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Bower Lenses?

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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
I can get some bower lenses pretty cheap, but I don’t know anything about them or if they make quality lenses or what. I would be using them on a 7d. Feedback appreciated.

Thx
May 27 2010 12:30AM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
i bought an insanely cheap one at a small illegitimate store in this massive mall and it blew really bad, one of these metal rings came out and it basically fell apart in my hands.. but it was for a camcorder, maybe their bigger lenses are better?? dunno dude, thats my experience with bower....

on a completely unrelated note, i will be attending the fine week of session 4.
May 27 2010 12:44AM
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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
haha sick. thanks for the input bro. guess i’ll see you there!!
May 27 2010 10:04AM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399

Its up to you if you want to go the budget route, but with such a nice camera like the 7d it would be a shame to pair it with lesser quality glass

cellphone cam lens > bower

May 28 2010 7:53AM
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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
aight thanks. they were extremely cheap so i wasnt sure. wont be getting one.
May 28 2010 10:12AM
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Coalescent
Posts: 4871 - Karma: 2,063

IMO if it's what you can afford and don't see yourself spending more on a higher quality lens due to financial reasons for a while, it doesn't look bad as far as the 8mm fisheye goes. 

http://vimeo.com/videos/search:Rokinon%207d

There's a link to rokinon fisheye with the 7d (video).  Rokinon is the same as bower.

May 28 2010 10:23AM
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japollner
Posts: 1699 - Karma: 459
The Bower 8mm and the Bower 500mm Mirror are both pretty good lenses for the money.  Dont expect miracles, but the optics on those two imparticular provide a great lens for not alot of cash IF you are shooting video with it. 
May 28 2010 11:54AM
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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
aight thanks for the input guys. i was thinkin about gettin a fisheye and i can get it for aboot 300$. should i drop an extra 300 and get a sigma fish??
May 28 2010 1:56PM
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japollner
Posts: 1699 - Karma: 459
I would not.  On the crop sensor of the 7d, the corners will retain more sharpness than on a full frame body.  The Bower will be fine.
May 28 2010 3:28PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399
Im glad others have had better luck then ive had with bower, and watching videos shows better quality then I expected. When i have shot with borrowed bower it just felt cheap to me, had horrible flaring and sharpness issues, and overall just felt like a cheap product. For video it seems like some problems can be avoided, but most people with a HDSLR shoot photos too. It seems quality is being more and more overlooked when it comes to lenses, my rule of thumb as a beginner photographer/videographer is "buy nice so you dont buy twice". Bower doesnt fit into that for me.
May 28 2010 5:26PM
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ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
alright guys I think i might avoid these lenses, as i’m not on THAT tight of a budget. what would you guys recommend for about 600-800, or less??
May 29 2010 12:49AM
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