Landscape with Fisheye, to de-fish or not.

[Dave in Wales]

Lens....Samyang 7.5mm FE.

I was playing around with some FE landscape images on PSE 13 that I'd de-fished, toggling between the 'DO' and 'UNDO' icons.

The difference between the two was amazing, the impression of the normal FE image was that the picture had a 'bulge' in the centre and was foreshortening the overall 'depth' of the shot.

Turning on the de-fish seemed to push the centre of the picture back, to flatten it so to speak, and gave a much better feeling of recession.

It may not be so apparent from these few 'stills' but when switched on and off the difference is extremely apparent.

If you load the images into your computer and 'flick' between each one quickly you can see what I'm on about.

What are your feelings?

Straight FE shot.
P5230624 copy by Dave in Wales, on Flickr

De-Fished.
P5230624 copy-DF by Dave in Wales, on Flickr

Straight FE shot.
P5230632 copy by Dave in Wales, on Flickr

De-Fished.
P5230632 copy-DF by Dave in Wales, on Flickr

 

[dbr1066]

I actually prefer the FE version of the first shot. The foreground stones seem to 'pop' (technical term) and that appeals to me. The second image is a toss-up for me between the versions. I guess its really what appeals to you as the photographer that matters most, though, and different images may look better with one treatment or the other.

 

[glenng]

Straight FE shot for me

 

[Paul-H]

As I always try to say to myself, just before I defish my fisheye images

Why use a fisheye if I don't like the fisheye results

I prefer both the FE ones above over the defished versions

 

[ianp5a]

>Why use a fisheye if I don't like the fisheye results
1) So you have the choice. If you have a rectilinear lens you are unlikely to "re-fish" your pictures.
2) The Samyang is cheaper than the rectilinear ones.

I prefer the de-fished ones. Add up the votes to see who wins.

 

[twhite87]

I prefer the fish eye versions. Feels a bit more pleasing on the eye.

 

[shumicse]

I like the Fisheye version more as its looking more natural.

 

[Deleted member 49549]

Aesthetically, they are very similar.

The fact that you are switching between a before and after version will massively exaggerate the differences and cause one to seem right and the other wrong, but if you look at both side by side I think you will see that there isn't much difference.