Fisheye lens for Nikon Mirrorless

[Bob]

I hope to receive my Nikon Z9 in the next couple of months, just in time for a new virtual tour project. I am switching from my Nikon D500/Rokinon 8mm fisheye to toe Z9 with a fisheye for added resolution. There are currently no native lenses for Nikon's Z moount other than the 7artisans Photoelectric 7.5mm f/2.8 II Fisheye. 

I would be interested in knowing what fisheye lense have worked "the best" for 360x180 panoramas using Nikon full frame cameras. Thanks for your help. Bob

[Scott Highton]

I've not used the Nikon Z series cameras yet, but they can be used similarly to the Nikon D (pro) and F  full-frame cameras.  According to Nikon, most all of the Nikkor F series lenses that these latter cameras use can be used by the newer Z cameras with the Nikon FTZ (and the new improved FTZ II) adapter.

This means that you can use the Nikkor 8mm and 16mm fisheye lenses on the Z9 and other Z models, just as you did with Nikon's full frame F and D cameras.

The newest FTZ II adapter costs about $250 (USD).  So, relative to the cost of the Z9 camera (about $5,500 USD), it's a fairly cheap means to test the quality of your existing (or borrowed) Nikkor lenses at the higher Z9 resolutions.

My experience has almost invariably revealed that Nikkor pro lenses stand up extremely well to critical focus and resolution tests at higher resolutions, particularly when used at optimal apertures (f/8 to f/11 range).

Scott Highton

Author, Virtual Reality Photography

https://www,vrphotography.com

[Bob]

Thank you for the reply Scott - much appreciated.

[Bob]

Thanks again - visited you web site and bought a copy of your book.

On Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 9:04:37 AM UTC-5 Scott Highton wrote:

[Scott Highton]

Bob,

If you're currently using an 8mm fisheye on your Nikon D500, which is a Dx (cropped) format, you're getting something equivalent to the Nikkor 16mm fisheye lens on a full frame camera (Fx format, such as the D850 or  D6).  That means you're probably shooting either six images around the horizon plus zenith and nadir (8 shots), or 6 images tilted upward (about 35°) plus another 6 tilted downward the same amount (12 shots).

The Z9 has the same full frame sensor size as the D850, D6, and original 35mm film frame, so the 16mm Nikkor lens should work exactly the same way in terms of field of view on the Z9.  I don't think your shooting technique will need to change much.  The only differences will be that you'll be getting about 4x the resolution with every shot, and will be using a more advanced sensor with lower noise and better color rendition.

Keep this in mind, especially if you're shooting high volumes of panoramas, as all this extra data will require more storage space and more computer processing power than you probably have currently.

Much as I love new cameras that make the quality of my images improve, I find I wind up having to spend an equal amount upgrading my computer(s) and software to handle the new data as I did on the camera and its accompanying lenses & accessories.

Please post a report of your results for the rest of us to read here.  I have no doubt that many  others are considering a similar approach.

Thanks,

Scott Highton

[Bob]

Thank you for the insight

[Sam Rohn]

f-mount nikon 8-15mm fisheye zoom is currently the best fisheye for nikon FX bodies in my own experience, set at about 12mm you can shoot 4 around at 0° with no need for separate N or Z shot, final equirectangular on 46MP FX body is about 17.5k wide

8-15mm on nikon D800 - http://www.samrohn.com/360-panorama/diamond-horseshoe-nyc-360-virtual-tour/

8-15mm on nikon D850 - http://www.samrohn.com/360-panorama/new-victory-theater-360-vr-panorama/

you can see a list of all available fisheye lenses sorted for nikon Z mount (or other lens mounts) here - 

https://www.thefisheyelist.com/lens_mount/nikon-z/

and more discussion on various fisheye and other lenses for 360° panoramic photography here - 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/panoramicphotographers

sam

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
Sam Rohn 
360° VR Photography
http://SamRohn.com

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 4:10:36 PM UTC-5 Bob wrote:

[Bob]

Thank you Sam - I appreciate your response. Just curious if you ever considered or used  the Samyang or Rokinon 12mm fisheye? 

Bob Bryer

[Steve Grundleger]

I have used a Rokinon 8mm fisheye with my Canon crop sensor (80D). The results were very good. 

I am testing it this week with my 5DMIV. THE 5D is a full frame camera and the Roki has a lens hood permanently attached to it. While I will pick up FOV with the full frame I will also lose some with the hood. I expect I will need to overlap more to offset what I will remove in post. 

A removable lens hood would be a good opiton. 

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[Bob]

Thank you Steve. I appreciate the note about a removable hood.

[MT-360]

Hey Bob,

Just finding this thread.  I'm currently shooting full-frame Nikon DSLR with the 10.5 DX lens for 4-shot panos.  I'm interested in transitioning to the Z system.

I know the 10.5 won't work on the Z system (no DX override possible in Z menu). Are you using the Artisans Photoelectric 7.5mm f/2.8 II Fisheye?  I just bought one to test on a demo Z body.  Before I hack-saw off the lens hoods, I'd love to hear from someone who is using this set-up.

Thanks,

Bob Allen

[sc...@highton.com]

The Nikkor 16mm f/2.8 (full frame) fisheye is a wonderful lens for shooting VR panoramas on Nikon full frame digital cameras.  It will require the FTZ adapter to work on the  Z system, however.  I’ve not tried this personally, but it should work.

Shooting options for 360°x180° equirectilinear panoramas with this combination can be shot with 6 images shot (every 60°) around the horizon, plus zenith and nadir shots, OR 6 images tilted down 30°-35° and then 6 images tilted up 30°-35°.  The latter is my preferred technique, particularly when shooting on a pole.  There’s good overlap, and it results in just over a 20,000x10,000 pixel stitched image when shot with a 36 megapixel camera like the Nikon D800.  You’ll get about 1/3 more with a Z9, though.

Scott Highton

Author, Virtual Yosemite

https://www.virtualyosemite.org

[MT-360]

Thanks Scott,

I am shooting action and portraiture in the spherical realm where using multiple rows isn't really an option, so my interest is to have a 4-shot solution on a Z-body.

Thanks,

Bob Allen

[MT-360]

https://mt-360.com/moonlight/parkin/index.htm

[Hambagahle]

Bob, I have a Nikon Z6 and a Really Right Stuff Spherical head.  I also have the FTZ converter.  I do not shoot interiors, so have no experience with Fisheyes of any flavour.

First, the Z6 is compatible with DX format lenses.  You can download the appropriate Z-series manual from Nikon; I have is version 05 for the Z6.  Look for "Choose Image Area" for more information.

I had hoped to continue using my Nikon DSLR FX lenses, but found that the FTZ converter introduced some issues I had not considered.  The FTZ converter essentially moves the FX lens further from the Z-body, creating more leverage on the head than the lens would on a DSLR body.  With a heavy lens it becomes an issue, as the elements making up the head tend to sag a little under the combined effect of lens weight and increased leverage, and it can be hard to tighten the head elements enough to keep the lens steady.  Because of this, I swapped my Nikon DSLR FX 100mm Macro lens for the Z equivalent, now everything is happy (and I love the new lens).  I use that lens for a LOT of stitched images for subjects at all distances (30mm to 30km), but I must acknowledge that there are times when 100mm is the wrong focal length for the subject.

Personally, I consider DX lenses a waste on FX sensors, but that's just me......

I suggest you test body and lens combinations on your tripod head before committing to a major purchase.  I doubt I'll ever have much use for my FTZ adapter.

Regards

Lionel

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 4:10:36 PM UTC-5 Bob wrote: