Nikon 16mm f/2.8D Fisheye AF Lens

By combining the special effects and benefits of 180° angle of view with the Nikon highly developed D-type autofocus engineering, there's a Brilliant f/2.8 aperture opening for photographing in poor light or with a fast shutter speed. There's also full-aperture metering and framing. Four 39mm filters fit into the back side of the lens allowing high-contrast photos even at wide open aperture. It's remarkably light in weight for a fisheye and also has a built-in hood. The lens mount is all metal, AF is "screw type". Additionally the lens features an aperture ring allowing it to work with every previous Nikon camera.

A fisheye lens is a wide-angle lens that takes in an extremely wide, hemispherical image. Originally developed for use in meteorology to study cloud formation and called "whole-sky lenses", fisheye lenses quickly became popular in general photography for their unique, distorted appearance. They are often used by photographers shooting broad landscapes to suggest the curve of the Earth. Hemispherical photography is used for various scientific purposes to study plant canopy geometry and to calculate near-ground solar radiation.

The first types of fisheye lenses to be developed were "circular fisheyes" — lenses which take in a 180° hemisphere and project this as a circle within the film frame. Some circular fisheyes are available in orthographic projection models for scientific applications. These have a 180° vertical angle of view, and the horizontal and diagonal angle of view are also 180°. Most circular fisheye lenses cover a smaller image circle than rectilinear lenses, so the corners of the frame will be completely dark.

• Full-frame fisheye images with a picture angle of 180 degrees(diagonal)

• AF-S Autofocus lens featuring a Silent wave, coreless, integrated, focus motor (unwrapped in 1996). Basically an updated AF-I Autofocus-Silent sporting a "Silent Wave Motor" (ultrasonic) to focus near silently and fast.

• CRC - Close-Range Correction is another Nikon extremely significant focusing break-through, as it allows advanced image perfection at close focusing range and expands the focusing distance.

• D- Distance. Denoted after the  f-number. It signifies the lens has the capacity to use Nikon's 3D Matrix Metering on camera bodies where it is supported.

• FX-format sensor
The leading factor setting the Nikon FX apart from other sensors is the large size of the pixels, which allows for more light collection. For example, The D3 contains 12.1mp, encompassing a 8.45 x 8.45µm pixel size which is 2.4 times the pixel size of the DX image sensor employed in the D7000 camera body

• SIC - Nikon Super Integrated Coating
Nikon uses an elite multilayer lens coating to augment the operation of its lens elements which also helps diminish ghosting and flare to minute levels. Nikon Super Integrated Coat also accomplishes several purposes,

39mm Bayonet Filters: (L37C, A2, B2, O56)

Built-In Hood

#597 Front Slip On Lens Cap

LF-1 Rear Cap

5-Year Warranty (1-Year International + 4-Year USA Extension)

Can't go wrong with a fisheye purchase

By Macadoo from Richmond, VA on 10/30/2008

This is a very small, sturdy and lightweight lens. I believe that everyone from pro sports photographers to interior/architectural photographers to hobbyists can benefit from having this unusual lens in his/her bag. It simply expands your creative envelope that much more. This lens is acceptably sharp at or near wide open and is very contrasty. A lot of reviews for this lens cite the slip on cap as a negative; I can see where it will probably end up being a nuisance, however mine still fits snuggly, but I would probably carry a rubberband to help keep the cap on when not in use. Don't think twice about throwing down the cash for this lens--you won't regret ANY of the images you get with it.

By BobW from California City, CA on 8/22/2008

This is a fun lens. Period.

I find fisheyes to be an excellent choice, not only for the seemingly obvious subjects, but also for looking at 'standard' scenes in a less-than standard way. When mounted on my F6, with it's large viewfinder, a whole new world appears.

As is usually noted regarding fisheyes, one must take care to protect the front element from scuffing and damage.

Also, watch those toes, as your feet are often included in the frame.

I would like to see a better fitting lens cap, as the one supplied seems a little loose. I find using a rubber band running length wise seems to work fine to add some extra security.