Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Just FYI and FWIW I have been trying out my new Sigma 8mm EX circular fisheye on my EOS and am most impressed: it is very sharp and has amazingly low flare/internal reflections. I bought this for a web project making 360degree panoramas and it looks like just the job. Certainly cheaper and maybe even better than the Nikon 8mm 2.8 which has been the ultimate for such projects to date. Now before anyone criticizes me for making off topic remarks I would point out that the only way a Leica user can make 180degree fisheye circular shots is with another brand of camera or a customized Sigma/Nikon or perhaps an old Canon 7.5mm. There is a Russian Peleng circular fisheye available through some company in Slovenia I think but I would surprised if it is a/any use b/ available in Leica R or M mount. One other adaptation I have seen is of the Pentax 67 fisheye mounted on Sinar board which is okay if you have a digital shuttered Sinar I suppose. I suspect all 35mm full frame fisheyes would have cutoff due to internal baffling and the vestigial hoods which would be only removed at great expense. I also seriously doubt whether there would be any quality advantage in using a small format lens on a large format film except for a few long focus lenses (which are usually flat field in the moderate tele lengths such as 135 Elmars). Conclusion: for circular fisheye photos get a circular fisheye.<g> Bests Adrian Adrian Bradshaw Editorial and Corporate Photography Shanghai, China