RONALD T : on a d7000 nikon do i understand i could shoot in auto. with the focus chip?FRANKLIN W : If you mean, "auto focus", then no you can't. The "focus confirmation" function of the installed chip is of questionable value on a lens of this type. HOWEVER, the auto metering it provides is virtually indispensable..
Believe it or not, it is a blessing this lens is manual focus. Extremely short focal length lenses, provide extreme, "depth of field". So, basically the focal distance on this lens becomes a, "set it, and forget it", type of affair. With smaller F stops, (F-8 and above), you simply dial in the "hyper focal setting". Most users have found it to be in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 meters, (not feet, the meters scale is easiest to read on this lens). You MUST however, set your D-7000 in "Aperture Priority mode". That will allow the camera to select the correct shutter speed for the scene brightness. I never use "program modes", and always shoot in aperture priority anyway, so there was no adjustment in my technique needed.
OK, so these are great, sharp, non flaring lenses. You can point them directly at the sun, with little to no artifacts. The contrast is super, and the build quality excellent. Thus, a worthwhile acquisition .
I usually suggest a person grab one of Adorama's refurbished bodies, along with the lens. You can still come at or near the same price as you would by buying Nikon's 10mm full frame fisheye! But the advantages are manifold. You keep your normal shooting lens on the 7100, and grab the second body for the wide angle "trick shots". No opening up cameras on the street, and no lost shots while changing lenses. You can extend the utility of the second body, should you choose to pick up an extreme wide angle zoom, perhaps the Sigma 10-20, and also use if for normal range zooms, should your prime camera happen to be in service with a long telephoto.
So, google the terms, "hyper focal distance" and "aperture priority mode", if you're not already familiar with these concepts, then buy yourself one of these lenses, and have fun!SAKEN A : IF you mean auto focus then no, you cannot shoot in auto. But there's a small dot that will appear on the left bottom part of viewfinder when you get the focus manually by rotating the focus ring. It will also show if you have to turn the wheel left or right to focus.
Shopper : Can I use this lens with a Nikon Df?FRANKLIN W : No, not really. This lens won't function as a full frame fisheye, on your full frame (FX) DSLR. What you would get, is a circular image in the style of the "true fisheyes" of old.
Although yes, it should hook up to the metering system.
The focus confirm is almost useless, because of the extreme depth of field of any 8mm lens. The auto metering OTOH, is a godsend!
Basically, you set the focus somewhere between 1.0 and 1.5 meters, and use the F stop to determine depth of field. It's sort of like the old news photographers saying, "F8 and be there".
Personally, I don't like circular fisheye work. It isn't really good aesthetically, and you tire of it quickly. 180 degree diagonal fisheye is a whole lot more interesting and useful. If you set the horizon at midpoint in the frame, it will appear as a straight line, rendering the fisheye effect quite a bit more muted.
A good recommendation for you is this, buy the Nikon 16mm 2.8 fisheye.
Or, IMHO the best solution, buy this lens along with one of the refurbished body deals, (DX format) that appear here at Adorama, from time to time, and dedicate the lens to it.
Any DX Nikon DSLR, D-3000 or above, would be a perfect combo, and likely cost less than the new price of the 16mm Nikkor by itself.
That is my approach. I go out with 2 or 3 bodies. The 8mm Rokinon. coupled to a D-3000 body, a D-5100 with an 18 to 70mm 3.5-4.5, and when I need a long lens combo, a D90, with an 80-200mm F2.8 AFD Nikkor. (screw drive auto focus tele-zoom). The D90 is my only camera it will auto-focus with).
Have fun with whatever you decide, Franklin!WILBERT V : I have no Df, so would not be able to tell for sure. I use a D300 myself. But for sure this lens is not going to cover your full FX frame on that Df camera. It is a DX lens. Whether the Df will automatically reduce its frame to become a DX or whether that can be achieved manually, that is for sure unknown to me.GRAHAM M : I don't own the Df, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. It works the same way as any older Nikon manual focus lens. It does have the added bonus of the focus confirmation chip meaning that your green "focus" light will illuminate.
BARBARA M : Will this work on a Nikon D3100?STEPHEN H : Great lens. As said by others, be sure to get the FC chip version. Programs like ACDSee and Lightroom will even let you adjust to remove much of the fisheye distortion (at a loss of some field of view) for some truly outstanding ultra wide angle images.LEVI L : Sorry but I don't know. I use D5100 and it works great. I use it for video too.FRANKLIN W : Barb,
Yes, this lens will work perfectly on your D-3100. It is absolutely imperative that you buy this model, with its focus confirm chip. The focus confirm function is a bit moot on any lens with a focal this short.
BUT, the chip also couples the lens into the automatic exposure and white balance systems of any Nikon DSLR issued thus far. These functions are much more useful, and I consider them practically indispensable The other choice, (the less expensive non- electronic model), would result in you either to guessing at exposure, or carrying a handheld meter around with you.
Thus far, I've attached the lens to my D-3000, (almost the same camera as yours), and my D-90, with equally fine results.
So, if this type of ultra wide angle photography appeals to you as much as it does to me, I'd grab one without hesitation.
These are fun lenses to work with. You might even find yourself investing in an extra body, so you can play on the street, without the hassle of exchanging lens, should the "fisheye fun house mood", overcome you.
(Keep in mind by centering the horizon in the frame, and choosing subjects without too many straight lines, you can get much more subtle effects, almost to the point where it's difficult fot the average person to tell you're using this lens).
I would be just as willing to answer any questions you might have after your purchase. So, feel free to post back, even if it's to tell us how much you're enjoying your new toy!
Yours Truly, FranklinGRAHAM M : Yes it will work on a D3100 because it is a manual focus lens and doesn't require a built in motor for focusing purposes. The metering should work too but, since I have never owned a D3100, I cannot guarantee it. That still shouldn't be a problem because all you have to do is look at your histogram and make manual exposure adjustments if needed.
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