WA-H58 lens hood / sun shade

[Andrew Taylor]

I got a used Canon WA-H58 wide angle lens for my XA-20 but the petal-shaped hood / sun shade was not included in the deal.

There are plenty of cheap (Chinese), screw-on hoods offered on eBay, but the hood that comes with the lens seems to be somewhat different, based on the pics below.

First, there is something on one of the corners that seems to be a little window and window cover of sorts (circled in the first picture). Then, the original lens seems to have a metal screw (circled in the second picture). None of the chinese-made hoods have these features.

Does any of you have, or have used, one of these lenses? Would a generic sun shade do? I haven't had any luck finding the original one, either from eBay or from Canon.

[Don Palomaki]

Just a guess - I don't have the adapter.

The thumb screw looks like it is used to tighten a clamp to hold the hood on the lens. (Both the GL1 and XH-A1 used it on the stock hood).

The notional port may be to work on some other system that uses the open for IAF or other sensors.

The only question with generics is whether or not they will vignette.

[Andrew Taylor]

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

The thumb screw looks like it is used to tighten a clamp to hold the hood on the lens. (Both the GL1 and XH-A1 used it on the stock hood).

You may be right. Looking at the picture, it seems like the hood goes around the rim of the lens, not into a thread like the generic ones.

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

The notional port may be to work on some other system that uses the open for IAF or other sensors.

I thought this lens was designed specifically for the XA20/25 (unlike the WD series lenses, which I understand are for the XA10). I haven't noticed a sensor in that area on the XA20/25

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

The only question with generics is whether or not they will vignette.

I had the same thought. The "petals" in the generics marketed for this lens seem to be longer than the stock hood, which may get into the frame and create a vignette effect.

There are Canon hoods, like the EW-83E (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Lens_Hood.html) that have shorter "petals", but they don't seem to be compatible with the lens on the XA20 (most of those hoods are bayonet)

[Don Palomaki]

FWIW:

The XA10 manual lists the WD-H58W as the Wide converter for it.
The XA20/25 lists the WA-H58

The GL1 manual did not list a an accessory WA converter/adapter in the manual
The GL2 manual lists the WD-58H

[Chris Hurd]

Andrew

There are four such adapters:

WA-H58 (focal length x 0.75, non-zoomthrough, focus at full wide only) (attachment)
WA-H58W (focal length x 0.8, non-zoomthrough, focus at full wide only) (attachment)

WD-H58 (focal length x 0.7, full zoomthrough, focus at any focal length) (converter)
WD-H58W (focal length x 0.8, full zoomthrough, focus at any focal length) (converter)

There's only one lens hood for these adapters. It is clamped to the adapter using a thumbscrew. The adapter itself is threaded onto the front of the camcorder.

The little square port at one corner of the hood is there to accommodate the instant-autofocus sensor present on some Canon camcorders that use these adapters.

Call 1-800-OK-CANON (that's 652-2666 which is good for USA and Canada). Speak to a live human being and ask for replacement parts service. Tell them you have the WA-H58 and just need the lens hood for it. Ask them to check under WA-H58W if they can't find it. The "W suffix" models are newer than the "non-W suffix" models. If they still can't find this part, as them to check under WD-H58W as well. They all use the same lens hood (although the old WD-H58 did not actually ship with a hood).

Somewhere at Canon Inc. in Japan there is a box full of these spare lens hoods. The only question is, how to get one to you. I hope their North American office can help.

If they can't, there is an alternative.

B&H sells a generic hood made by Cavision that will fit your adapter with a slight modification. Here is the link:

Cavision LH-77 Lens Hood for 77mm OD Lenses at B&H Photo Video

Read through the reviews there and you will see that some folks have used this hood to replace a missing Canon WA/WD-H58 hood. Now the outside diameter of your adapter is just a hair over 77mm. Check it with a micrometer if possible. You will have to carefully file/ream/sand the inside of the Cavision hood ring as described in those notes to get it to fit, but it's certainly workable if you cannot find a replacement from Canon.

Good luck!

[Andrew Taylor]

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

There are four such adapters:

WA-H58 (focal length x 0.75, non-zoomthrough, focus at full wide only) (attachment)
WA-H58W (focal length x 0.8, non-zoomthrough, focus at full wide only) (attachment)

WD-H58 (focal length x 0.7, full zoomthrough, focus at any focal length) (converter)
WD-H58W (focal length x 0.8, full zoomthrough, focus at any focal length) (converter)

Thank you for the detailed response. I didn't know there was a "W" version of the WA series, as I haven't seen it advertised elsewhere (I just noticed the Canon website does list that lens, though).

What would the difference be between an attachment and a converter? The ability to focus at any focal length?

And if the WA series can only be used with the camcorder in the full wide position, I wonder how you would deal with vignetting (something I expected to occur; but I was going to deal with it through a slight zoom in).

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

There's only one lens hood for these adapters. It is clamped to the adapter using a thumbscrew. The adapter itself is threaded onto the front of the camcorder.

So all the cheap chinese ones advertised on eBay as compatible with this lens would not work, because all of them use a thread to attach to the lens

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Call 1-800-OK-CANON (that's 652-2666 which is good for USA and Canada). Speak to a live human being and ask for replacement parts service.

I sent them an email and this is what I got:
"I have confirmed with my product specialist and unfortunately the lens hood for WA-H58 wide angle lens is only supplied at the time of purchase and is not available as a separate part."
"Unfortunately, Canon does not recommend any third party products."

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

B&H sells a generic hood made by Cavision that will fit your adapter with a slight modification.

I noticed the original sunshade has a lot of space between the circumference of the lens, and the actual "petals" (the sides of the sunshade). I can see how this can help keep the sides of the sunshade out of the frame, reducing (or eliminating) vignetting. I don't see that on other sunshades: normally the sides of the hood start barely a couple of millimeters outside the circumference of the lens.

[Don Palomaki]

What would the difference be between an attachment and a converter? The ability to focus at any focal length?

Wide angle adapters (or attachments in the above posts) are generally partial zoom-thru (normally at the wide end only for wide angle adapters), and lower cost.

Wide angle converters are generally full zoom-thru. They are more complicated optics and tend to cost more.

[Andrew Taylor]

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

Wide angle adapters (or attachments in the above posts) are generally partial zoom-thru (normally at the wide end only for wide angle adapters), and lower cost.

Wide angle converters are generally full zoom-thru. They are more complicated optics and tend to cost more.

Interesting. So if the "WD" series lenses (for the XA10 / HF G20) are converters, they would be more practical or flexible to use (with their full zoom-through capability).

Since the "WD" series is also 58mm, any reason why they wouldn't work on the XA20? Would the wide angle lens be designed in a way that it does not interact nicely with the lens on the camcorder? (maybe the curvature of the lens, maybe something else?)

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

What would the difference be between an attachment and a converter? The ability to focus at any focal length?

Yes. The WD model is a converter. With it, you can focus at any focal length. The WA model is an attachment. With it, you can focus only when zoomed out to full wide angle.

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

I wonder how you would deal with vignetting (something I expected to occur; but I was going to deal with it through a slight zoom in).

I'm not too sure about that. You'll have to check out the customer reviews on the WA and see if any vignetting has been reported.

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

So all the cheap chinese ones advertised on eBay as compatible with this lens would not work, because all of them use a thread to attach to the lens

Well, let's make sure we're talking about the same things.

To me, "lens" refers to the camcorder lens, and yes the adapters attach to the camcorder lens via the lens filter threads. The hood itself attaches to the adapter with a thumbscrew clamp... not threads. I haven't seen the Chinese versions on Ebay that you're referring to... do you have a link?

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

I sent them an email and this is what I got: "I have confirmed with my product specialist and unfortunately the lens hood for WA-H58 wide angle lens is only supplied at the time of purchase and is not available as a separate part."

Bah. It's mildly aggravating that they won't SKU it up in their system. In my opinion that's just laziness and Canon isn't the only manufacturer to suffer from this. The whole point of the hood -- besides reducing optical glare -- is to protect the adapter. With heavy use, chances are strong that it's eventually going to get cracked, broken, or lost. It *should* be available as a replacement part. You can easily purchase replacement hoods and caps for all Canon EF and EF-S still photo lenses. There's no real reason why this adapter hood should be any different. I'll bet you could get one in Japan without too much trouble.

[Andrew Taylor]

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Well, let's make sure we're talking about the same things.

To me, "lens" refers to the camcorder lens, and yes the adapters attach to the camcorder lens via the lens filter threads. The hood itself attaches to the adapter with a thumbscrew clamp... not threads. I haven't seen the Chinese versions on Ebay that you're referring to... do you have a link?

You're right, I meant the adapter. I use this string to search on eBay:

58 (hood, sunshade, sun shade) (petal, tulip, flower)

...and I get hoods like this one:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/111803789711

http://g03.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1h9V8K...Lens-Black.jpg

Knowing now that the original sunshade comes with a thumbscrew, I should remove the "58" (as in 58mm) from my search string.

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

You can easily purchase replacement hoods and caps for all Canon EF and EF-S still photo lenses. There's no real reason why this adapter hood should be any different. I'll bet you could get one in Japan without too much trouble.

I've seen several original Canon replacement hoods for different lenses. A number of them seem to be a "twist-and-lock" system, and not enough information is given in terms of the inside diameter (to see if they could work with the WA series adapter).

Here's one, for instance:
EW-83E
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...Lens_Hood.html

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

hoods like this one: 58mm Flower Shape Lens Hood Screw Mount Petal Crown FOR Canon DC SN Hood Lens E | eBay

There are no filter threads at the front of the adapter, so that type of hood won't work, sorry. Besides, the petals on that one appear to be too deep and would probably intrude into your field of view.

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

I've seen several original Canon replacement hoods for different lenses. A number of them seem to be a "twist-and-lock" system, and not enough information is given in terms of the inside diameter (to see if they could work with the WA series adapter).

Sorry but those won't work either. All Canon EF and EF-S lenses for which those hoods are made (except for their monster super-telephoto primes) have mounting lugs around the front rim of the lens to accommodate the twist & lock function of the hoods. The WD and WA series adapters don't have those lugs, though.

I still think the Cavision hood at B&H is going to be your best bet, since there's feedback about it from folks who are using it for the exact same purpose as yours: Cavision LH-77 Lens Hood for 77mm OD Lenses at B&H Photo Video

[Andrew Taylor]

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Besides, the petals on that one appear to be too deep and would probably intrude into your field of view.

That's what I thought too. The petals on the stock sunshade seem to be shorter, and also they are further apart from the circumference of the lens, most probably to stay out of the field of view.

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

I still think the Cavision hood at B&H is going to be your best bet, since there's feedback about it from folks who are using it for the exact same purpose as yours:

Looks like it. Any advantage or disadvantage of using a rectangular hood as opposed to a petal/flower/tulip/lotus one?

[Chris Hurd]

In my opinion, in this case I don't think there's any real disadvantage to this Cavision hood... it's just a matter of making it fit.

[Don Palomaki]

FWIW:

Per this post the Cavision LH77 requires some "sanding" to fit the converter/adapter lens, and the tightening screw may mar the outside of your attachment.

The Cavision LH80 does not require sanding, but will need some thin shimming to ensure a good fit. This can be a thin piece of plastic and can also cover the tightening screw to prevent marring the attachment. The lip inside the LH80 mount that is intended to prevent the lens attachment from sliding through the hood is a bit larger than the WD-H58* attachments OD so care is needed when installing to ensure proper fit.

In either case the WD-H58 and the WD-H58W converters both obstruct the IAF sensor window on the XA10 and XA20 so for at least these two cameras the window in the standard lens hood is moot.

[Allan Black]

Years ago B&H N.Y. a sponsor here, had a closing out sale of the Canon WA-72 Wide-Convertor lens, 50% off I believe. I managed to buy 1 for my Canon XH-A1s, it has the same design lens hood as Andrews photos in post one.

Originally Posted by Andrew Taylor

There are plenty of cheap (Chinese), screw-on hoods offered on eBay, but the hood that comes with the lens seems to be somewhat different, based on the pics below.

First, there is something on one of the corners that seems to be a little window and window cover of sorts (circled in the first picture). Then, the original lens seems to have a metal screw (circled in the second picture). None of the chinese-made hoods have these features..

That solid little ‘window’ is part of the hoods holding screw installation, this does clamp the hood on the WA-72 lens. It was so successful together with the cameras 20:1 zoom lens shooting aircraft videos for HARS here, I’ve never taken it off the camera, partly because shooting around dusty airfields can be a real pain.

Canons WA-72 0.18 was replaced by their WD-H72 0.18 Wide-Convertor lens, that does sound like higher definition but does anyone really know what the difference is?

Both are now discontinued, however if you can pick one up on eBay the only perceived downsides are they have no front threads so no filters, that never ever bothered me.

Cheers.