According to Wikipedia a fisheye lens is an ultra wide-angle lens that produces strong visual distortion intended to create a wide panoramic or hemispherical image.
How Stuff Works says – “Whereas a rectilinear lens is designed to behave like a window as light moves as straight as possible through its series of elements, the fisheye lens uses its elements like a funnel, bending a wide angle of light captured by the extremely curved outer element of the fisheye lens toward the film or sensor inside the camera.” The angle of view of a fisheye lens is usually between 100 and 180 degrees while the focal lengths depend on the film format they are designed for.
I am not sure what all that means really but I do know I like the results. The first practical use of the fisheye lens was in the 1920s for use in meteorology to study cloud formations. Mass-produced fisheye lenses for photography first appeared in the early 1960s. I remember we had a fisheye lens adhesive window sticker on the rear window of our motorhome when I was growing up and I would spend so much time looking thought the lens getting a whole different perspective of my world.
Older now I still like the effect of the fisheye lens. Here are a couple pictures I found on the internet. I hope you like them and that they bring a smile to your face as they do for me. Enjoy.
I like this picture of this fountain. It really gives you an idea of way a fisheye lense can do. Notice how you can see more of the subject that if you used a normal lens?
Here is a cool view from the top of Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Notice the shadow in the lower right?
I have seen this view from the Eiffel Tower in Paris before but never through a fisheye lens. Sure looks different but just as beautiful.
Here is a view of the town where I live – Las Vegas. The funny thing is this picture was taken from the replica of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel.
Have you ever used a fisheye lens? Do you like the effect? Share your thoughts in the comments. Would love to hear from you.
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