Review on Opteka 6 5Mm Fisheye Digital Cameras by Omar Malvo

I really enjoy using this lens but it has mechanical quality issues. Optically, it performs quite well for a new sub-$150 lens. Pros: Works with all three of my Nikon DSLRs. The focus ring is smooth, the lens barrel and the optics are very good for the price. Excellent color rendering, good contrast, acceptable sharpness. Cons: The petal hood is flimsy and doesn't stay in place. I had to use black tape to hold it in place. A small issue compared to the next, aperture. The aperture ring has detents and rotates easily. The problem lies with the diaphragm blades themselves. There are many tolerances in the mechanical construction of the diaphragm. If you look at it as it closes, you'll notice that the slats close unevenly, causing the opening to be off-centre. At certain openings, the petals flatten out to create a medium opening, then become jagged again as you stop further down. I'm uneven from F/5.6-F/11. As a result, I tend to shoot mine wide open. At this focal length, it's easy to get a large depth of field, making the lens quite usable. Problems can arise in very bright light. I would have wished for a slightly better mechanism, but I see the price realistically compared to a comparable Nikon lens.