Lensbaby Fisheye Optic

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I have been putting off getting a proper fisheye or extra wide angle lens for a long time. But, when I ordered my Lensbaby I knew I had to get this too. Great decision. While this is by no means a substitute for a proper, higher end fisheye lens, it is an excellent add-on for the Lensbaby, and is more than adequate for extreme fisheye images. More importantly, it allows you to create stunning, ultra close-up macro images. The first thing I did to experiment with this was to take a couple shots of a cactus on my porch. I was able to capture THE TIP of one needle in perfect focus, with everything else completely out of focus. Really cool. On a recent road-trip with a client I was able to capture some excellent candid shots inside of the car, which is obviously often difficult with even decently wide angle lenses (16 to 18mm). And, as with the Lensbaby itself, the price is so good for such a unique little tool, it is almost impossible to pass up.

Keep in mind, though, this takes some practice to use effectively. It is 100% manual, to the point where you actually change the aperture discs by hand. It takes some patience, but it gets you more invested in your work and I think that helps you to create better images.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

The Lensbaby fisheye optic offers an inexpensive alternative for those seeking an extra, extra wide option. It is super wide on a crop sensor, giving vignetting on the corners, or a circle on full-frame cameras. The optical glass is good for the price although color fringing occurs on bright days. It's certainly worth the price.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Great product and so affordable. I have had a great time playing around with lens. I have been wanting to get a fisheye forever but just didn't wanna spend the cash so this was a perfect option. I purchased the composer last year and loved it too. lens baby rocks

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

A great addition to the composer, easy to swap. Sharp focus right up to the glass, although focus is dificult at anything other than infinity. Aperture disks are fiddley and unlike the composer lens there are no magnets holding the disk in place, they are screwed in behind the fish eye. If they where held with magnets the lens body could have been used creatively without the fish eye.
Combined with the composer, this set up is still way cheaper than buying a dedicated fish eye lens.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

This is a good way to play around with a fisheye effect for a fraction of the cost of a fisheye lens.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I was looking for a fisheye to use with my Canon 5D MK II and after hours of searching and review reading I came across the Lensbaby. I picked up the Composer Pro with Double Glass, Single Glass, Pinhole/Zone, Fisheye, Macro Kit, Wide Angle/Telephoto, and a few other cases and accessories, all from B&H and couldn't be happier.

The lens performed admirably, and produces very unique full circle photographs on a Full Frame sensor. The photos are very sharp and have great contrast and colours present. On my crop body XTi it does not appear as a full circle image, but simply a very wide angle 18mm equivalent. I love the look of the photos on both bodies, and am thrilled to not have had to spend 5x the amount on getting a fisheye. It does exactly what I had hoped and even more. Speaking of the more, this lens works wonders as a macro. With it's 0.5" minimum focus distance, and super wide (160°) viewing angle, you get some very unique and mind blowing macros.

If you're in the market for a high quality fisheye look no further.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I use this for wildflower photography.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I've used the Canon fisheye lens, as well as cheap auxiliary add-ons. This optic rivals the output from the Canon lens!

You'd be hard pressed get a good USED fisheye lens for this price. I love it, I use it a lot for indoor shots with many people (or interesting decorations) since it captures so much more than my 16-35 f/2.8L can. The fisheye effect is pretty severe, which makes for fun novelty images, but with an Aperture plugin I can quickly and easily de-fish the shots and get extreme wide angles with no barrel distortion and very little loss. This lens also does a terrific job of controlling chromatic aberrations, lens flare I can't comment on as I havent had the chance to shoot with it outside in full sun, but with my flashes I haven't experienced much flare (I'd guess the low number of elements in the lens has something to do with this).

The build quality is impressive. It feels sturdy. I recommend it! The only possible con is that the friction-mounted lens cap can come off at times, this hasn't been much of an issue for me, though. This should be the first lens you buy for your Lensbaby.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I'm quite a fan of the lensbaby system. So many options that are relatively inexpensive. The fisheye attachment gave me a new perspective on shooting and it may lead to me buying a much more expensive and proper circular fisheye in the future. It truly is a great way to decide whether or not you like this style before dropping serious amounts of coin on a real fisheye lens. Solidly constructed, easy to use readily interchangeable. There were previous complaints about the lack of a lens cap. However mine came with one! The lack of an autofocus system has taught me a great deal on how to properly manually focus and set up my shots. I dont really have any complaints. I use it in conjuction with my lensbaby composer and APS-C camera.. so I dont get the full circular effect.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Cheap! Functions great as a low budget fisheye. Extreme angle of view and decent optical quality. There are two reasons it doesn't get the full 5 stars:

On a full-frame sensor like the Canon 5DmkII it forms a concentric circle in the middle of frame - leaving you with black on both sides.

Like all lens baby optics, the iris discs are kind of a bummer for quick changes in the field. I recommend finding your stop with a regular lens then switching over.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

An inexpensive fisheye option if you already have a lensbaby
easy to install and very compact!

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Like another reviewer I'm addicted to lensbaby and have collected almost everything they've produced! The products are innovative and have really helped me to have more fun!

You will need the Composer lens to use this optic attachment or you will have to buy an inexpensive conversion ring (sold on their website) to use with the Control Freak or Muse. This is the highest quality optic attachment they've produced so far but strangely doesn't have a lens cap!! Afraid that i may scratch it I immediately remove it after using it, since i don't want to leave it attached to the lens in my camera bag...

Also if you don't own a digital camera with a full frame sensor, like most of the Nikon DSLRs some of the frame will be cut off and you won't have the perfect fisheye circle. Of course upgrading to d700 or d3 would remedy this.

Normally i would give this 5 stars but the lack of lens cap is a major flaw in my opinion!

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I like the lensbaby line. Kind of addicted. So when they came up with a fisheye I was intrigued because I want to own a fisheye lens but can't justify the expenditure. So we bought this one. It really is a good 140 degree world with it on, but I admit I was surprised how much of the frame is lost to the surrounding black in the globular world. I picture using this in special circumstances and the light weight aspect will make it a no-brainer to keep in my kit.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Just got this a few days back so just getting a feel for it, but so far I'm really happy with it. Like all the Lensbaby products, it's easy to swap with other optics for the Composer lens, though it's not as easy as changing lenses outright -- in fact, I'm sure some people find it tiresome over time, carrying the various optics around in their little jars, using the special lid/tool to insert or remove optics, using a magnet to change apertures, etc. -- but so far for me I love using all the Lensbaby stuff. The fisheye seems to me to be one of the highest-quality components they offer -- solid-feeling and it produces nice images.

There is one big negative -- this thing does not come with a lens cap and there isn't one available. The Lensbaby cap that works with the other optics does not work on the fisheye. That just seems crazy to me that a lens company would sell a product without an available cap. So be ready to improvise on that.

Despite this I'm glad I have this lens. It's a lot of fun at a cheap price.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

This optic takes a little getting used to, but for the price it's a great alternative to an actual fisheye lens. I did have some difficulty getting the hang of it in combination with the Muse, but once I did I got some great photos. [...]

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I like that it doesn't make a harsh circle, but "blends" it in. Lots of fun to play with, like all LB products!

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

This fisheye optic is an excellent addition to the Lensbaby line. It helps the photographer be even more creative and can set you apart from the average shooter. I do have to say that it works better on a full frame camera, because you get the full circle of the fisheye. Excellent lens addition. The company is working on a fitted lens cap that will help protect the front of the lens.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I have been putting off getting a proper fisheye or extra wide angle lens for a long time. But, when I ordered my Lensbaby I knew I had to get this too. Great decision. While this is by no means a substitute for a proper, higher end fisheye lens, it is an excellent add-on for the Lensbaby, and is more than adequate for extreme fisheye images. More importantly, it allows you to create stunning, ultra close-up macro images. The first thing I did to experiment with this was to take a couple shots of a cactus on my porch. I was able to capture THE TIP of one needle in perfect focus, with everything else completely out of focus. Really cool. On a recent road-trip with a client I was able to capture some excellent candid shots inside of the car, which is obviously often difficult with even decently wide angle lenses (16 to 18mm). And, as with the Lensbaby itself, the price is so good for such a unique little tool, it is almost impossible to pass up.

Keep in mind, though, this takes some practice to use effectively. It is 100% manual, to the point where you actually change the aperture discs by hand. It takes some patience, but it gets you more invested in your work and I think that helps you to create better images.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

The Lensbaby fisheye optic offers an inexpensive alternative for those seeking an extra, extra wide option. It is super wide on a crop sensor, giving vignetting on the corners, or a circle on full-frame cameras. The optical glass is good for the price although color fringing occurs on bright days. It's certainly worth the price.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Great product and so affordable. I have had a great time playing around with lens. I have been wanting to get a fisheye forever but just didn't wanna spend the cash so this was a perfect option. I purchased the composer last year and loved it too. lens baby rocks

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

A great addition to the composer, easy to swap. Sharp focus right up to the glass, although focus is dificult at anything other than infinity. Aperture disks are fiddley and unlike the composer lens there are no magnets holding the disk in place, they are screwed in behind the fish eye. If they where held with magnets the lens body could have been used creatively without the fish eye.
Combined with the composer, this set up is still way cheaper than buying a dedicated fish eye lens.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

This is a good way to play around with a fisheye effect for a fraction of the cost of a fisheye lens.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I was looking for a fisheye to use with my Canon 5D MK II and after hours of searching and review reading I came across the Lensbaby. I picked up the Composer Pro with Double Glass, Single Glass, Pinhole/Zone, Fisheye, Macro Kit, Wide Angle/Telephoto, and a few other cases and accessories, all from B&H and couldn't be happier.

The lens performed admirably, and produces very unique full circle photographs on a Full Frame sensor. The photos are very sharp and have great contrast and colours present. On my crop body XTi it does not appear as a full circle image, but simply a very wide angle 18mm equivalent. I love the look of the photos on both bodies, and am thrilled to not have had to spend 5x the amount on getting a fisheye. It does exactly what I had hoped and even more. Speaking of the more, this lens works wonders as a macro. With it's 0.5" minimum focus distance, and super wide (160°) viewing angle, you get some very unique and mind blowing macros.

If you're in the market for a high quality fisheye look no further.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I use this for wildflower photography.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I've used the Canon fisheye lens, as well as cheap auxiliary add-ons. This optic rivals the output from the Canon lens!

You'd be hard pressed get a good USED fisheye lens for this price. I love it, I use it a lot for indoor shots with many people (or interesting decorations) since it captures so much more than my 16-35 f/2.8L can. The fisheye effect is pretty severe, which makes for fun novelty images, but with an Aperture plugin I can quickly and easily de-fish the shots and get extreme wide angles with no barrel distortion and very little loss. This lens also does a terrific job of controlling chromatic aberrations, lens flare I can't comment on as I havent had the chance to shoot with it outside in full sun, but with my flashes I haven't experienced much flare (I'd guess the low number of elements in the lens has something to do with this).

The build quality is impressive. It feels sturdy. I recommend it! The only possible con is that the friction-mounted lens cap can come off at times, this hasn't been much of an issue for me, though. This should be the first lens you buy for your Lensbaby.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I'm quite a fan of the lensbaby system. So many options that are relatively inexpensive. The fisheye attachment gave me a new perspective on shooting and it may lead to me buying a much more expensive and proper circular fisheye in the future. It truly is a great way to decide whether or not you like this style before dropping serious amounts of coin on a real fisheye lens. Solidly constructed, easy to use readily interchangeable. There were previous complaints about the lack of a lens cap. However mine came with one! The lack of an autofocus system has taught me a great deal on how to properly manually focus and set up my shots. I dont really have any complaints. I use it in conjuction with my lensbaby composer and APS-C camera.. so I dont get the full circular effect.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Cheap! Functions great as a low budget fisheye. Extreme angle of view and decent optical quality. There are two reasons it doesn't get the full 5 stars:

On a full-frame sensor like the Canon 5DmkII it forms a concentric circle in the middle of frame - leaving you with black on both sides.

Like all lens baby optics, the iris discs are kind of a bummer for quick changes in the field. I recommend finding your stop with a regular lens then switching over.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

An inexpensive fisheye option if you already have a lensbaby
easy to install and very compact!

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Like another reviewer I'm addicted to lensbaby and have collected almost everything they've produced! The products are innovative and have really helped me to have more fun!

You will need the Composer lens to use this optic attachment or you will have to buy an inexpensive conversion ring (sold on their website) to use with the Control Freak or Muse. This is the highest quality optic attachment they've produced so far but strangely doesn't have a lens cap!! Afraid that i may scratch it I immediately remove it after using it, since i don't want to leave it attached to the lens in my camera bag...

Also if you don't own a digital camera with a full frame sensor, like most of the Nikon DSLRs some of the frame will be cut off and you won't have the perfect fisheye circle. Of course upgrading to d700 or d3 would remedy this.

Normally i would give this 5 stars but the lack of lens cap is a major flaw in my opinion!

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I like the lensbaby line. Kind of addicted. So when they came up with a fisheye I was intrigued because I want to own a fisheye lens but can't justify the expenditure. So we bought this one. It really is a good 140 degree world with it on, but I admit I was surprised how much of the frame is lost to the surrounding black in the globular world. I picture using this in special circumstances and the light weight aspect will make it a no-brainer to keep in my kit.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

Just got this a few days back so just getting a feel for it, but so far I'm really happy with it. Like all the Lensbaby products, it's easy to swap with other optics for the Composer lens, though it's not as easy as changing lenses outright -- in fact, I'm sure some people find it tiresome over time, carrying the various optics around in their little jars, using the special lid/tool to insert or remove optics, using a magnet to change apertures, etc. -- but so far for me I love using all the Lensbaby stuff. The fisheye seems to me to be one of the highest-quality components they offer -- solid-feeling and it produces nice images.

There is one big negative -- this thing does not come with a lens cap and there isn't one available. The Lensbaby cap that works with the other optics does not work on the fisheye. That just seems crazy to me that a lens company would sell a product without an available cap. So be ready to improvise on that.

Despite this I'm glad I have this lens. It's a lot of fun at a cheap price.

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

This optic takes a little getting used to, but for the price it's a great alternative to an actual fisheye lens. I did have some difficulty getting the hang of it in combination with the Muse, but once I did I got some great photos. [...]

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

I like that it doesn't make a harsh circle, but "blends" it in. Lots of fun to play with, like all LB products!

Comments about Lensbaby Fisheye Optic:

This fisheye optic is an excellent addition to the Lensbaby line. It helps the photographer be even more creative and can set you apart from the average shooter. I do have to say that it works better on a full frame camera, because you get the full circle of the fisheye. Excellent lens addition. The company is working on a fitted lens cap that will help protect the front of the lens.