Products in Focus – ExpertPhotography

9 Best Underwater Fishing Cameras in 2024 (Complete Guide)

Christopher Bryan-Smith — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 07:52:49 +0000

An underwater fishing camera is the latest must-have gadget if you like reeling in a big one. It gives you a fish-eye view of the underwater world below. And an underwater camera increases your chances of catching a record-breaking number of fish.

The Moocor underwater fishing camera is the best option for anglers right now. It has a bright LCD monitor that gives you a detailed underwater view. It shoots underwater photos and videos. And the camera has a ring of infrared LED lights for aquatic illumination. This is why it’s the best underwater fishing camera.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Underwater Fishing Camera

Moocor Underwater Fishing Camera with DVR

Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Camera

GoFish Cam

What Is the Best Underwater Fishing Camera?

An underwater fishing camera is a camera that allows you to see beneath the surface of the water. The camera is submerged underwater. And you have a monitor to view the underwater scene.

Some fishing cameras attach to a fishing float or weight. Others can be submerged on their own to view a unique underwater world.

Fishing is an unpredictable sport. You never know how a day by the water turns out. Sometimes you head home with a cooler full of fish. And other times, you leave without so much as a bite.

No catch for the day can be a disheartening situation. But it’s something an underwater fishing camera can help you resolve.

An underwater fishing camera gives you a fish-eye view of the water. It lets you assess your options and make more rewarding decisions. Not all fishing cameras have Live View recording. But watching underwater footage can give you vital information for your next cast.

The table below gives you a rundown of the best underwater fishing cameras. The section after looks at all the fishing cameras in more detail. We also have a buyer’s guide at the end to help you find the best underwater camera.

Out Top Choice

Moocor Underwater Fishing Camera with DVR

800 x 480 resolution for Live View and video recording
Waterproof down to 50 ft / 15 m
Adjustable LED lights for dark waters
4.3" / 10.9 cm bright LCD monitor
Built-in DVR for instant playback

Best Hard Case

Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Camera

HD 800TVL camera for clear visuals
Adjustable LED lights for better visibility
7" / 2.5 cm LCD monitor for easy viewing
Rechargeable lithium battery for up to 8 hrs use
Waterproof design for up to 30 m depth

Best for Larger Boats

Aqua-Vu AV 715C Underwater Viewing System

Waterproof camera with 50 ft cable
LED lights for enhanced viewing at night
7" / 2.5 cm LCD screen for clear underwater viewing
Internal rechargeable battery
Easy to use, portable design

Best for Fresh Water

Aqua-Vu Micro Stealth 4.3 Underwater Camera

High-definition underwater video
Clear, color images
4.3" / 10.9 cm LCD display
Camera has infrared lights for better illumination
Portable, lightweight design

Best Value

Anysun Underwater Fisihing Camera

1500TVL camera with 36pcs IR LEDs
Adjustable IR LEDs and wide angle lens
4.3 inch / 10.9 cm monitor with Sun Visor
200m cable length and 1500 mAh rechargeable battery
IP68 waterproof and cable with anti-corrosion

Best for Deep Sea

MINGBOSKY Portable Underwater Fishing Camera

Live underwater view down to 164 ft / 50 m
Clear Full HD video and photo capture
Cables and floats included
Rechargeable battery and USB charging
Durable and waterproof hard case

Best Handheld

LUCKY Portable Fishing Camera

Convenient size for handheld use or kayaking
Built-in LED lights for night vision
16 GB of internal storage for recorded videos and photos
Wi-Fi enabled for easy transfer of footage
Waterproof down to 50 ft / 15 m

Best Fishing Drone

Chasing Dory Underwater Drone

Real-time image transmission
Full HD camera quality
6 powerful thrusters
1 hour battery life when recording
Explore down to depths of 50 ft / 15 m

Best App-Based

XiLiHaLa Underwater Fishing Camera

1080p Full HD clarity Live View on your smartphone screen
Real-time Wi-Fi transmission for live streaming footage
150° viewing angle
Built-in rechargeable battery
Waterproof up to 164 ft / 50 m

9 Best Underwater Fishing Cameras

Now we take you through our top picks for the best underwater fishing camera. We have underwater cameras for all types of anglers.

Whether you’re fishing on lakes, rivers, or the open ocean, we have the right underwater camera for you. And we haven’t forgotten about ice-fishing fans, either. (Read our article on taking better ocean photos.)

Skip to the buyer’s guide at the end if you need to know what to look for in the best underwater fishing camera. If you’re looking for the best underwater photography cameras, click the link. And if you want to see life through a fish’s eye, check out our list of the best fish-eye lenses.

1. Moocor Underwater Fishing Camera with DVR

Brand	Brand MOOCOR
Screen Size	Screen Size 4.3 inch / 11 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 800 x 480
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 50 ft / 15 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 8 to 10 hours
Weight	Weight 1.43 lb / 648 g
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Photo and video recording, 16 GB internal storage, infrared camera lights
Best For	Best For All anglers

The Moocor underwater fishing camera is one of the best underwater cameras you can get for fishing. It’s made for lakes and rivers, so you’ll need to go elsewhere for deep-sea fishing cameras. But it’s the ideal option for amateur and experienced anglers. It’s a quality product and good value for money.

The LCD screen is bright and gives you a true-to-life image of the underwater environment. There’s a sun visor if you’re fishing in the summer sun. And the LCD screen is backlit. So you can use it for night fishing. (Read out article on nighttime photo settings.)

The camera uses a high-quality CMOS sensor. Its low-light performance is excellent, giving you clear images in darker waters. And it’s fitted with infrared lights for extra illumination. Plus, it has three brightness settings. So you can fish in all lighting conditions.

Live underwater viewing is the main function of the Moocor underwater fishing camera. But you can also record videos and take photographs. The monitor has a built-in 16 GB memory card. And you can browse the library and remove media if necessary. Using a USB cable, you can also transfer pics and videos to other devices.

The Moocor underwater fishing camera is a must-have in your fishing gear. It allows you to find fish down to depths of 50 ft (15 m). And it works well in most fishing conditions. The cable is strong and gives you excellent control of the camera.

2. Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Camera

Brand	Brand Eyoyo
Screen Size	Screen Size 7 inch / 17.8 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 800 x 480
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 164 ft / 50 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 8 hours
Weight	Weight 3.7 lb / 1.7 kg
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Hardcase housing, infrared camera lights, 92-degree viewing angle
Best For	Best For Deep water fishing, larger bodies of water

The Eyoyo underwater fishing camera is perfect for anglers who like to “go deep.” It can take you to a depth of 164 ft (50 m), where you can see fish in their natural environment. And you can pick out the ones you want to catch.

This fishing camera is housed in a hard case to protect your gear. It’s strong and durable. (See our list of the best camera hard cases if you’re in the market for one.)

It’s an underwater camera for deep lakes and open seas and gives a unique underwater experience. But it’s better suited to fishing from a boat. And it won’t fit in a kayak.

You have a seven-inch screen for viewing your prey. We were hoping for a higher resolution from a screen this size. But the image quality is still excellent, with fantastic performance at deeper levels.

The Eyoyo fishing camera doesn’t only deliver in bright environments. It has 12 infrared LED lights to give the camera the necessary illumination. You can film in dark coves, deep seas, and murky waters. And it’s even bright enough for night fishing in deep waters.

The long battery life is another reason this is one of the best underwater fishing cameras. You can use the camera in Live View for up to eight hours. That means you can stay at sea all day. You only need to head to shore when the boat’s full of fish!

3. Aqua-Vu AV 715C Underwater Viewing System

Brand	Brand Aqua-Vu
Screen Size	Screen Size 7 inch / 17.8 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 800 x 480
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 50 ft / 15 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 8 hours
Weight	Weight 1.2 lb / 544 g
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Opti-RX camera lens, storage bag system
Best For	Best For Fishing on larger boats

The Aqua-Vu AV 715C is a serious underwater camera viewing system. The camera gives you excellent Live View footage from the water. And you can see every movement on the seven-inch screen.

The camera is waterproof down to 50 ft (15 m). And the camera is attached to a strong 50 ft cable. So it’s ideal for freshwater fishing trips on a boat.

This option from Aqua-Vu is equipped with infrared lights. So you can see in the darkest waters. Plus, it makes ice fishing a lot easier. It’s a bigger unit and less portable than other cameras. But it comes with a five-gallon bag for easy transportation.

4. Aqua-Vu Micro Stealth 4.3 Underwater Camera

Brand	Brand Aqua-Vu
Screen Size	Screen Size 4.3 inch / 10.9 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 800 x 480
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 50 ft / 15 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 6 hours
Weight	Weight 1.6 lb / 721 g
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Infrared camera lights, fin and clip system
Best For	Best For Fresh water and ice fishing

The Aqua-Vu Micro Stealth Underwater Camera is a fantastic gadget for anglers. It works well in different water conditions and is easy to use. It’s the perfect entry into the world of underwater fishing cameras.

You have a 4.3-inch (10.9 cm) screen that’s bright and detailed. The resolution could be higher. But the quality of the camera helps give you a clear image on the monitor. It’s similar in size to a smartphone, so it fits in your hand nicely.

This full-color micro camera gives you a fantastic underwater Live View. You can see beneath the surface. So you can assess your options and stalk your prey.

The connecting cable is 50 ft (15 m) in length. But the camera is waterproof beyond that depth. So it’s ideal for big rivers and lakes.

The underwater camera also has infrared lights around the lens. They illuminate the water around the camera to help spot your next prize catch. The lights make it easier to fish in cloudy water. So your success rate is sure to increase.

Plus, the six-hour battery life also means you won’t have to pack up early. And it’s a great option for ice fishing.

The Aqua-Vu camera has a unique fin and clip system for ice and open-water fishing. It gives you control of the submerged camera. And you can adjust it for upward or downward viewing. So it’s perfect for trolling. You’ll find your fish in no time!

5. Anysun Underwater Fishing Camera

Brand	Brand Anysun
Screen Size	Screen Size 4.3 inch / 10.9 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 800 x 480
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 50 ft / 15 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 5 hours
Weight	Weight 1.8 lb / 816 g
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Sun visor, infrared camera lights, anti-freezing technology
Best For	Best For Fishermen on a budget

The Anysun underwater fishing camera is another fantastic option for all anglers. It improves your fishing experience. And we have no doubt you’ll be heading home with a cooler full of fish.

With a bright camera and monitor, it lets you see what’s happening beneath the surface. And it’s good value for your money!

The LCD monitor is bright and detailed. The view is fantastic, with true-to-life colors. And there’s a sun visor. So you don’t have to suffer glare when fishing in the sunshine.

It’s lightweight and portable. And you can attach the monitor to your fishing rod for easy viewing.

The Anysyn camera is suitable for many fishing styles. And the eight infrared LED lights mean you can fish anywhere and at any time of day. You can adjust light intensity to suit the situation. So you can view the natural behavior of fish at night.

The 50 ft (15 m) cable is tough and durable. It can handle the pressure of fast-flowing rivers and strong fish. And it has anti-freezing technology, making it one of the best underwater cameras for ice fishing.

Lastly, the five-hour battery life is good and reliable. Most won’t need to leave the water before they’re ready.

6. MINGBOSKY Portable Underwater Fishing Camera

Brand	Brand MINGBOSKY
Screen Size	Screen Size 9 inch / 22.8 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 164 ft / 50 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 8 hours
Weight	Weight 5.88 lb / 2.67 kg
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Hard carry case, infrared camera lights
Best For	Best For Deep sea fishing

The MINGBOSKY camera is another brilliant option if you want an underwater camera for deeper waters. It’s the perfect setup for deep-sea fishing from a boat. And it’s another fantastic underwater camera for ice fishing.

The 9-inch (22.8 cm) LCD screen gives you an outstanding view below the waves. It’s bright with vibrant colors.

And you get a stunning 1920 x 1080p screen resolution. That’s Full HD quality for incredible underwater detail. If that doesn’t help you catch fish, I don’t know what will.

The camera quality is excellent. And it’s waterproof down to 164 ft (50 m). So depth is no issue. And it’s armed with 24 infrared LED lights. It’s more than enough for deep-sea fishing. And you can continue fishing into the night.

You won’t have to head home to charge the battery. The camera has a healthy battery life of eight hours from a full charge. But this fish finder is heavy at 5.88 lb (2.67 kg). So it’s best used with a big, sturdy boat for this MINGBOSKY underwater fishing camera.

7. LUCKY Portable Fishing Camera

Brand	Brand LUCKY
Screen Size	Screen Size 4.3 inch / 10.9 cm
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 480 x 272
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 50 ft / 15 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 4 hours
Weight	Weight 2 lb / 950 g
Other Key Features	Other Key Features LED camera lights, 16 GB storage
Best For	Best For Kayaking and riverbank fishing

If you’re looking for something compact and portable, this DVR fishing camera from LUCKY might be the one. The monitor is compact. And you can use it handheld or attach it to your rod for easy viewing.

The screen resolution isn’t great. But it gives you a good underwater view. And its LED lights also help in dark waters.

The LUCKY DVR camera gives you a Live View. But you can also record videos. The monitor unit has 16 GB of memory for file storage. And you can view videos back on the monitor before sharing them on other devices.

You get a full four hours of battery life. And it gives you an excellent fishing experience if the water is clear.

8. Chasing Dory Underwater Drone

Brand	Brand CHASING DORY
Screen Size	Screen Size NA
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 50 ft / 15m
Battery Life	Battery Life 1 hour
Weight	Weight 4 lb / 1.8 kg
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Full HD video recording, built-in headlights, good companion app
Best For	Best For Underwater videos, short fishing times

The Chasing Dory underwater drone isn’t exactly a fishing camera. But the underwater drone can be used as a fish finder. It syncs to your smartphone with the Chasing GO2 mobile app. And the smartphone becomes a monitor and remote control.

You can also record videos and live stream fantastic fish footage. (You can check out our full list of the best streaming cameras.)

It’s a high-resolution camera. And the video quality is excellent at 1080p Full HD. You can dive to depths of 50 ft (15 m) for dramatic underwater viewing. Live stream quality is only 720p. But it still looks fabulous on a smartphone.

Finally, Chasing Dory‘s battery life is only one hour. So it may be enough for a lot of anglers.

9. XiLiHaLa Underwater Fishing Camera

Brand	Brand XiLiHaLa
Screen Size	Screen Size NA
Video Resolution	Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
Live View	Live View Yes
Waterproof Depth	Waterproof Depth 164 ft / 50 m
Battery Life	Battery Life 8 hours
Weight	Weight 3.3 lb / 1.5 kg
Other Key Features	Other Key Features Military-grade cable, ultra-wide viewing angle
Best For	Best For Sharing media on social media

This “smart fish finder” from XiLiHaLa is fantastic fun. And it helps you both catch fish and view the marine world. You can record videos, view live pictures, and use the camera for underwater live streaming. So it’s perfect for anglers on social media.

You sync the camera to your smartphone using the mobile app. And your phone becomes the camera monitor for live viewing.

The video quality is 1080p, which is Full HD. So it looks professional on a smartphone screen. The camera also gives you a 180-degree wide-angle view. So you won’t miss a fish!

It’s waterproof down to 164 ft (50 m). And the battery life gives you eight hours of underwater fun. The XiLiHaLa camera is cold-resistant and won’t freeze in icy water. So it is a good option for fishing under frozen water. And it can cope with open waters in colder climates.

Buyer’s Guide for the Best Underwater Fishing Camera

Finding the best underwater camera isn’t easy. Using an underwater fishing camera is unlike any other type of wildlife photography. There are many elements to consider. And different features are better suited to certain types of fishing.

The best underwater fishing camera must meet your angling needs. And it should give you the advantages you want when you’re at your favorite fishing spot.

We’ve highlighted some of the key features of the best underwater fishing cameras. We’ll give you the camera data and specs to look for. This info will help you decide on the best fishing camera to buy. And it’ll lead to more fish in your bucket!

What Video Quality and Frame Rate Do I Need?

Video quality is one of the most important specs for a fishing camera. The quality of the video is measured by pixel resolution. And this detail gives you an idea of the quality of footage you can expect from the underwater camera.

A resolution of 1080p is Full HD video quality. This is ideal for underwater fishing cameras. And if you can get 2160p (4K), that’s even better. Lower resolutions can still work well. But you want a high-quality resolution to give you a better view underwater with poor visibility.

The frame rate is the shooting speed of the video. It gives you an idea of how smooth the video will be. A 30 fps frame rate gives you smooth real-time footage. Anything less might lag. If you find 60 fps, you’ll have super-smooth underwater video.

What Monitor Resolution Should a Fishing Camera Have?

The monitor resolution determines how clear the underwater view is on your monitor. A bright monitor with a high image resolution gives you the best chance of seeing what’s beneath the surface. You have a clear view even in murkier waters.

A resolution of 800 x 480 is high definition (HD). It gives you a good view. But Full HD at 1080p is what you need to aim for with underwater cameras. A Full HD screen gives you a better chance of reeling in a monster fish.

Monitor size is another important aspect of a fishing camera setup. You want a screen big enough to display the fish in the water.

But you also want something compact and portable. Between four and seven inches is good for handheld options. But you can go for something bigger if you’re fishing on a boat.

Some underwater fishing cameras don’t have a monitor. These options need to be synced to your smartphone using a mobile app. Your smartphone then becomes the monitor. In this case, the screen size and resolution are determined by your phone.

Underwater Camera Lights

An underwater camera with built-in lights is beneficial for any angler. The deeper you go, the less light there is. And the lack of light hinders the effectiveness of your fishing camera. The built-in lights give you the illumination you need to spot fish in darker waters.

Built-in lights also help in dirty or cloudy water. And they’re essential in ice fishing. Thick ice blocks a lot of light. So your potential catch will be in the dark, just inches under the surface.

Look for an underwater camera with LED lights if you want to fish in deep waters or under the ice. Some will have bright LEDs. And others have infrared (IR) LEDs. Both work well in low-light situations.

Conclusion

The best underwater fishing camera is a game-changer for anglers. You’ll never finish a fishing trip empty-handed again. The fish will have nowhere to hide. And you’ll be taking them home to throw in the frying pan.

There are plenty of fishing cameras to choose from. And we’ve included fresh water and open ocean cameras in our list. But the Moorcor underwater fishing camera with DVR is our top choice. It gives you a high-resolution view underwater. So you can see live footage and record videos. And the LED lights illuminate the murky depths for a higher catch rate.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Underwater Fishing Camera

Moocor Underwater Fishing Camera with DVR

Eyoyo Underwater Fishing Camera

GoFish Cam

10 Best Fisheye Lenses in 2024 (Budget & High-End Options)

Nick Constant — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:12:53 +0000

Fisheye lenses are known to have issues with edge-to-edge sharpness. It’s difficult to make a lens element that deals with barrel distortion in an even manner. So today, we look at fisheye lenses that balance optical quality and price in the best way possible.

Out of all the fisheye lenses on the market, the Canon 8-15mm f/4L comes out on top. This may surprise you as it is an old lens. But its optical quality, solid build, and zoom function make this the perfect fisheye lens. Nikon has an almost identical lens, the Nikon AF-S FX 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5, so not to worry if you are a Nikon user!

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Fisheye Lens

Canon EF 8-15mm F/4L Fisheye USM

Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm F/3.5-4.5E ED

Tokina AT-X Fisheye AF 10-17mm F/3.5-4.5 IF DX NH for Nikon F

Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm F/3.5-4.5E ED

Nikon’s almost identical lens to our top choice. It deals with flares and ghosting extremely well.

What Is the Best Fisheye Lens?

Here’s a quick roundup table of the best fisheye lenses. We have included a range of options from high-end to budget options. We have fisheye lenses from many brands and for many cameras and formats, so one of these will be the best fisheye for you.

Our Top Choice

Canon EF 8-15mm F/4L Fisheye USM

Exceptional fisheye lens
Choose between circular or full-frame fisheye
Part of Canons L-series
Compatible with cropped-frame and full-frame cameras

Best Nikon Choice

Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm F/3.5-4.5E ED

Wide f/3.5 aperture for a wide-angle lens
Choose between circular or full-frame fisheye effect
Deals with flare and ghosting very well
Great build quality

Best Third-Party Lens

Tokina AT-X Fisheye AF 10-17mm F/3.5-4.5 IF DX NH for Nikon F

Great optical performance for value
Small and compact
Fast and reliable autofocus system
Good build quality

Best Prime Lens

Nikon DX 10.5mm f/2.8 ED Prime Lens

Lightweight and compact lens
Excellent optical performance from edge to edge
Wide aperture for a wide-angle prime lens
Smooth manual focus ring

Best 8mm Lens

Samyang 8mm F/2.8 UMC Fisheye II for Sony E

Superb sharpness from the max aperture
Lightweight but durable build
Great price for optical performance
Built-in lens hood for added protection

Great Third-Party

Sigma 15mm F/2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon F

Built-in protective hood
Compact and lightweight lens
Beautiful bokeh
Sharpness doesn't drop off at wide apertures

Best 12mm Lens

Samyang 12mm F/2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-eye for Sony E

Amazing optical performance for its price
Useful scales found on the lens barrel
Handles well and feels durable
Prevents ghosting and flares well

Great 8mm Lens

Sigma 8mm F/3.5 EX DG Circular Fisheye for Nikon F

Lightweight and compact
Extremely wide 8mm focal point
Great optical quality for a fair price
Superb autofocus performance

Great Value

7artisans 10mm f/2.8 E Prime Lens For Sony E-Mount

All parts build out of metal, very durable
Amazing optical performance for a fisheye
"Stepless" aperture ring
Smooth manual focus ring

Most Compact Lens

Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 G Prime Lens Micro Four Third

Extremely small and light
Good optical performance for small fisheye lens
Fast and reliable autofocus
Full manual focussing with accurate focus ring

1. Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L USM

Brand	Brand Canon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 4.0
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 8-15 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon EF
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Circular and Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 15 cm

The Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L is the best fisheye lens available today, even though Canon made it some years ago. The second option on this list, the Nikon AF-S FX 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5, has the same focal range. And it came out a few years later. But the Canon fisheye lens still takes the upper edge. This is thanks to its amazing optical sharpness, great build, and durability.

One of this lens’s main features? You can use its zoom to switch between a circular or full-frame fisheye view. You will also notice it is part of Canon’s L-series, which is their flagship professional range.

The Canon 8-15mm fisheye lens focal length is as wide as you will find in any photo lens. The lens has an easy-clean fluorine coating and a quiet and fast autofocus motor. Overall, it is the sharpest and most secure fisheye lens you will find on the market for full-frame cameras.

2. Nikon AF-S FX 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 ED

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 4.5
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 8-15 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Circular and Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 16 cm

The Nikon AF-S FX 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 is extremely close to its Canon rival. This fisheye lens also has a zoom function. It allows both circular and full-frame fisheye shooting. These fisheye lenses also have similar specifications like sharpness and performance. But the Nikon fisheye lens deals with flares and ghosting more efficiently.

You get an extra half of an aperture stop, which may be the deciding factor for some. And the fisheye lens gives sharp results from edge to edge, even with its widest f/3.5 aperture.

I am a big fan of the minimum focus distance of 16 cm. This allows even more creativity and experimentation with photography. You can get right up to your subject and view it differently. If you have one of Nikon’s full-frame cameras, you will enjoy using this lens.

3. Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DX

Brand	Brand Tokina
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 4.5
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 10-17 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 13.9 cm

Tokina’s 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DX is small and light, and you can find a mount for the major camera brands out there. Be aware that it is for crop sensor cameras. The price is why this lens is placed so far up our list. It isn’t too expensive. And it allows you to experiment with the fisheye effect without shedding a lot of money.

The zoom function gives you a full-frame fisheye throughout the various focal ranges. Having a zoom helps you crop your composition to the perfect frame. You can even get close to your subjects as the lens allows you to focus up close.

It is not as durable as the top two fisheye options, and you must ensure it doesn’t get knocked about too much. The lens also does not have autofocus for Nikon camera bodies that do not have a focus motor. If you’re looking for the best fisheye lenses for cheap, this is a great option.

4. Nikon DX 10.5mm f/2.8G ED

Brand	Brand Nikon
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 10.5 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 14 cm

The Nikon DX 10.5mm f/2.8G is another small, light fisheye lens for crop sensor cameras. And it has amazing abilities. The prime lens seems to include the whole world in the shot when you look through the viewfinder, especially as it has the diagonal fisheye effect. Its 180-degree field of view and full-frame cropping make it a spectacular fisheye lens.

The lens allows for a minimum focus distance of 14 cm. This is as close as some specialist macro lenses allow you to get. You can use these extreme close-ups in many effective ways to make exciting photos. The wide f/2.8 aperture makes it ideal for shooting in low-light situations.

The Nikon 10.5mm fisheye lens was the first ever fisheye Nikon made for DX cameras. You can tell the developers spent a lot of consideration over this lens. There hasn’t been another Nikon lens like it to come out since it hit the markets.

5. Samyang 8mm f/3.5

Brand	Brand Samyang
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 8 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony E
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 30 cm

The Samyang 8mm f/3.5 is one of the widest prime lenses on the photographic market. It is extremely small and light. So it won’t tire your arms when stuck on your DSLR. Samyang is a third-party camera brand, so you have the option to buy a different lens mount for your crop sensor cameras.

The lens is light but includes 11 elements for the best optical performance. And there is a six-diaphragm blade aperture. This ensures smooth bokeh when shooting at wide apertures. Playing with depth of field becomes much more emphasized on a fisheye lens, so this is important.

You can also control the aperture directly from the lens ring. This can be helpful for quick shooting where you don’t want to look away from the viewfinder. The manual focus ring works smoothly and is wide enough to give you added control. This can be helpful when trying to get up close to your subjects.

6. Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG

Brand	Brand Sigma
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 15 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 15 cm

Sigma comes onto this list with its digitally optimized full-frame Sigma 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. Sigma spent time refining its multi-layer coating to reduce ghosting and flares. This coating is prevalent in fisheye lenses. The Sigma lens also has a minimum shooting distance of 15 cm. This allows you to take close-up macro photography.

An interesting aspect of this lens is that it has a gelatin filter holder at the rear. It lets you use some filters on a fisheye lens. The front element is normally curved on fisheye lenses. So it’s very hard to use regular filters.

The Sigma 15mm is another small, light lens you can pick up for cheap. I am a fan of Sigma optics and find they are great for producing products like this fun fisheye lens.

7. Samyang 12mm f/2.8 ED

Brand	Brand Samyang
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 12 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony E
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 99.1 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 20 cm

The Samyang 12mm f/2.8 fisheye is a spectacular diagonal fisheye lens. Its bright and fast f/2 aperture is its selling point. It gives photographers the extra stop of light that may be crucial in certain situations. The lens also features a Nano Coating System. Samyang developed it specially for this lens. It dramatically reduces flares and ghosting.

The lens gives you a less dramatic diagonal fisheye effect than lenses further up this list. It does make lines converge at the edge of the frame. This means it is the perfect lens for a landscape lover, as the fisheye effect won’t be so noticeable. It is also best for those who want the fisheye effect to be manageable.

My favorite aspect is the smooth focus ring. A smooth focus ring goes a long way to make photographing in tricky situations easy.

8. Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG

Brand	Brand Sigma
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 3.5
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 8 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Circular
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 13.4 cm

Sigma has added to its ultra-wide angle lenses with this Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG circular fisheye lens. It is also one of the only full circular fisheye lenses on this list. Its f/3.5 aperture is fast for a wide-angle lens but doesn’t compare to the Samyang at position five in this list. Again, the lens features a multi-layer coating to reduce flares and ghosting.

Sigma claims this fisheye lens is great for scientific applications. That’s because the circular fisheye lens can photograph such a wide area. They claim it’s great to make solid angle measurements of cloud distribution over the sky. Or it’s ideal for capturing the vegetation distribution of a rainforest canopy.

It is a great option to pick if you like Sigma lenses. As the Samyang lens above is cheaper, I suggest going for that lens. But the Sigma 8mm still produces amazing fisheye photography images.

9. 7artisans 10mm f/2.8

Brand	Brand 7artisans
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 2.8
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 10 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 178 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 17 cm

7artisans lenses are known for being fairly basic. They have no autofocus abilities. But they always produce amazing optics. This is the same for the 7artisans 10mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. This fully manual lens is specifically designed as a third-party lens for mirrorless cameras.

Build quality is another factor people mention when talking about 7artisan lenses. The 10mm is built entirely out of solid metal parts. Surprisingly this doesn’t make the manual focus lens feel too heavy, but it may be one of the heaviest on this list.

The lens elements make for superb image quality for an ultra-wide angle lens. Honestly, the lack of autofocus features isn’t even a dealbreaker. Focusing with a wide-angle lens is easier and more meticulous than with a telephoto lens. You may even find it enjoyable and that it adds to the creativity offered by the best fisheye lenses.

10. Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 G

Brand	Brand Panasonic
Maximum Aperture	Maximum Aperture f/ 3.5
Focal Length Range	Focal Length Range 8 mm
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization
Fisheye Type	Fisheye Type Full Frame
Field of View	Field of View 180 degrees
Minimum Focus Distance	Minimum Focus Distance 10 cm

The Panasonic 8mm f/3.5 G is a fisheye lens for those with a Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camera. This lens allows photographers with this camera system to access a fisheye lens. The only downside is that this fisheye lens is quite expensive. But it does have an amazing optical performance.

The Panasonic lens is quite light and well-built. This means it will suit your Micro Four Thirds camera well without being too front-heavy. The lens doesn’t feature a distance scale or focus limiter. But this usually isn’t too much of an issue. One aspect that you may miss is image stabilization.

Overall, it is a great diagonal fisheye lens and fills a gap for any Panasonic Micro Four Thirds photographer. The price dampens things, but it is worth it if you want this particular effect.

What Is a Fisheye Lens?

Fisheye lenses produce a unique effect found in ultra-wide angle lenses. And you can use a fisheye in many genres, from landscapes to fashion and action or sports photography. A fisheye lens is great in the kitbag if you want to add more creativity to your shooting.

A fisheye lens is an ultra wide-angle optic that gives you the largest field of view available. A fisheye lens should give you at least a 180-degree field of view. The interesting aspect of a fisheye is that it isn’t a panoramic view you are trying to photograph. Instead, the straight lines converge and warp in a circular pattern.

This phenomenon is usually called “barrel distortion.” You will often read about how lenses do their best to minimize this effect. But a fisheye lens embraces this distortion and pushes it to the max.

This means you should avoid fisheye lenses for official documentation. And don’t use it for photos where you want real aspect ratios to match up. But this makes them perfect for the artists and creatives out there.

Circular or Full Frame Fisheye lenses?

You will notice that fisheye lenses come in two formats—circular and full frame. These formats tell us how our images will look when we shoot fisheye photography.

A circular fisheye lens will have a black border around a circular image in the middle of your frame. Full-frame fisheye lenses cover your entire frame like a normal lens. The full frame effect can be referred to as a diagonal fisheye effect.

These two fisheye formats are circular or full frames, depending on their construction. Any photographic lens provides a field of view for the camera sensor to see.

Although we think of pictures as rectangles, the light comes through a circular lens. So a circular covering power is projected into the camera. But the camera’s sensor is rectangular. So you always see a rectangle. If the lens covering power is smaller than the sensor size, you get a circular fisheye effect.

Conclusion: The Best Fisheye Lens

There are a few options available when looking at the best fisheye lenses. Consider your budget and camera format before buying. The top two options are the best all-rounders for full-frame cameras. That’s because you can flip between a circular or full-frame fisheye.

You can apply the fisheye effect in many situations. But as a commercial photography lens, it also falls short. It can’t achieve an accurate depiction of a situation that commercial jobs often need. So before you buy, be conscious about what kind of photographs you will take. If you are a skate photographer, a fisheye is a must-have, so don’t delay picking one up.

Overall, the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L fisheye “takes the bait.” It has amazing optical quality and features. Choose this lens if you are a Canon photographer with a big budget. The Nikon AF-S FX 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5 fisheye lens is equally good if you are a Nikon photographer.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Fisheye Lens

Canon EF 8-15mm F/4L Fisheye USM

Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm F/3.5-4.5E ED

Tokina AT-X Fisheye AF 10-17mm F/3.5-4.5 IF DX NH for Nikon F

Nikon AF-S Fisheye NIKKOR 8-15mm F/3.5-4.5E ED

Nikon’s almost identical lens to our top choice. It deals with flares and ghosting extremely well.

The Easy Guide to Photographing Artwork (Best Settings & Tips)

Janet Dwyer — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 11:31:08 +0000

Do you have paintings at home that you’d like to share online? Or what if you’re going to the museum and want to take photos of the art? You’d be surprised, but photographing artwork can be quite challenging.

Don’t worry, that’s only if you don’t know what you’re doing. We have a few tips to help you capture masterpieces with professional results.

Stability And Versatility

Neewer 77 Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head

Capture stunning shots of artwork with ease using a versatile, lightweight tripod that can be adjusted to any height and angle. Perfect for photographers seeking stability and flexibility in their equipment.

Best Camera for Photographing Artwork

Some galleries and museums might use high-quality digitalizing techniques using digital medium format cameras. But most people don’t need this highly specialized equipment.

A digital SLR or mirrorless camera is the right choice for most people looking to shoot artwork. Compact cameras with manual controls will also usually work.

If you don’t have a DSLR, a high-end smartphone can do the job if you don’t require large file sizes and detailed images. But it would help if you use a third-party app that allows you to set manual adjustments to get the best results.

Camera Settings

Settings are crucial to achieving the highest quality if you want to photograph art. Here are some of the adjustments you need to make before you press the shutter.

Use Low ISO to Minimize Image Noise

To achieve the cleanest look, turn off your Auto ISO Setting. Then pick the lowest ISO, which is usually 100.

A higher setting like 1600 is excellent for shooting in dim lighting but will give grainy results. That’s not suitable for reproducing artwork, especially because color accuracy and sharpness matter a lot!

Switch to a Narrow Aperture for Sharp Results

We know that using a wide aperture such as f/1.2 or f/1.4 creates a shallow depth of field. But that’s not an issue when photographing paintings because the canvas is flat.

Nonetheless, it would still be ideal to choose a narrow aperture such as f/11 or f/16. That way, you can ensure that even the most minute details stay sharp.

To guarantee your aperture value doesn’t change, select aperture priority mode.

Use White Balance and Color Management for Accurate Representation

Most digital cameras have a white balance control on the camera body or within its menu. The user can select settings from cloudy to sunny or flash to tungsten. They even have the option to choose Auto or Custom to match the scene’s lighting.

Many variables affect color balance in every step of the process. Using the custom white balance is an easy first step to managing image color.

A color checker is a handy tool for managing color if you are looking for an even more accurate result. It has panels of various colors, which you can use as a reference to correct your white balance.

You should also calibrate your monitor. Check your monitor’s color quality, contrast, and brightness. These steps are crucial to truly represent the qualities of an artwork.

Lighting for Artwork Photography

The standard lighting setup for photographing flat art uses two identical lights. You can position them at 45 degrees to each side in front of the painting.

These two lights need to match in wattage or output and be the same distance from the center of the artwork.

This lighting method provides an even wash of shadowless light. One light cancels out the shadows cast by the other light.

A setup like this requires quite a large room to get the lights far enough away from the artwork. If they are too close, you might see glare on the edges of your painting. Try moving the lights farther apart to reduce glare. Or use a longer focal length lens, like an 80-100mm lens. This puts the camera farther from the subject and helps eliminate glare.

You can bounce lights off neutral side walls or massive pieces of white foam core. Or you can diffuse them through white material for a softer look with reduced glare.

What if your artwork is behind glass? You can eliminate reflections by using black foam core in front of the camera lens.

Try not to mix your lighting sources. If shooting indoors with artificial lights, block off the windows. If you’re using natural window light, turn off any artificial lights inside.

Using artificial lighting offers consistent results. It’s also easier to adjust the white balance afterward. Natural light, however, is continuously changing in quality, brightness, and color temperature.

Many artists still get great results from photographing their work using natural light. This method works best indoors in a bright room with windows and neutral-colored walls. Apart from that, you should have enough space to set up a tripod several feet back from the artwork.

How to Photograph Artwork

Prepare the Scene Before the Shoot

Start by hanging your art on a neutral-colored wall. White, grey, or black often works. But remember that shooting in a room with bright-colored walls can skew the color balance of your photo.

Positioning the art in a vertical orientation makes it easier to have evenly balanced lighting across the work, especially if your primary source is coming from one side.

You can then rotate your photo in post-production to achieve the correct orientation.

If the work has a framing wire, hang it at a comfortable height and make sure it’s flat against the wall. If necessary, use spacers made of cardboard or foam core behind each corner to make sure it’s flush against the wall.

Use a level to check that your art is vertical. Then set up your camera so its lens height matches the center of the artwork. Get a measuring tape to keep everything straight, don’t eyeball it.

A sturdy tripod is essential for sharp photos and accurate squaring of the artwork. Use a cable release, mirror lock-up, or the self-timer to eliminate all camera movement.

Check the level on your camera screen again to ensure it’s parallel to the shooting wall. When both the camera back and artwork are parallel to each other, the perspective should be close to correct. This also minimizes distortion.

Get as close as possible, leaving only a small amount of space around the edges of your artwork. You can crop this out later.

You can hold prints in place by attaching a large thin sheet of metal to your wall. Then use small magnets on the corners of the photograph. Remove the magnets later in post-processing.

You could also lean them up on a stiff board slanted against the wall and then parallel the camera back to this board. This method works if the prints are all the same size. If size varies a lot, then it is much easier to square up the work keeping everything in a vertical plane.

Photo by Medhat Ayad from Pexels

Consider the Direction and Quality of Light

Are you using window light as your primary source? Then position a large white piece of foam core on the opposite side of the window beside the painting. Doing so bounces some of the window light back to balance out the darker side of the work.

You can control the texture by changing the distance of the whiteboard from the work. You can also adjust the range of your work to the window.

Check out the diagram and samples below for a lighting setup to show more texture in a painting. Notice where the shadows in the image on the right are falling. This tells you where the light is coming from (in this case, from above).

I rotated the painting on its side, and the stronger lighting came from the left side. In post, I switched the image back to the correct orientation.

I think that the shadows look most natural on this painting when the lighting comes from above.

Use a Grey Card to Capture Colors Accurately

Including a white or grey card in one of your photos gives you a known reference point. You can use this while editing to clean up any color cast present.

If you use an “eyedropper” to read various tones in your photo editor, the neutral colors will have equal RGB numerical readouts. For example, pure white is 255 255 255, neutral mid-grey is about 120 120 120, while a very dark grey might read 50 50 50.

The point is that they are close to the same value, indicating no color cast is present. In theory, when neutral colors are neutral, other tones will be more accurate as well.

Take a photo of the entire artwork and check that the exposure is correct. The best way to do this is to use your in-camera histogram. Usually, pressing “Display” in Review Mode will bring it up.

The histogram is a display of the tonal range in your photo. It should be roughly centered on a normal-toned subject. You can use the histogram in your image editing program to check exposure and contrast while working.

Check Focus and Shoot Fine Details

Expand the photo to 100% on your camera or computer screen. Check the focus at the center and in all four corners. Check your framing is as square as possible. You can use the Crop or Perspective tool for slight adjustments and squaring.

Consider moving in closer for a detailed shot rather than cropping or enlarging the overall picture. Doing so will give you much better sharpness and showcase the fine details of your work. It is also often a requirement for entering gallery exhibitions or contests.

Tips for Editing Images of Artwork

Use an image editing program to crop, remove distortion, retouch, and color-correct your image. Photoshop is the industry standard, and GIMP is the best free editor available. Most image editors like iPhoto will work with TIFF or JPEG. (For RAW files, you will need to use a RAW converter.)

Be sure to archive your original camera files and work on a duplicate. Do all your retouching on this master file at 50 or 100% magnification. When finished, make a copy, then resize this copy to the exact pixel size you need. Save it as a high-quality JPEG.

The JPEG is much smaller due to compression but still the most accepted format. Remember to save your image with the appropriate profile, sRGB or Adobe RGB.

Avoid resaving a JPEG and resetting the quality level more than once, as this affects sharpness. You may need to add a little sharpening if you have resized the file.

Make sure to check sharpening effects at 100% and 50%, but don’t overdo it. You can always add more sharpening later, but too much will make the image look jagged.

Conclusion

Most of us have taken photos of artwork at one point or another. If you want to get the best results, make sure you follow the steps we showed you.

Photographing artwork is quite simple, but it relies less on luck and more on techniques you can replicate from one painting to another. And with the techniques in this article, you’ll get perfect shots of paintings every time!

Stability And Versatility

Neewer 77 Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head