Fogo Island Unfishy Fisheye Fun (Samyang 8mm)

[camperbc]

On Saturday I took an early morning stroll down to my shore in front of my house with the Sony A550 and Samyang (Rokinon) 8mm lens in hand, and even though there was no pretty (colourful) sunrise, the light was interestingly unique in that typical Fogo Island, northern latitude, no air pollution sort of way, and I happily snapped away until my heart was content, before heading back to bed to help ease my ever-complaining, permanently messed up spine.

I have always lusted after ultra-expensive glass, was always terribly jealous when someone would post unbelievably clear, sharp, gorgeous captures on these forums, which would always make me wish for something better than my lowly kit lens or ancient Minolta stuff. Yet I am never actually able to buy any higher end gear, as my meager disability pension simply forbids me to! Mind you, once in a while the planets will align just so, and I manage to capture something really special with said kit lens, and heap of Minolta oldies. I think having cheap glass gives me more incentive to strive a little bit more to get that nice shot! You really have to work at it.

Then, as many of you know by now, back in February of this year I stumbled upon the Samyang 8mm fisheye, that even I could afford; a paltry $259 brand spanking new. And, by God, it was like an extra boost of adrenaline to my photography mojo! I quickly discovered that just because it is called a fisheye, doesn't mean it takes only "fishy-looking" pictures; in fact the ridiculously WIDE lens actually, amazingly, doubles as an exceptionally good (great) landscape lens, which gives my Fogo Island landscapes an extra little... oomph? Is that a word? It is so sharp, and renders colours so perfectly, and handles flare so beautifully, and CA is a non-issue, I am no longer whining that I can't afford more expensive lenses. Everywhere that I point this thing, I get razor sharp results that look SO much like the way I saw it. I can point it directly into the sun, and STILL get great results. I can forget to set the manual focus, and yes, STILL get great captures.

Mind you, if I should happen to discover a CZ 24-70mm, 16-35mm, or even a Sony 35mm G lens in my stocking next Christmas, I would most definitely squeal like a kid in a candy store, and write all about how wonderful it is too!

Anyway, here's a couple from Saturday morning at my shore, taken handheld at ISO200, f/8, 1/400 sec, with my A550 and ultra-cheap Rokinon 8mm fisheye. It's a shame there are not yet any icebergs visible on the horizon, but they are on the way!

Glen
Focus On Newfoundland: about my photography:

[JAS_Photo]

Both are beautiful scenes! That little Rokinon is sharp as a tack and the how much fisheye-ness you get is dependent on how you handle the lens.

[Bambi]

wow. incredible! love the detail and colour. I can see why you are over the moon!

[asnow]

I really like these pictures. They don't look like a fisheye at all. Well done. Congrats on that lens and from what you said "And, by God, it was like an extra boost of adrenaline to my photography mojo" I guess we can look forward to seeing lots more of these images.

[Matt K.]

very nice shots indeed ... keep em coming ...

[Iguanasan]

If Bambi hadn't nominated #1, I would have. Awesome!

[johnbriner]

Man, those are sharp. I love the colors and the details. Looks like the fisheye lens is really working for you. Just two pictures? Come on! Post some more.

[aubintbay]

Very nice! I like the perspective in that 2nd one. That Samyang is on the top of my wishlist!!

[Mad Aussie]

Very nice indeed. Certainly doesn't appear to be doing the 'fisheye' thing well which apparently works brilliantly for landscapes as you say.

[camperbc]

Thanks everyone! Mad Aussie, if you want "fishy-looking", this lens can deliver that too! Here's a couple. Just depends on how you frame the scene.
Glen