Rectilinear vs Fisheye lens

[Runmonty]

I am considering an equipment upgrade that will include a new wide angle zoom lens.

My question relates to the relative merits of a fisheye vs a rectilinear lens.

I believe I have a basic grasp of the technical differences and resulting visual differences between them, but I have no hands on experience with a fisheye lens.

Does anyone have any opinions one way or another?

Does anyone have experience with post processing a fisheye image to straighten it and remove the fisheye look, and how successful it is?

At this stage I am probably leaning toward a rectilinear lens.

[mbrager]

I agree with you. A few years ago I rented a Canon 8mm-15mm f/4 USM Fisheye lens. It became rectilinear on the longer 15 mm focal length. I found some examples:

13 mm


8 mm


11mm


15 mm


The 8mm fisheye shots are unique and show a nearly 180 degree view. The 15 mm shots maintain quite a bit of curvature in the shot especially of close objects like the bridge rails. The 13 mm shot has the vignetting. But I find the fisheye round view gets old fast. Still, that lens was the best of both worlds. I didn't buy it because I didn't think I would use it that much to justify the cost.
I don't think you can straighten out the curvatures, can you? Which lenses are you considering?

[theantiquetiger]

Look at all my Disney shots from a couple weeks ago. They are all fisheye. I love that lens and am going to rent it again next month when I travel to New Mexico.

Why would you shoot with a fisheye and then try to correct the effect in post processing? In that case, just use a normal wide angle lens.

Here is two of my favorites from the trip

https://flic.kr/p/VaQJgq

https://flic.kr/p/TTnUJ5

[Runmonty]

Thanks for the comments guys. They have certainly helped clarify my thinking.

MB - I am still in the early stages of research. The situation is that a while ago I decided to upgrade to full frame camera. As there were a lot of expected new releases on the radar at the time, I decided to wait for them. Of course they took forever to arrive. I have now decided to take the plunge. My issue is that my current wide angle lens is EF-S. It is a great lens but cant be used on the new camera. I had looked at 8-15 that you rented. Some local retailers are offering good deals on the canon 11-24 at the moment but I am still trying to justify the cost. I was hoping that by getting the body and a lens at the same time I may increase my bargaining position. As to the lens correction, I tend to recall seeing some software or plugins to do this (although I suspect it wouldn't be particularly effective). Adaptive wide angle in Photoshop could probably also be used, but like I said I have no experience with fisheye.

AT - Nice shots and thanks for the comments. These photos really suit a fisheye. As to why correct? Well as MB said the fisheye look can "get old fast", and I am not sure I would want to lock myself into that look. I agree it is really a separate choice between an normal wide angle or a fish eye. Thus my question.