Canon EF 8-15Mm F/4L USM Fisheye by Phil Rudin
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Canon EF 8-15mm F/4L USM Fisheye by Phil Rudin Rarely do we see a photo product started to become popular during the come along that is both unique and early 1960s. The difference between exciting in so many ways. The Canon the two types of lenses is simple, EF 8-15mm F/4L USM Fisheye the circular fisheye lens renders a zoom lens is both radical in design perfectly round image within the and exceptionally well suited for center of the 3:2 format sensor while underwater photography. This lens is the full-frame fisheye covered the not new and was announced in August entire frame. Keep in mind that with 2010 to replace the old EF 15mm the circular image you are loosing F/2.8 Fisheye for full-frame sensor megapixels to the black negative bodies. At the time Canon had no space while the full-frame image takes fisheye lens to cover APS-C or APS-H advantage of the entire sensor. Both size sensors. This lens combines both 8mm and 15mm fisheye lenses for circular and full-frame fisheyes into Canon full-frame cameras are offered one lens. Unlike the popular Tokina by third-party lens manufactures like 10-17mm for APS-C cameras that Sigma but the Canon 8-15mm fisheye covers a range from 180-100 degrees is the only lens that combines the the Canon 8-15mm covers a range two into one lens making it a unique from 180-175-30 degrees on full- and more cost effective addition for frame. It also works as a full-frame underwater photography. fisheye on both APS-C and APS-H size sensors with a slight crop in both Sony A7R II with Metabones adapter, formats. I have not tested this lens Canon 8-15mm Fisheye and Nauticam with any sub full-frame cameras and zoom gear will confine my comments to use with full-frame cameras. Alma Jean Wreck, Puerto Galera Circular fisheye lenses were the Philippines, Sony A7RII, Canon first type of fisheye to be developed 8-15mm Fisheye, Nauticam NA-A7 II and they have been around since the housing, Zen DP-100 dome port, ISO- early 1900s. Full-frame fisheye lenses 200, 15mm, 1/160th, F/6.3. www.uwpmag.com Issue 93/39 Nauticam NA-A7II housing and Zen Underwater DP100 dome port The Canon 8-15 fisheye has the “L” moniker which indicates the Pro design and quality of this lens. The “L” lens is designed with an Ultrasonic Puerto Galera Philippines, Sony A7RII, Canon Motor (USM), excellent glass with quality lens 8-15mm Fisheye, Nauticam NA-A7 II housing, Zen coatings, a zoom locking mechanism, AF/MF DP-100 dome port, ISO-200, 8mm, 1/250th, F8 switch, dust and moisture sealing, removable lens shade, quality storage pouch and a maximum Metabones EF to E mount-T IV adapter with the reproduction ratio of 1:3. It is like having two latest firmware updates. The Metabones adapter completely different lenses in one excellent allows you to use all of the automatic functions like package. auto focus, aperture control, metadata and more The Canon 8-15mm F/4L retails in the US for associated with a Canon full-frame camera while $1250.00/UK Amazon £1020.00. maintaining excellent auto focus speed. Nauticam Anemone, Verde Island Philippines, Sony A7RII, port recommendations include the optical glass Canon 8-15mm Fisheye, Nauticam NA-A7 II Field Testing 230mm or 140mm and the 8.5 inch acrylic with housing, Zen Underwater DP-100 dome port, ISO- For this review I used the Canon 8-15 Fisheye the associated port extensions. Each of these dome 640, 8mm, 1/50th, F/9 with the Sony A7R II full-frame camera body, ports have strengths and weaknesses like better Nauticam NA-A7 II housing, port adapter, zoom split (over/under) images and corner sharpness with to the subject in tight spaces and is much easer gear and Zen Underwater DP-100 Fisheye dome the larger ports or less corner sharpness but better to travel with than some of the larger and heavier port. One of the things I really like about mirrorless CFWA (close focus wide angle) and WAM (wide ports. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so you cameras is the ability to use just about any lens angle macro) with the smaller ports . The Zen DP- can judge the quality of the results for yourself and supported by a lens adapter. In this case I used a 100 (100 mm) port allows you to get very close choose the port that best suits your needs. Issue 93/40 www.uwpmag.com Tomato Clownfish, Puerto Galera Philippines, Sony A7RII, Canon 8-15mm Puerto Galera Philippines, Sony A7RII, Canon 8-15mm Fisheye, Nauticam NA- Fisheye, Nauticam NA-A7 II housing, Zen Underwater DP-100 dome port, ISO- A7 II housing, Zen Underwater DP-100 dome port, ISO-200, 15mm, 1/250th, 200, 8mm, 1/125th, F/7.1 F/9.0 In the field most if not all images port then you turn the shade a quarter angle, CFWA and WAM photography. of the close focusing distance and are going to be taken at either the turn to remove. This needs to be done Some find the circular images to the maximum 1:3 reproduction ratio 8mm or the (14)/15mm end of the with most ports when you are using an be more of a gimmick rather than a many of my images are taken within a zoom range. Focal lengths in between 8mm circular fisheye lens to prevent serious choice while others find the few centimeters of my subject. I like 8mm and 15mm will be cropped at the vignetting. It is much easer to remove round images very appealing. My to keep my Inon Z-240 strobes pulled top and bottom as the circular image the hood underwater than it is to put takeaway is that the Canon 8-15mm back and away from the dome with begins to expand across the full frame it back on so after a few dives I just fisheye lens provides an additional the front of the strobes at least parallel sensor. So you would either be filling left the shade off. The port comes with unique prospective from which to with the grips on my housing. I also the entire frame at 15mm or getting a a neoprene cover for protection. The view the underwater world much like like the strobes to be pulled in close completely circular image at 8mm. lens shade also needs to be removed an extreme macro lens. to the housing rather than way out The Zen Underwater DP-100 before the lens is mounted inside the With all fisheye lenses the name on either side. This makes shooting (100mm) optical glass port has a port. of the game is getting close to your vertically much easer when the strobes removable dome shade which is held Full-frame fisheye lenses are subject, for me anything beyond about are set to manual power. By reducing in place by an O-ring. To remove the the overwhelming choice for many 45cm (18 inches) is reserved for large power to the lower strobe (about two shade the O-ring slides back over the underwater photographers doing wide animals like Whale Sharks. Because stops is good) I avoid overexposing www.uwpmag.com Issue 93/41 Giant Orange Frogfish, Puerto Galera The leading online resource for Philippines, Sony A7RII, Canon 8-15mm Fisheye, Nauticam NA-A7 underwater photographers and videographers II housing, Zen Underwater DP-100 dome port, ISO-200, 15mm, 1/160th, F/9 the sand or bottom in lower portion of format film cameras where less of the the image. Because I am getting very black space is shown. Again this is an close to my subjects I find that my issue of personal taste and how you Glowdive light defusers (reviewed in intend to use your images. Typical a past uwpmag.com issue) work very with all fisheye lenses is having to well to cover the wide AOV of this contend with chromatic aberration, lens. I try to stick with an aperture (also known as purple fringing) in the value of F/13 or a bit greater for corners of the image. In the circular executable depth of field on full-frame images CA appears as a 360 degree and adjust ISO and strobe power to ring between the exposed image and achieve proper exposure. Remember the black negative space in the frame. TECHNIQUES TRAVEL that fisheye lenses have a very wide Most CA can be removed in post with Learn the fundamentals of Read about the experiences of AOV allowing things like your fins, LightRoom, Photoshop and other underwater photography and accomplished shooters as they visit progress to the latest, most the world’s most iconic dive spots, intense strobe flash, loose strobe cords photo software. I have seen much innovative techniques taught by and get inside tips on maximizing and parts of other divers to appear worse CA in other fisheye lenses but the top pros in the industry your dive vacation within the frame. While composing it is difficult with very wide lenses to ARTICLES NEWS an image I look into the edges of the avoid sunlight in your images. The Discover the world of underwater Keep up to date with everything frame for unwanted appendages and best solution for this issue is trying imaging through compelling that matters to underwater features from photographers, photographers, from the latest other distractions.