How to Use Fisheye Lenses?

Understanding Fisheye Lenses

A fisheye camera lens is a type of lens with a focal length of 16mm or shorter and a viewing angle that is close to or equal to 180 degrees. It is an extreme wide-angle lens commonly referred to as the "fisheye camera lens." Fisheye lenses are a special type of ultra-wide-angle lens that strive to achieve or exceed the range of the human eye's field of view. Therefore, the images produced by fisheye camera lenses differ greatly from the images of the real world that we see with our eyes, as the objects we see in real life have fixed and regular forms, whereas the images produced by the fisheye camera lens go beyond this category.

When it comes to fisheye camera lenses, their applications are wide-ranging and essentially limitless. The lens's wide-angle feature is particularly useful in landscape photography, as it can make scenes appear more powerful and spacious. It can also capture a seemingly wide space in narrow indoor environments, making it much more convenient.

Techniques for Using Fisheye Lenses

Pay Attention to the Horizontal

When shooting landscapes with fisheye camera lenses, it is essential to pay attention to the horizontal plane. Because the resulting images are distorted, it can be challenging to judge with the naked eye. If the camera is not level during shooting, the photo's imbalanced effect will be noticeable. Furthermore, shooting tall buildings from an upward angle is a common technique when using fisheye camera lenses. This method can capture the entire building in a shot, making the image even more spectacular.

Shooting Distance

The closer the shot, the more noticeable the effect. If shot from a regular distance, the exaggerated distortion effect cannot be achieved. Just like in normal portrait photography, the closer you get with a fisheye camera lens, the more prominent the "bighead dog" effect will be. However, this technique can also be applied to pictures where inanimate objects are the main subject to add extra interest.

Avoiding Distortion

Due to the distortion factor, both images on either side of the camera will be distorted. When shooting portraits, the subject should not be placed next to the edge of the frame, or they will appear out of proportion. Therefore, when using fisheye camera lenses to shoot, the subject should be in the center of the photo, or distortion can occur. For example, when shooting portraits, if the subject is placed on the left or right side of the frame, their body will appear out of proportion.

Highlighting the Subject

When shooting, you should consider whether too many things are crowded into the lens, making the photo confusing and possibly obscuring the subject. When composing, it is best to highlight the subject as much as possible and avoid too many subjects appearing at the same time. Too much in the photo can make it lose focus. Also, fisheye camera lenses can distort the subject. Specifically, when shooting portraits, models can be directed to strike some special poses to create even more exaggerated effects.