Panorama Photography Forums 360 Rage

[mstoss]

Peleng:

When I first wanted to create sphericals from fisheye images, I ordered a Peleng 8mm lens. Some days later, I NEEDED to create sphericals from fisheye images, but the Peleng took 2-3 weeks to arrive. So I bought a Sigma 8mm instead (sigh).

When the Peleng finally arrived, my first thought was to sell it again immediately. But I kept it anyway as a spare lens. As such I have used it at several occasions. Since I don't use it frequently, I tend to forget about this damned LOCK/UNLOCK ring when I start shooting :-[

The cap is crap, it pops off every second. This can be a permanent danger to the lens which it is supposed to be a protection for. I found the protection bag of the Nikon Fisheye Adapter FC-E8 to help keeping the cap on its place.

No problem with this fully manual lens on my 300D. The image diameter is slightly bigger than with the normal circular fisheyes, so it won't fit on a western 24x36 film format. Unlike with the Sigma, where you have 2 cropped sides on a 1.6 crop camera, this will result in a cropping on all 4 sides of the image. This is no problem for me, since I make 6+1 with the Sigma as well and this does work with the Peleng too. An advantage of this bigger image size is the slightly higher resolution you can get from the Peleng.

Virtual no vignetting compared to the Sigma.

Lens flare is present and more obvious than on the Sigma and the Peleng has less vivid colours.

I would gladly use this lens more often, if its most known strength was present on my lens, but it isn't: The Peleng is said to be a sharp lens, sharper then the Sigma in any case. My copy is softer than the Sigma. Could be a question of an inaccurate lens mount, but I could not manage to find out. adding pieces of paper to the mount didn't help.

After all I would say: If you should concider buying this lens, try to get a copy to test with your camera first (... hm, but that's true for nearly all lenses I guess)

[ThomasK]

With bright highlights the Peleng produces a big white flare ring at the border. Because of this defect it's quite impossible to shoot decent interiors. Beside that the Peleng is ok for the price.

[mstoss]

With bright highlights the Peleng produces a big white flare ring at the border. Because of this defect it's quite impossible to shoot decent interiors. Beside that the Peleng is ok for the price.

Yes, that's what most people say. If not for the softness of my copy I would absolutely support this statement. As I said, I believe that it is my copy only.

BTW: I was out today to visit a local repair shop where some enthusiasts work on all kind of analogue cameras and lenses. They only said I should step down and did not want to deal with the lens at all. I was kind of disappointed.(... not about the Peleng but about this shop)

[ThomasK]

Hmm, what about asking Mr. Wiese from http://www.wiese-fototechnik.de if he is able to modify the lens...

[mstoss]

Hmm, what about asking Mr. Wiese from http://www.wiese-fototechnik.de if he is able to modify the lens...

Good idea! I will call them and ask for that. I'm in Hamburg once in a while and so it sounds practicable without causing costs beside the service itself.

Thank you very much!
Michael

[mstoss]

Hmm, what about asking Mr. Wiese from http://www.wiese-fototechnik.de if he is able to modify the lens...

Talked to them today. They know the lens and they will have a look at it! Thanks again for this hint.

Michael