fisheye lens

American  

noun

Photography.

1. a hemispherical plano-convex lens for photographing in a full 180° in all directions in front of the camera, creating a circular image having an increasing amount of distortion from the center to the periphery.

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fisheye lens British  

/ ˈfɪʃˌaɪ /

noun

1. photog a lens of small focal length, having a highly curved protruding front element, that covers an angle of view of almost 180°. It yields a circular image having considerable linear distortion

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Etymology

Origin of fisheye lens

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Although part-comedic, filmed using a go-pro strapped to his head and a distorting fisheye lens, it is the simple intense authenticity of the emotion that keeps eyes watching and his fanbase growing.

From BBC • May 23, 2024

The recurring use of a fisheye lens for no discernible reason!—that the story is sometimes hard to discern beneath the layers of crenellated fondant.

From Slate • Nov. 19, 2018

She bopped to the music in front of a fisheye lens while wearing a giant inflated trash bag, hoop earrings and gold sunglasses in the shape of a wraparound helmet.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2017

In this Monday, July 18, 2016, photograph taken with a fisheye lens, Denver Police Department officers head out in their patrol car after role call for the swing shift in District 6 in downtown Denver.

From US News • Jul. 19, 2016

As for why night vision didn’t make it in the first time around, you can blame that on the design of the fisheye lens, says Piper creator Russell Ure.

From The Verge • Jan. 21, 2015