OT:Wide-Angle Lense Covertors

mhbstevens wrote on 8/23/2004, 12:52 PM

I have two questions about wide-angle lense converter use. The first is I wonder why when so much video is shot in wide-angle and when almost everyone uses a wide-angle converter, that stock cameras do not come with shorter focal lenght lenses.

Secondly, all the manuals I have read say to only use a wide-angle converter with the camera lense at full wide-angle itself; i.e. do not zoom with a wide-angle converter. However for ease of use I shoot with my wide-angle convertor attached nearly all the time and see no bad effects. What's the consensus?

Comments

epirb wrote on 8/23/2004, 2:59 PM

sort of interested in these comments too... But there are w/a lens' that are called zoom thru, that have different optics that allow you adjust the zoom level without getting the distortion or focus problems you get with a standard W/A lens.
I remmeber seeing a post here to a link that had some guy showing the different effects ie fisheye,barrel distort. etc ,
Ill see if I can find it again

farss wrote on 8/23/2004, 3:06 PM

Look up Raynox, their site has some good examples. It's mostly the extreme WA lenses that only work with the main lens held wide.

If you're careful you can get around this problem, two takes, one with and one withour WA adaptor and cut them together. Need a VERY solid tripod though.

Bob.

RalphM wrote on 8/23/2004, 7:02 PM

Using a VX2000 and the Pro series Kenko .65X, the full zoom range of the VX2K seems to be without problems. I believe the resulting image to be a little softer than tha native VX2K's, and the consensus seems to be that the Century WA is the best available in the prosumer market.

The Kenko has very little barrel distortion, but I do not leave it on the camera all the time since is weighs about a pound and tends to make the set up front heavy.

There is an added benefit in that the WA lens adds some light gathering ability, and when shooting a dimly lighted wedding reception, there was a noticeable difference with the WA on board. At about 45% the cost of the Centruy, I'm satisfied with my purchase.

riredale wrote on 8/24/2004, 12:06 AM

I use the very popular Canon wide-angle lens on my VX2000. It's the WD-58 (58mm thread) and it was only about $120 on eBay. Very nice, sharp, and zoomthrough.

Getting back to the original question: I think these lenses aren't built-in because they add so much weight and bulk to the camera, and in addition they deliver barrel distortion at the widest settings.

craftech wrote on 8/24/2004, 1:22 PM

I also use the WD-58 on my VX2000. It works well, but not as sharp as the original Sony built in lens.

John

Liam_Vegas wrote on 8/24/2004, 2:16 PM

I am now VERY careful about using the sony supplied wide-angle lens on my PD-170. The image gets VERY soft if you use anywhere near the full zoom with the wide-angle attached.

Bottom line... use the wide-angle when you need to.. take it off if you need to zoom.

I don't know how other wide-angle lenses stack up.. but I was VERY disappointed with the experience on the one supplied with the PD170.