Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Bothering with one more: any Zenitar fisheye experiences?

shevs · Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 1461 Location: Belgium

While i'm on this dollar spending spree i've also decided to get me a toy i wanted for a long time: a fisheye!
I want one suited for FF (most seem to be DX these days), one that's still ok for stock (sharp, not too much fringing) but not too expensive..because it's still more a toy and not a lens i'll be using daily (i know, im asking for a lot here).

While i was googling around i came across a site recommending the Zenitar 16mm 2.8
The examples they posted were amazing, definitely compared to the nikkor fisheyes; so sharp and no fringing at all!
At that price ($185)it almost sounds too good to be true...plus (probably my fault) but ive never heard of russian lenses before; that's why i was wondering if anyone here owns or used one and cares to share their experience?

I love the feedback i get here, so if i can bother you with this one as well...muchas gracias in advance!!!

vclements · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:16 pm

Looks like a fun toy.
Keep in mind that the 16mm is full frame, so if you are shooting crop it will be around the equiv of 24mm.
I would look around and see if you can find any crop images to see how much (if any) fish-eye is left on a crop.
At a quick glance, it sounds like you will have to stop it way down to get decent sharpness and you may have to do some tweaks on the infinity focus as it seems some fall short and others are long.

Just keep in mind it's $185 on a fun toy.
Could that $185 be better spent elsewhere???

shevs · Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 1461 Location: Belgium

Thanks Vince!
It's a toy, but one i wanted for a long time ;)
I want to go for the Zenitar because it's the only full frame fisheye i found...getting my D700 today (wohoo!) so a DX would be useless.

I just want it to be usable for stock as well; i wonder if it'll be sharp enough...
Plus: i've never used an antique manual lens on a digital camera so i assume this means there wont be any communication at all? I'm worrying a bit about the focussing; would i be able to see when it's sharp or is it going to be pure math...

If there are any other recommendable FF fisheyes out there i'd love to hear as well!

mantonis · Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 82 Location: Greece

shevs · Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 1461 Location: Belgium

Thanks so much again mantonis!
That Ken Rockwell test looks promising...the Zenitar scores better than the nikon 10.5mm in some fields!
I was scared about the 'no communication' but it doesn't sound so bad after all...
Hmmmm; i'd love to go for it, it's affordable :)

turboal1960 · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 784 Location: Argentina

I read good comments about this lens. The only problem I read about is that the coating is not very resistant, so you have to clean the lens gently.

Do not be afraid about the lack of mechanical or electronic communication. In my system, without this communication trend to underexpose 1 or 1 ½ F stop. But it is possible compensate. Look the Histogram.

mantonis · Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 82 Location: Greece

Some copies have focus problems and it's not rare. I found a link on how to fix this:
http://cpicture.net/zenitar/index.html

The "Part2" at the bottom of the page has samples on a D700 camera.

shevs · Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 1461 Location: Belgium

So much info, thanks guys!! :))

Good to know about the coating! i'm pretty sure now i'll survive the lack of communication with my camera.

You digged up a good site again mantonis; i'd probably freaked out completely if i received one with focus problems. now i'll just print the fix part of the site and take everything to the next door handyman. No way i'm going to use screwdrivers on a lens myself... i'm very good at taking things apart...not the other way round.. :/

shevs · Joined: 31 Jul 2008 Posts: 1461 Location: Belgium

The lens arrived a few days ago!
Imho it's truly great value for it's money; its sharp, fringing-free so far (havent tested extensively yet) and fun to toy around with. No issues at all using it on the D700; you have to change the diafragm on the lens but the camera reads it value and camera also reads when its sharp (maybe this is very normal but i didnt know what it was going to do when i bought it)
I'm truly happy i didnt spend $700 on a nikon fisheye.

mantonis · Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 82 Location: Greece

I'm so glad about your new fisheye lens. I guess the whole system now seems less heavy with this lens.