Can a fisheye handle everything better than a wide angle zoom?

[adrianob]

Hi All,

I am currently using my Nikon Z7 with a Z mount 14-30 F4 Lens behind a 8" Domeport in a Nauticam housing.

Back in the day on DSLR i was shooting the Tokina 11-17 Fisheye and I am tempted to going back to fisheye.

 

My main considerations:

 - I can use a much smaller 4,3" Domeport

- Rectilinear lenses behind a Domeport might have disadvantages in corner sharpness

- I like the fisheye look and the creative possibilities with an additional teleconverter

 

My questions are:

- Can a fisheye setup with the Nikon F-Mount 8-15mm fully replace my 14-30mm, so I can sell off my 8" Domeport completely?

- Since the Tokina doesn't have AF on a FTZ adapter on my Nikon Z7, the 8-15 F Mount Fisheye seems to be the only solution for a fisheye.

  Does anybody have a different suggestion? After all i hate to fiddle with a FTZ adapter but I guess there will be no Z Mount fisheye anytime soon.

 

I am completely aware that my first question is depending a lot on personal preference/ taste/ style-of-shooting, etc.. So please interpret that question as a "what is your take on that question"-kind-of-thing :-D

 

Thanks,

Adriano

[Lewis88]

I do believe a fisheye can handle most everything other than macro. CFWA and WA can be handled with the lens. With a teleconverter and a port extension, you get a narrow view to rival normal kit lenses. 

 

I shoot a Tokina 10-17 on my sony system, and will be adding a TC and 20mm port extension to make it a more "normal" lens for night dives and such when I don't want macro. 

 

I don't even travel with my kit lens anymore. 

[adrianob]

Hi... Thanks for sharing, you have AF with the Tokina on your Sony, right?

[Barmaglot]

AF works brilliantly on my A6700 with Metabones and EF-mount Tokina 10-17mm, with the caveat of shooting stills only - it's much more limited in video mode.

 

Regarding F-mount Tokina 10-17mm on Nikon mirrorless, Monster Adapter has recently announced LA-FZ1 adapter that will support screw drive autofocus lenses. It is not, however, certain that the extra hump it has on the bottom will fit into every housing.

 

https://nikonrumors.com/2025/02/28/monsteradapter-la-fz1-officially-announced-nikon-f-mount-lenses-to-nikon-z-mount-cameras-with-built-in-focus-and-aperture-motors.aspx/

 

However, you can use the 8-15mm fisheye on a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter (make sure to use the most recent Kenko HD PRO models) to gain a similar zoom range - on 2x, it's effectively a 16-30mm fisheye, covering almost 180 degrees diagonally on the wide end. Older 2x teleconverters had produced significant degradation in image quality, but on the most recent models it is almost imperceptible - see here for some tests:

 

 

With this available, aside from lower costs, I don't see any reason to use a Tokina 10-17mm on a full-frame body.

[Architeuthis]

As far as I understand the situation, one can use the Canon EF mount version of Tokina 10-17mm via adapter on Nikon Z (more easy compared to the Nikon version)...

 

Only problem is that Z7 is FF and, even with FF fisheye (e.g. Canon 8-15mm via adapter; I do not know whether the Nikon fisheye is AF compatible) you need TCs to get an overlapping range with 14-30mm rectilinear lens...

 

Wolfgang

[Lewis88]

53 minutes ago, adrianob said:

Hi... Thanks for sharing, you have AF with the Tokina on your Sony, right?

 

Correct. I am using a Sigma MC11 adapter for sony to canon lenses.

[Edy PARK]

My housing company is different, but I also use Nikon z7 + FTZ + nikon 8-15 fisheye lenses.

 

 When using tc for Nikon Mirrorless+ ftz+ Nikon 8-15mm fisheye lenses, I remember seeing on old wetfixel that the new version of KENKO tc doesn't work on ftz.

 

 If I remember correctly, Sir TimG said that when tested it, the kenko telepro 300DGX worked on the d500, and the kenko telepro 300DG worked on the FTZ.

[Chris Ross]

The right answer I think is it depends, the rectilinears have their place if you need the reach for example sharks that don't get quite close enough, wrecks etc.  The all purpose solution might be a WWL but you don't get the full fisheye effect it's like a zoomed in fisheye as you would get with the Tokina 10-17.  This is partially taste and also partially wanting subject a decent size in frame.

 

Also it depends if you are talking full frame or smaller formats.  You're on full frame so the tokina is out, so it's an 8-15 using either 8mm for a circular 180° image or 15mm for a classic diagonal fisheye or the 8-15 with 1.4x for a limited fisheye zoom which goes from 180° diagonal fisheye to about 97° across the horizontal frame which is about the reach of a 16mm lens.  A good solution if that is enough reach for you. 

 

The 10-17 gets you out to a 21-22mm rectilinear in terms of reach (same horizontal field cover).  In m43 an 8-15 gets you out to about a 28mm rectilinear.

 

You can also use a 2x but it seems that takes a hit on image quality.   Sony users have an advantage of using the Sony 2x with the Canon 8-15 which seems like a slightly sharper lens to get decent results, this goes: Sony camera-sony2x-metabones-Canon8-15.  I seem to recall people testing the Kenko 2x were a little disappointed.   There's posts on that floating around on site.

 

There is also of course the very expensive FCP, though there seems to be reports of limited depth of field for CFWA in that optic, again posts are on site.

[adrianob]

Thanks for your detailled replies!

 

The Z 14-30 is actually a very good solution overall. I use it in a 8,5" Dome with a 50mm extension on N120. But i don't like the corners at 14..20mm. But for sure the 30mm reach is nice for sharks, etc.

 

When talking about a one-fits-all-solution I was hoping to drop the 8,5" for a 140mm optical glass or 4,3" Acrylic port to shrink down the volume of things to travel with.

 

So I think for me it will come down to:

 - Drop the 8.5" and go all-in with a 8-15 x 1.4 in a 140mm/4.3" Some OR

 - Keep the 8.5" and have both 14-30 and 8-15 to use with it, for more versatility but probably less image quality

 

Carrying the 140mm/4.3" plus the 8.5" is not an option

[TimG]

On 3/28/2025 at 12:04 AM, Edy PARK said:

If I remember correctly, Sir TimG said that when tested it, the kenko telepro 300DGX worked on the d500, and the kenko telepro 300DG worked on the FTZ.

 

Yep, watch out if you are buying a Kenko TC 1.4. It adds super versatility but just make sure you get the right version. There are two, the DG and the DGX.

 

This is what I have found:

 

D500 (DX)

D500 + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 DG + Tokina 10-17: AF works; no vignetting at any focal length

D500 + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 DGX + Tokina 10-17: AF works; no vignetting at any focal length

D500 + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 DG + Nikkor 8-15: Err message. No AF; no vignetting at any focal length

D500 + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 DGX + Nikkor 8-15: AF works; no vignetting at any focal length

 

Nikon Z6 (and, presumably Z7) with firmware 3.0; and Z6III

Z6 + FTZ + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 300 DG + Nikkor 8-15: AF works; vignettes with hood attached after 11

Z6 + FTZ + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 300 DGX + Nikkor 8-15: No AF; No aperture readout; vignettes with hood attached after 11

Z6 + FTZ + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 300 DG + Tokina 10-17 : No AF; aperture read out; vignettes with hood attached after 11

Z6 + FTZ + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO300 300 DGX + Tokina 10-17 : No AF; No aperture read out; vignettes with hood attached after 11

Z6III + FTZ + Kenko  TELEPLUS PRO 300 DGX + Nikkor 8-15mm  will not focus or find an aperture

Z6III + FTZ + Kenko TELEPLUS PRO 300 DG + Nikkor 8-15mm  works fine, will AF and finds the aperture

 

Conclusion

a. If you want to use the Kenko with a Tokina 10-17 on a D500 no problem with the DG or DGX model

b. If you want to use the Kenko with a Nikkor 8-15 on a D500, you need the DGX model

c. If you want to use the Kenko with a Nikkor 8-15 on a Z6/Z7/Z6III you need the DG model

d. Forget trying to use either the Kenko DG or DGX with a Tokina 10-17 on the Z6/Z7 (well why would you anyway)

 

EDIT: Kenko HD Pro

 

@adrianob reports that the HD Pro model does not with the Z6/Z7.  No F-Stop, No Autofocus.

 

 

[Barmaglot]

40 minutes ago, TimG said:

There are two, the DG and the DGX.

Hasn't the PRO300 line been replaced by the new HD and HD PRO models?

 

https://kenkoglobal.com/catalog/teleconverters/?p[34]=Nikon F

 

 

[Chris Ross]

43 minutes ago, adrianob said:

Thanks for your detailled replies!

 

The Z 14-30 is actually a very good solution overall. I use it in a 8,5" Dome with a 50mm extension on N120. But i don't like the corners at 14..20mm. But for sure the 30mm reach is nice for sharks, etc.

 

When talking about a one-fits-all-solution I was hoping to drop the 8,5" for a 140mm optical glass or 4,3" Acrylic port to shrink down the volume of things to travel with.

 

So I think for me it will come down to:

 - Drop the 8.5" and go all-in with a 8-15 x 1.4 in a 140mm/4.3" Some OR

 - Keep the 8.5" and have both 14-30 and 8-15 to use with it, for more versatility but probably less image quality

 

Carrying the 140mm/4.3" plus the 8.5" is not an option

Yes there is no ideal solution, particularly if you want to stay small on port size.  You could replace the 14-30 with a 24-50 lens plus a WWL-C which is relatively compact, requiring a rather small macro port, the lens and the wet lens.  It's doesn't have the bold barrel distortion of the fisheye lens and is sort of equivalent to what you get on the long end of the 8-15 plus 1.4x when the 24-50 is zoomed out fully.  A couple of reports on here report they are happy with optical quality. 

 

The WWL-C is about the same size as the 140mm dome but a bit more squat and weighs 1kg.  it gives horizontal fields between that for a 13mm and a 31mm rectilnear , but with better corners.  basically a slightly expanded 14-30 as far as reach goes with some amount of barrel distortion and better corners in a smaller package.  It comes close but won't give you that subject pop that fisheye distortion does for your subject.

[TimG]

5 minutes ago, Barmaglot said:

Hasn't the PRO300 line been replaced by the new HD and HD PRO models?

 

https://kenkoglobal.com/catalog/teleconverters/?p[34]=Nikon F

 

 

 

It appears too, yes. Question is does it work with the lenses and camera bodies we're using?  If anyone can comment on that and perhaps provide some testing, that'd be excellent.

[adrianob]

So... i got a 8-15 now and also ordered the Kenko 300 DG and the new HD Pro to test them both. Will let you know how that turned out... 🙂

 

I will test it with a Z7, Z8 and Z9

Edited 15 hours ago by adrianob

[adrianob]

Ok, so the HD Pro model arrived today and I did a quick check with my Z7 and Z8.

It is definitly not working with the newer HD Pro Teleconverter. No F-Stop, No Autofocus.

 

So I will wait for my used 300 DG model. This is crazy folks! You need to find an old model that is out of production to make the setup work 😅

 

Has anyone ever tried Nikons own F-Mount TC?

[Chris Ross]

Just now, adrianob said:

Ok, so the HD Pro model arrived today and I did a quick check with my Z7 and Z8.

It is definitly not working with the newer HD Pro Teleconverter. No F-Stop, No Autofocus.

 

So I will wait for my used 300 DG model. This is crazy folks! You need to find an old model that is out of production to make the setup work 😅

 

Has anyone ever tried Nikons own F-Mount TC?

The problem is it doesn't fit as it has an extension that sticks out:

 

 

Others have proven the setup of sony 1.4x - metabones smart adapter - Canon 8-15 works.

 

Maybe the Nikon Z 1.4x - FTZ adapter - Nikon fisheye will work??  If the nose of the 1.4x fits inside the FTZ adapter it has a chance.

[adrianob]

No that won't work. It was tested here:

https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-tc-1-4x-tc-2-0x-teleconverter-review/#google_vignette

 

1 hour ago, Chris Ross said:

The problem is it doesn't fit as it has an extension that sticks out:

 

 

Others have proven the setup of sony 1.4x - metabones smart adapter - Canon 8-15 works.

 

Maybe the Nikon Z 1.4x - FTZ adapter - Nikon fisheye will work??  If the nose of the 1.4x fits inside the FTZ adapter it has a chance.

 

That won't work... it was tested here: https://www.cameralabs.com/nikon-z-tc-1-4x-tc-2-0x-teleconverter-review/#google_vignette

[TimG]

2 hours ago, adrianob said:

This is crazy folks! You need to find an old model that is out of production to make the setup work 😅

 

 

Yup. Bizarre.

 

I've edited the list above to reflect this. Thanks for checking it out @adrianob

[Architeuthis]

2 hours ago, Chris Ross said:

 

Others have proven the setup of sony 1.4x - metabones smart adapter - Canon 8-15 works.

 

 

I think I remember that there are people that use the Canon 8-15mm via EF-mount to Nikon Z converter on Nikon Z cameras.

I am using Canon 8-15mm with Metabones EF-mount to Sony E-mount converter on Sony A7R5. Both Kenko and native Sony 1.4x as well as 2x TCs can be used, since the Metabones adapter provides the space for the extrusion of the native Sony TCs. When using the native Sony TCs instead of Kenko the required extensions are shorter (because of the protrusion). Most important, IQ should be at least as good as with the Kenko HD Pro TCs.

Especially with the Sony 2x TC, IQ is clearly better compared to the Kenko 2x HD Pro TC and also better than Kenko 1.4x TC (but I have only the Kenko DGX 1.4x TC, not the better HD version). I cannot see a difference in IQ, when I compare the Sony1.4x...

=> This is specific for the Canon 8-15mm, the Nikon 8-15mm may well behave different when used with the Sony TCs (I also do not know whether the Sony TCs, Z cameras and EF-mount to SOny E-mount converters are, electronically, compatible; maybe someone checked already out?)...

 

Wolfgang