Fisheye Zenitar 2.8/16 MC Lens for Nikon AI SLR Camera

Let me start with a warming: if you intend to buy this lens, be prepared to test it and make sure it is not defective. My first copy was decentered: both right corners were dark (and the hood/front of barrel looked indeed slightly tilted) and right edge was never as sharp as left edge, at any aperture. Moreover, the filter thread was jammed and I had to clean it in order to screw the filter in (mind the filter is part of the optical design and the lens cannot be used without it). The second copy looked better assembled (and aesthetically slightly different, too), but took me several attempts to look it to the camera body (the groove on the mount that sits the locking pin is clearly misplaced by a few millimetres!).Provided you finally get a copy in working order, the optical quality is not bad at all. First of all, the field of view is perhaps less wide than other fish-eyes' (180 along the diagonal for FF is probably just a rough estimate...). At max aperture, the lens shows significant halos around bright edges, which reduce perceived sharpness, although the resolution is already pretty good as one can assess by careful PP. Also, DOF is much shallower than one would think and focusing is critical, but carefully done on close subjects rewards with a quite pleasing bokeh (somewhat of a surprise for this type of lens). By f/4 haloing is gone and sharpness is good but still hard to have the whole frame in good focus. I'd say you need to stop down to f/11 to be relatively sure all the picture is sharp (for landscape or similar photography).Comparing with other fish-eye lenses on the market, it is hard to overlook how inexpensive this lens is, and the results you get from it well worth the cost (and the pain of having to go through a bad copy, too).

I love experimenting with this lens. It creates a whole new perspective on the world, allowing me to see in a totally different way. I shoot at F8 or smaller to avoid soft images, other than that, it's great, and 1/3 the price of a Sigma fish eye.

arrived fast- excellent full frame FE lens for the money. Just don't expect to use it at 2.8. Sweet spot is f/8-f/11

Nice lens works perfect! Come with 3 filters. Built like a russian tank t34, all metal. Very soft at f 2.8

stupendo!! obiettivo essenziale e funzionale.

I lived in the former Soviet Union for the first half of my life so normally I would stay away from anything "Made in Russia" because I know too well how it was manufactured. Still after long research I was stupid enough to buy this glass on eBay for $140 with free shipping. There is more of them out there. The lens I bought was brand new sealed in the box. First surprise - the cap for the back of the lens just fell off. Totally didn't match. No way to attach it to the lens. OK, second surprise - took my first shot on my full frame Canon 6D and got 2 dark diagonal corners. That was weird. Having 4 wouldn't surprise me but 2 ... after some thinking and playing with this masterpiece I realized that you can screw off the top part. I mean completely, with the top glass. Ouch. So now I am thinking that probably it was not aligned properly and that's why I am getting those dark diagonal corners. So I put it back on the camera, set the glass to 2.8 so it's bright, pointed at something white and started turning the top unit back in till the corners were gone. After that it was fine. Very sharp especially if you shoot around 8, 9 or 11. Good luck.

You can use it as a hammer, that is for sure. Great optics, but the coating has spots and I also had to disassemble mine to remove aluminium dust/particles from the glass inside. the glass cover on the back was stuck. also the diaphragm was dirty. this lens is as reliable as "AK47", you can shoot even under water. but the implementation is very mediocre... unfortunatelyBut, the reason I have purchased this lens, was my Canon 5D Mark II. This lens fits perfectly with the adapter, and the best part is - it is FULL FRAME and it is cheap

If you get a good one (I did) then they are a joy to use. Make sure you can focus to infinity, if not there is an internal adjustment to correct this.F4 up is sharp and colours are good. It is very prone to flare however so bare this in mind.