OT: Advice on Century Optics Fisheye le

Cliff Etzel wrote on 12/29/2008, 9:15 AM

Although I don't shoot skateboarding or other Xtreme sports, I have been intrigued by the Century Precision Optics Mark II 0.3x Ultra Fish-eye Adapter Lens for my pair of SONY HC7's.

I shoot the gamut of web video ads, wedding documentary videos, etc. I'm not sure I would have a use for this lens - yet. But I wanted to see if anyone has this lens and what they use it for - do you get much use out of it?

Thanks and Happy New Year - let's hope 2009 is a better year for all of us :)

Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt | solo video journalism blog

Comments

Jeff_Smith wrote on 12/29/2008, 12:24 PM

I have that lens, it is fantastic, but I am considering selling it. Have you checked that it will work on your camera. It won't on my HV30. I called century optics and they confirmed i t will not work on my HV30 and they said they do not have a date on their new series for small HD camcorders. They said it would be almost twice as big.

richard-amirault wrote on 12/29/2008, 1:51 PM

I don't have that lens, so I can't comment on it .. but ..

Years ago (like 10 or 15 or more) I bought a cheap fish eye adaptor for a video camera .. with the intention (since I didn't have a camcorder at the time) of using it on a 35mm SLR. I messed around with it a bit ..but it soon ended up in the bottom of my camera bag .. not to see the light of day in years.

About six months ago I bought a nice 3 chip camcorder with a really big lens. Some months after that I came across the fish eye .. and the thread size MATCHED my new camcorder. So I tried it .. and it worked :-))

It's not a great lens .. heck, it's likely not even a good lens .. but it does work and I've used it on one shoot so far already. It's just something else in my "tool box" that's nice to have the option for.

PS using a fish eye on a camcorder requires you think differently and use your camera in ways you never could with a standard lens.

Jeff_Smith wrote on 12/29/2008, 2:21 PM

I called (http://www.schneideroptics.com) because I want know what to do with my MkII

While the Mark II will work with your camera it was not intended for HD. They now have the new 43mm for HD which I believe you will need a step ring. The glass is different. They just knocked $100 off the list price.

I held my MkII up to my HV30 and I have to zoom through it a bit to avoid seeing the side of the lens. I could buy a step ring and zoom through it, but wit hthe ring I would have to zoom through even more. I might see if I can try the ring before I sell it.

Cliff Etzel wrote on 12/29/2008, 4:18 PM

Jeff - where did you see this new 43mm thread mount lens for HD? I couldn't find it on Schneider's website

Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt | solo video journalism blog

Jeff_Smith wrote on 12/29/2008, 4:24 PM

I believe it is this one:
.3X ULTRA FISHEYE HD 43MM 0HD-FEWA-43
http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1506&IID=6712

It was under the CanonHV30 cams