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(More customer reviews)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.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon FCE9 Fisheye Converter Lens for Coolpix 5400, 5700, 8700, 8400 & 8800 Digital Cameras (requires converter adapter)
An outstanding extreme wide angle "Fisheye" lens / For use with the Coolpix 8700 and other cameras as specified
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