Fisheye distortion: Are you guys lightweights?

[cooly-o]

Why isn't there more talk about fisheye lenses? So what if there is some distortion there is programs that can correct for that.

I've been doing some above water fisheye shots with the Nikon FC-E8 and I am totally digging these lenses.

 

[lukeROB]

Why isn't there more talk about fisheye lenses? So what if there is some distortion there is programs that can correct for that.

I've been doing some above water fisheye shots with the Nikon FC-E8 and I am totally digging these lenses.

Fisheyes are awesome but a bit to expensive for most.
Plus the fact that you are commited to using dual strobes. :11:

 

[cooly-o]

Fisheyes are awesome but a bit to expensive for most.
Plus the fact that you are commited to using dual strobes. :11:

Keywords: Coolpix 4300 camera, Fantasea CP-4 Pro housing, Sunpak G-flash, possible fisheye or widest possible wide angle lens, Inon UWL-100, Inon Dome Port, PanoTools (panoramic distortion correction). A few of the more relavent links to this post (search for DCL-20 in page) here, and at the bottom of here, and here

I paid a little less than $200 for my Nikon TC-E8 Fisheye (183 degree FOV in air). If an UW (housing compatible) fisheye were available in that price neighborhood, I would have no problems purchasing it. As long as I knew how to correct for distortion for UW pics (like I do for above water fisheye pics). I think you just have to decrease the FOV by the factor of (.6-.7). See some example UW/air comparisons on FOV: here. Best coverage (FOV) for UW seems to be with a "Dome Port" that "forms sealed air cavity in front of lens". See how the increase coverage: here. More info: 1

Is anyone familar with those Olympus or Canon housings in the above comparison coverage chart links? If so, how could I make the INON UWL-100 fit a Fantasea CP-4 Pro for a Coolpix 4300 (which step up ring, part number/links please)?

Another important question: My uses are for snorkling only (during my 1st trip to Hawaii coming soon); Do I need to worry about having a strobe for snorkling only????? If so the Sunpak G-flash should be just fine for snorkling, right? How about Sunpak G-flash while snorkling: one strobe more than enough for clear water areas during snorkling???

What's some good online resources for underwater fisheye lenses. I'd like to know the following questions for the Fantasea CP-4 Pro (Coolpix 4300):

-what Fisheye models for underwater use (able to fit CP-4 Pro)?

But for CP-4 Pro housing this seems to be the most obvious lens to fit the housing: Epoque DCL-20. Or I could just use the Inon UWL-100 if I could get a step-up-ring (to 67mm thread) for the CP-4 Housing (like this site says). That would be nice and open up the use of the Inon Dome Port with the UWL-100.

Here's one link that has some good Fisheye correction software and techniques (and an epicenter of additional pertinent links):
http://www.panoguide.com/howto/panoramas/spherical.jsp
Example of correcting for distortion (underwater lenses): http://www.camerasunderwater.co.uk/d_stills/olympus/pages/pt015pix.html

Other links:
http://www.digideep.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=261
http://www.sunpak.jp/e/products/g_flash/main.html
Does this expensive competitor offer wider lenses for housing?:
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/cpix885.html
http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/inoncp885.html
I like the general info here: http://www.marscuba.com/makers.html

 

[lukeROB]

Thanks for all the links.

Inon Fisheye for AD mount type (165 degrees) is around US $380.
Inon UWL-100 $330 Dome addon $390 - So for the setup you suggest it will cost about $720

Now for snorkeling it may be OK if you can hold your breath for a while - about 2 minutes. You really need to shoot at an upward angle with a lens like this or the shot will look flat. You also need to be very close to you subject which often takes patience and time. Snorkelling you probably do not need strobes because there should be quite a bit of natural light.

A single strobe is going to be difficult to aim and will not cover the whole lens (a good strobe will cover 100 degrees). Hence you will need a couple to cover the fisheye. Strobes etc will be far to much effort for snorkelling.

You really do not need to correct for fisheye effect underwater as nothing is straight anyway, but you could use the same tools if you really want too.

 

[cooly-o]

Thank you. That was the practical advise I needed to hear. I guess I'll wait a bit for all the special extra gear (add on lenses and strobes) since I am only into snorkling for now.

What would be a good price for the Epoque DCL-20 wide angle? Are these lenses new? It seems hard to find suppliers for them.

 

[lukeROB]

Thank you. That was the practical advise I needed to hear. I guess I'll wait a bit for all the special extra gear (add on lenses and strobes) since I am only into snorkling for now.

What would be a good price for the Epoque DCL-20 wide angle? Are these lenses new? It seems hard to find suppliers for them.

It will be very similar to the Inon.

try Asking Yuzo he sells some epoque gear and is great to deal with.

 

[Wolverine]

OK, I just got the adapter for the CP-4 housing. You will need to contact Howard of Fantasea. He just launched it recently. YOU WILL NEED TO GET AN ADDITIONAL ITEM TO FIT INON LENS. You would need a 67mm thread to mount Inon lens. His existing adapter uses 55mm lens. There is an additional piece which you need to attach to the adapter to mount the 67mm lens. If Howard can't get the addtional piece for you, you can contact me personally and I will direct you there.

 

[ReyeR]

OK, I just got the adapter for the CP-4 housing. You will need to contact Howard of Fantasea. He just launched it recently. YOU WILL NEED TO GET AN ADDITIONAL ITEM TO FIT INON LENS. You would need a 67mm thread to mount Inon lens. His existing adapter uses 55mm lens. There is an additional piece which you need to attach to the adapter to mount the 67mm lens. If Howard can't get the addtional piece for you, you can contact me personally and I will direct you there.

Ah Wolverine, I see you managed to get the Inon WAL to mount on the Fantasea housing for your CP885. Care to share more details on this? Maybe post a photo of the housing with the WAL and adaptor?

 

[cooly-o]

With the assumption that he is at howard@fantasea.com, I've sent him the request for info. Any info you might have in the meantime would be appreciated.

 

[Wolverine]

Watch this space... will send pics of my set-up tonight...