Zenitar Fisheye Lenses

[dstegjas]

I am starting to see a few posts on the Zenitar fisheye lens. Does anyone have any experience with them ? I have been thinking about picking up a fisheye lens but paying $400 to $500 for a lens that won't get used much worrys me. On the other hand spending $120 won't bother me as much.*

So I just wanted to see what everyones thoughts were on this lens. It will be mounted on a 1D MKII and a 300D camera. I am certainly not expecting perfection with this lens. More of a stepping stone to a nicer lens if I like the effects I get with it.

Thanks,
Jim

[dougjgreen]

My feeling is, for only occassional use, these inexpensive Russian fisheyes are the way to go, and I think that Fisheyes are such rare occassion lenses that this would be the path I'd personally take. From what I've seen, they are optically generally quite decent, even very good, but the mechanical construction might be much more variable - some quite OK, some totally crap. So long as you get one from a reliable vendor, who'll take it back for an exchange or refund if your particular sample is problematic, I'd say go for it.

[bolantej]

I have one, and like it for what it is. I haven't really taken it out much, though.

[Rense]

Originally Posted by bolantej

I have one, and like it for what it is. I haven't really taken it out much, though.

Same in my experience.
Rense