnmcfarland2055]

This is an expensive lens at $849.00 (USD). I wonder how the Rokinon 7.5mm even at f3.5 compares and is only $219.00 (manual focus only)?

[@MicroFourNerds]

John McFarland I'd love to test some cheaper alternatives against this one. You're right this is very pricy!

[@Music_Light_Show]

I have the Samyang 7.5mm Fisheye, it's a fantastic lens for the price.

[@effectsjunkie8530]

Great review!

[@MicroFourNerds]

Effects Junkie thank you!

[@TuJabe]

Wow 1.8 is for sure nice for handheldwork in darker environments. I got the Samyang 7.5mm f/3.5 for Micro Four Thirds. Dont have a comparison between those two, but its pretty sharp eswell to the edges. A good low budget alternative . Still its a strange thing with the Fisheye optics. Sometimes theyre pretty cool...and very often the results are kinda just not what i expected. Hard to get used to in my opinion. Nice review by the way. Like your way to explain your thoughts.

[@MicroFourNerds]

TuJabe I agree with that! Sometimes in my head a photo will look amazing then when I try it with the fisheye it looks nothing like I planned. Definetely an experimental sort of lens! Haha

[@ranamorjal]

I enjoy when u talking

[@przybylskipawel]

Hi! Nice review! It's hard to get decent review of such a niche product. I would like to use this lens someday on Panasonic GH5S to shot choirs in tight poorly lit interiors. Always on a tripod. Shot from relative close proximity for close micing with mics mounted on top of camera (I don't want to have mics in the frame) Close distance is also needed to avoid benches and audience in the frame. Singers would be from side to side of the frame. Do you think I would be able to shoot with this lens in C4K without heavily distorting silhouettes or to reliably defish the such an image, considering GH5S's oversized sensor?

[@arthurmarek8418]

Love this new English word to defish...

[@MicroFourNerds]

Arthur Marek ha! Yes, it's a bit weird. Just seems easier to say than "make the barrel distortion less pronounced"

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

impressing ! - i wish i liked fishy Eyes - but im a film/video straghtshooter (Blackmagic Pocket Rocket) - but the "De-fishing sounds ... cool ,- -but, as you said - its not optimal for filmic video,- i like youre style - and i will sub your channel , right ..... now,- :-)

[@travis3567]

I am using this for real estate

[@rkgaustin]

That LUT looks like something from Fuji

[@davnesto]

Nah. Not for me the fish eye look. I'm would recommend the tokina 😋