bigshot
Headphoneus Supremus
The 8mm Samyang (Bowen, Vivitar) fisheye is optically superior to the Nikon, and it's inexpensive enough you don't have to baby it.
Yeah and rear mount filters arn't going to protect my glass… I will have to try that string thing. Things are just so hectic that it may seem like a bother, but protecting the lens is extremely important. It was an investment, to say the least. Even with the 35mm things are made very uncomfortable by the fact that I have to back up so darn far. Although when it gets late and people start filing out I get some beautiful portraits with it. I suppose 18 on my 18-200 would work moderadely well, but honestly this lens is perfect for what I do.I couldn't get most of my spur of the moment shots in such a cramped space without it. Thanks for the suggestions!
The 8mm Samyang (Bowen, Vivitar) fisheye is optically superior to the Nikon, and it's inexpensive enough you don't have to baby it.
I know someone who does professional nightclub photos. I like the ones he takes at 11mm.
Might be worth asking him what lens he uses.
His flickr account is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktoffl7574/
It's not like I'm "in the market" anymore for one so it's kind of irrelevant if you feel that is is optically superior. Mine is faster, which is a more of a plus for what I do. If I ever have 300 dollars lying around it's probably not going to go to have a beater fisheye. Even if it was 300 dollars I would still baby it just like I do my 200 dollar 35mm or my ~800 dollar 18-200 VRII, I just like keep my items at tip top shape for resale. No joke, I have a circular cut "invisible shield" over the wood on my ESW9's.
Also, I am a huge Nikon fanboy when it comes to camera equipment so that extends to my Nikkor Lenses of course. But that's more foolishness/ brand loyalty than practicality.
Besides, that 300 dollars is reserved for my bifrost DAC.
Those shots / lens profiles are similar to what I have. Somewhat less cramped than what I deal with. I'm not interested in picking up another lens as much as I am protecting what I have.
It looks like he uses a wideangle zoom lens, which is awesome and something that's great to have on hand. I would like something like that for framing but it's not the end of the world. What I'd like to ask him is why go all the way down to (and past) f22 on some of his club shots? Hahaha. Oh well. To each their own. He's got some great stuff here, some stuff that I wouldn't be able to do.
Does it really matter?
Just a quick update for those I talked to about my 70-200 f2.8 purchase. A few weeks ago I purchased a cheap Tamron (1/3 price of a Nikon branded alternative) and just wanted to show a few photos after my first shootout with it, nothing special - I do not consider myself a good photographer either.
1.2?! Dear god… I could imagine that almost being inconveniently fast! Such soft pictures, so much bokeh and such a deep depth of field. WTB sharp focus and clarity amirite?
1.2 isn't too fast to focus if you have a good viewfinder (FF with split prism) or have it slapped on a rangefinder (often easier to focus in dim light).
The Noct-Nikkor is a great lens. Very unique bokeh... and yes, that extremely narrow depth of field - going in a flash from razor sharp, to creamy smooth...