More Thoughts on 8-15mm Fisheye lenses for Underwater Photographers

[@sinetwo]

Great overview guys. I'm actually upgrading to Z8, and I think this is my only fisheye option. I'm keen to see if this works with the optically superior TC14 adapter from Nikon as opposed to the kenko one. I was unimpressed with kenko and the tokina 10-17 unfortunately.

[@jasonhsiao6661]

Hi Adam, I am trying to build a full frame mirrorless system for the Canon R5. I am running into a little trouble deciding which dome port I should go with the canon EF 8-15. I was hoping if you could point me in the right direction, thank you!

[@Wetpixel-Live]

Definitely a query for the Wetpixel forum...

[@ebrahimhamdy5263]

As canon shooter the canon 8-15mm has locked switch to lock the lens on 10mm and also I'm using the tokina 10-17mm on Full frame camera between 15to17mm

[@Wetpixel-Live]

The limit switch is useful for cropped sensor shooters but makes the lens a very expensive 10-15mm, which (in my opinion) doesn't do anything that the Tokina does at a fraction of the price. I also really like the focal length of the Tokina at 17mm for big fish as it is much less "fishy" I used the Tokina on the D800 once, and its optical flaws become immediately apparent! I do not intend to repeat the exercise.

[@ebrahimhamdy5263]

@@Wetpixel-Live completely agree with you about the limit switch it is helpful when using this lens on crop sensor camera. I still didn't do any dive with the tokina on FF camera as I bought the camera and the housing early this year and all diving holiday cancelled for me hopefully soon I can do some test for the new gear

[@Eikenhorst]

On a D500 with the Tokina 10-17, wouldn't it still make sense to put it behind an 8 inch dome instead of a minidome (like 4 inch)

[@Wetpixel-Live]

It depends on what you want to do....big domes limit lighting options with subjects close to the port, which is in many ways a strength of fisheye lenses...

[@josilunatu]

It's funny that no one compares the Nikkor 8-15 vs the awesome Nikkor 10.5mm for DX system. I wonder if there is any difference.

[@Wetpixel-Live]

It is a very good point. I think the 10.5mm is a super sharp lens. However, I find that my 8-15mm (and 10-17mm) tend to be at the 15/17mm end almost all the time...

[@Eikenhorst]

@@Wetpixel-Live Well at that point you of course have less distortion and you can keep a bit more distance from your subject, which makes lighting quite a bit easier.

[@axm2689]

I imagine that a Z/RF version of the 8-15 would be a long way off being that it is such a specialist lens.

[@Wetpixel-Live]

As far as I am aware, neither Nikon nor Canon has a fisheye in their current lens road maps for mirrorless. These go out for 2-3 years!

[@juhanivaihkonenunderwater]

Canon 8-15mm has build-in limiter

[@Wetpixel-Live]

The limit switch is useful for cropped sensor shooters but makes the lens a very expensive 10-15mm, which (in my opinion) doesn't do anything that the Tokina does at a fraction of the price.

[@juhanivaihkonenunderwater]

@@Wetpixel-Live Canon 8-15mm lens is quite old already. You can get it second hand about the same price or bit higher as the Tokina. People who start underwater photography, second hand is wise solution.

[@Wetpixel-Live]

A cursory glance on eBay and the second hand dealers puts the Canon 8-15mm at approximately twice the price of the Tokina! I think the key thing to bear in mind, is that on crop sensor cameras, there is little advantage to be gained by spending this extra. In fact, you don't get the 17mm end of the Tokina...which is really good to big fish etc.

[@juhanivaihkonenunderwater]

@@Wetpixel-Live Crop sensor camera are slowly disappearing as the fullframe entry level cameras are getting cheaper so getting full frame lens is better choice.

[@Wetpixel-Live]

I think this exactly the point we made in the video! If full frame is in your future (or you have both), the 8-15mm makes sense. If you are a cropped sensor shooter, the Tokina is the better choice...