Customer Reviews

Nikon FCE9 Fisheye Converter Lens for Coolpix 5400, 5700, 8700, 8400 & 8800 Digital Cameras (requires converter adapter)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the FC-E9 fisheye converter to use with a Nikon Coolpix 8400 (UR-E16 adapter required). There are three topics worth discussing: functionality when used with a Coolpix camera, optical quality, and possibility of using it on other cameras.

The Coolpix 8400 has a fisheye lens mode, which locks the zoom at a 35mm focal length (expressed as a 35mm film camera equivalent), giving a circular image with 183 degree coverage. The fisheye lens mode also puts the camera in macro mode, locks the focus, disables the flash and sets the metering to center-weighted mode. I usually set the fisheye lens mode momentarily just to zoom to the correct focal length, then go back to normal lens mode so I can alter the other settings if I want to. Then I can focus, zoom in to full frame, use a (bounced) flash, etc. But you should stay in macro mode and probably set it to center-weighted metering.

When the FC-E9 is mounted on the camera, the combination is rather large and heavy. But it turns out to be a handy setup. The barrel is long enough to grip comfortably. The length between the camera and the front of the lens makes it easier to keep yourself out of the picture than it would be with a shorter fisheye lens. If you grasp the barrel with your left hand, it actually balances pretty well, since the Coolpix 8400 (and other Coolpix cameras that take this converter) are not what you'd call lightweight!

I have seen some negative comments online about the sharpness of the Nikon fisheye converters. Personally, I have used an old 7.5mm f/5.6 Fisheye-Nikkor lens on a Nikon F2, and found it to be of suprisingly poor quality. The old 7.5mm is quite fuzzy when used wide open (and this is a lens that goes for about $900 on ebay). No doubt the 8mm f/2.8 fisheye from c.1980 would be much better, but they go for $2500-$3000 nowadays. The FC-E9 (or FC-E8) mounted on a Coolpix camera gives you a practical and affordable solution, as long as your "fisheye needs" allow you to shoot digitally. I can get much better pictures with the FC-E9 & Coolpix 8400 than I can with the 7.5mm f/5.6 & Nikon F2. So, in reply to complaints about optical quality, I say: "compared to what?"

The thread on the back of the FC-E9 converter fits into a standard 46mm filter thread. Search online and you will find that people have used this fact to mount the FC-E9 on various other equipment. But you should be cautious and realize the risk you are taking. The FC-E9 is pretty heavy and whatever you are mounting it on is probably not designed for the weight. Also, some 46mm filters and adapters have fewer threads, so the FC-E9 may not thread in as far as you would like. Most importantly, when you use it with equipment that produces a larger image circle (like 35mm film, or even DSLR), chromatic aberration gets pretty bad away from the optical axis, unless you stop down a lot. In any case, keep in mind that, as noted above, you get a properly-sized circular image when the FC-E9 sits in front of a lens of 35mm (equivalent) focal length.

This converter alters the focus of whatever lens you put it on. That's why the Coolpix cameras go to macro mode when fisheye lens mode is selected. You'll find that you have to focus much closer than the actual object distance. It's not a big problem, as long as you realize that the focus distance on your lens barrel is no longer correct.

The FC-E9 works great for its intended purpose. Having watched the prices of fisheye lenses over the years, I'm delighted that an affordable and functional system like this exists for digital photography.

This is a fine fisheye in its price category! Great pictures without to many distortion at the borders. Great item!

Product is in excellent condition. It was shipped promptly and
packaged well. I would definitely do business with this company again.

This is an extreme wide angle lens which is well suited for making 360 degree panorama shots from 2-3 images using an inexpensive camera. This is ideal for interior real estate 360 degree walkthrough photos, or for vast panorama landscapes. This is of course not a rectilinear lens - it will curve straight lines that are off center, so the horizon line is best centered if you are shooting scenics.

You would need software, widely available, to stitch the images and reduce distortion, and a proper tripod mount -- or simply shoot 180 degree images. DXO software or Photoshop plug-ins can correct some of the distortion, to make the image rectilinear but cropped.

This lens was originally designed for use with various adapters to connect to several Nikon Point and Shoot cameras (the Coolpix 5400, 5700, 8700, 8400 & 8800). Actually it can be used with many other cameras with a suitable adapter from its 46mm threads to the camera lens filter threads. For example, you could use a more current Canon G12 or Panasonic LX-5 or similar camera with adapter and this lens. The camera must be capable of close focus, and have at least a 35mm wide angle equivalent lens, and of course have an adapter from camera to this lens. Properly mounted on an appropriate camera, it yields a 183 degree field of view, equivalent to a 7mm focal length lens in 35mm terms. Objects are in focus from the front of the lens to infinity, so this can be used to make very creative images of close objects with very wide backgrounds.

It has very good optical performance for a .2x 180 degree fisheye lens, sharp in the center but slightly soft at the edges (better than most others though). The other comparable lenses are made by Raynox, and are bigger, heavier and more costly. Beware of the ultracheap .2x lenses from China, they are optically horrible. You get what you pay for.

The reviewers who marked it low for requiring you to be close to the subject simply don't understand how or why to use this lens. Other reviewers complained that it is rather large and heavy, which it must be due to the optical acrobatics it performs. It has 6 elements, weighs 17 ounces, measures 3 inches long by 4 inches diameter. The front element is totally exposed, so you have to be very aware of that or it will scratch. If you mount it on a tripod, you should have a mount that grips this lens, not your camera, or it will probably strip the camera filter threads. These grip mounts are available from Bophoto, Kingpano and Agnos.

So this is not for everyone, being large, heavy and expensive. But used properly it allows you to shoot images that are unique and it is a great creative tool.

Excellent fisheye lens. Bought some sigma fisheye for another Canon Camera and didn't work as good as this one. Perfect choice good quality and awsome price.

Rarely do I send anything back, however this is a big chunk of glass 3-5X's larger than any other Nikon converter lens. Bigger than the camera itself!
Reason #1. Too big to carry around. Reason #2 I wasn't impressed with the optical quality either, blurry edges, erractic and difficult to focus and even with Nikon SB-800 hot shoe flash the lens shadow was included with indoor shots.

Well at least I got to try it. The customer service I received from Ace Photo and Amazon.com was Great! I had to pay a 10% restocking fee and the initial shipping charges. I am very thankful to these guys in returning the items(converter mount) for otherwise I would had been stuck for my useage with a white elephant.

This lens maybe be crystal clear, but coming in at .2x, this lens made even the closest shots look far away. The lens is soo big it blocked the flash, I had to buy an hot-shoe flash just so I could film at night. In conclusion, this lens is far too expensive for what its worth, I shoot skate photography, and I would recommend a lens that you dont have to be just about touching them with the camera too even see them. I'd strongly recommend either a .3x(raynox has one for 80 bux) or a .42x (ebay for 50 bux, I own a .42x, its alot better than this. even if it was only worth 150 bux less)