Should I choose a fisheye or a rectilinear ultra-wide lens for architectural interiors and exteriors?
Asked 5/13/2015
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I shoot with a Nikon D5300 and want to add a wide-angle lens for architecture, including building exteriors, rooms, and narrow streets/spaces. I’m considering a fisheye versus a rectilinear ultra-wide zoom. I like the dramatic look of fisheyes, but I’m concerned that the curved distortion may be distracting for architecture. I’ll usually be on a tripod, so maximum aperture is less important. For these kinds of subjects, which type of lens is the better choice?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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The ultrawide is what you want, not the fisheye. The fisheye will always render things with distortion and curves.
I shoot both an ultrawide and a fisheye--they each have their place. But for architectural stuff where it's more typical to want straight lines rendered as straight lines, you really want a rectilinear lens. I use a fisheye for interior shots, but that's only because I shoot 360x180 panoramas and need the scene coverage. An ultrawide lens is a typical choice for the type of shooting you're describing. And if the aperture does make a difference (since you mentioned shooting interiors), there is always the Tokina 11-16/2.8.
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
11y ago
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For architecture, a rectilinear ultra-wide is the better fit. Its main advantage is that it keeps straight lines looking straight, which is usually what you want for buildings, interiors, and narrow streets. A fisheye gives a much more dramatic view, but it deliberately bends lines and adds strong distortion, so it’s usually a special-effect lens rather than the best general choice for architectural work.
A fisheye can still be useful in niche cases—such as when you need the widest possible coverage or for certain panorama workflows—but for normal interior and exterior architecture shots, a rectilinear ultra-wide will be more versatile and require less correction afterward.
Since you’ll often use a tripod, the slower maximum aperture on an ultra-wide zoom is less of an issue. If you do end up needing a faster option for interiors, a lens like an 11-16mm f/2.8 type ultra-wide is another common alternative.
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