Hi--

>>A 15mm can shoot a bit more than 90 degrees on the horizontal - very
>>wide for a rectangular lens, but maybe not wide enough to show much
>>if you are too close to a very wide subject (or trying to show an entire
>>interior...). People holler at the curves, but an 8mm on a
>>1.4X converter can show about 180 degrees horizontal (a full-frame
>>fisheye, maybe 120 degrees?). Another option shoot verticals with
>>the 20mm carefully leveled, with shots spaced so that they overlap maybe
>>1/2 frame wide - then paste prints together to approximate a
>>cylindrical-perspective image. BTW, my opinion of people who complain
>>of the "distortion" of fisheyes is that they just aren't very
>>sophisticated visually (spherical [fisheye] perspective actually
>>is the perspective we see in, but we have been led to believe
>>otherwise....;-).

>Thanx for the prompt reply, David. Actually the next step is to talk with
>the Habitat attorney -- I'm going to show him shots taken with each and see
>whether the fisheye shots will fly as evidence in a trial, hearing or
>refereed proceeding. The feedback I've gotten so far leads me to believe
>that it won't. Juries, judges and other such folks most likely fall into
>the "visually unsophisticated" category you mentioned.

Yes, alas... Also, nothing but a "normal" lens may be acceptable legally
(the sophistication level is that low), leaving it impossible to shoot
in one (very informative, about relationships...) photo very much at all!
Let me know what you find, but I expect even the 20mm is unacceptable.

>Another poster suggested a Widelux or equivalent. I suppose if I can find
>one cheaply enough, it'd be a solution, but I've had some success with the
>Sigma 14mm and I'm tempted to try that first at it fits my budget better
>than the Nikkor 15mm.
Don Atzberger

I think there would be the same problem of unsophistication in the
potential viewer - as I understand it, legal photos must look "honest"
and un-arty/manipulated/unusual to pass (much as we know that ALL photos
lie! - but it's the IMPRESSION of truth-telling they are after... [it's
not the reality that is of interest, but the IMAGE of reality that is
important {it's the usual valuing of salesmanship over truth-telling...}]).