Fisheye Lens on FX vs. DX

[Jeff Perry]

Here is one for you. I'm exploring the idea of asking Santa for a fisheye lens this year, and now with both the FX and DX sensor-based bodies in the bag, I wondering if I go with the 10.5mm DX or the 16mm full frame. Here's the question... the 16mm full frame has a 180 degree FOV (on a full frame) and presumably is pushed to an equivalent focal length of +/-16mm when mounted on a DX body, but is the 180 degree field of view (on a 35mm frame) similarly cut to less than 180? My assumption is yes, hence the need for the DX 10.55 mm model. I know the FOV changes for normal lenses, but as you have guessed, I have not had any experience with fisheye lenses.

Anyone care to offer an opinion about the two lenses?

Thanks

Jeff

[cyclohexane]

If you want a full fisheye view on DX, you need the 10.5mm DX.

[Nikonfreak]

Tough subject but a great one to talk about.

This really falls in line with a few posts I've commented on with respect to planning for the future and DX.

I have the 10.5mm f/2.8 fisheye DX Nikon lens. I like it very much, but the fact that it's DX only is a problem now that I have the D3... I don't want to have a 12 megapixel camera that I'm capturing images at a 5MP resolution because I have a DX lens mounted on it.

The FX Nikon fisheye 16mm f/2.8 is a nice option, but having the crop factor involved, you now have a FOV of 24mm fisheye on a DX format camera. not exactly the wide fisheye you thought...

So, the question really becomes... if you're not a working professional ... are you going to stick to the DX format or are you seriously going to consider going to the FX format?

Then the trouble really starts if you are a working professional. For example... I currently have a D3 and two D300 bodies. So... FX or DX? I have the 10.5 fisheye.. it's almost new. How much money do you sink into a lens that gets used about 10% of the time... and do you sink that money into having both DX and FX formats for it?

Now, if I'm on vacation with the family, I don't care if I drop the resolution to 5 mp... that's enough for us personally... but I can't do that on a concert stage shot.

Both lenses are good. At some point everyone is going to have to make a decision.
1- Spend twice at the same time on a lens solution
2- Spend twice at two different points in time
3- Buy with a firm eye on the future (FX)
4- Decide to stick to DX format camera bodies

I'm not sure if the 180 degree field of view will be different on a DX camera but I assume it will be because the FOV of the DX sensor is different than that of the FX sensor.... (1.5x) and I would bet it would be cut to 120mm.

Julio