Tiffen 43mm wide angle adaptor
 

The Tiffen 43mm wide angle adaptor is a .75X (wide), lovely clear sharp glass and does not have any barrel distortion. It is also zoom through (with filter threads in front). I just wanted to mention this because I've been getting e-mails lately about which "wide" for the MX.

I'd like to find examples from it, I doubt that is wide enough for me, plus no barrel distortion, eh, forget it. :D

Now I just need to save up $150 so I can buy the Raynox .5x, which is also very sharp and has filter threads on the front, and is quite wide with a decent amount of that good ol' barrel distortion. :D

Yes, I've been hearing good things about the Raynox .5x. Do they make one in the 43mm thread size? Or is it step-down ring time?

It's made for a bunch of different filter sizes, infact, Raynox includes like 5 special rings that attach to the lens for various sizes...from 27mm to 43mm...

http://raynox.co.jp/english/video/hd5000pro/index.htm

Check out that page...


"5-adapter rings are included for
27mm/ 30mm/30.5mm/ 37mm/ 43mm filter size Camcorders."

Thanks, Alex. Now that you mentioned that, about the rings, I recall reading up on it. But..., it never hurts to take a 2nd look!

I have just tried out the Fuji WA for my Fujifilm S602Zoom still cam on my MX350. Works great! VEry little distortion, but it's only 0.8x (giving about 32mm WA out of the native 40mm of the MX350). Abosulutely minimal barreling and no vignetting.

You'll need a short 55mm extender (I use the ring of a spoilt filter) and a step up from 43 to 55 on the cam (I use 2 steps, 43 to 52, 52 to 55).

"You," do you have a link or 2 for the Fuji wide angle?

Not "You", "YowCH"!

Hmm... link for Fuji WA, here it is:

http://www.fujifilmmall.com/product.asp?sku=1832541

Note that it comes with a 55mm to 55mm tube, only useful on the digital still camera. You'll need the flat 'ring' extender that I had mentioned, as the lens has a little protrusion behind.

Oh, I did not mention this earlier, the lens is coated, very good light transmission.

The similar teleconvertor (TC) of 1.5x ia available here:

http://www.fujifilmmall.com/product.asp?sku=1832542

Sorry. That was a "typo." Thanks for the links.

I have plenty of typos too, Frank. No worries.

BTW, the 1.5x TC is very cool on the MX350. Makes the poker even longer, especially when I get lazy and use the TC with the 55 to 55 tube onto my MX350. Adds about 4 inches to the cam!

As for the actual zoom, wonderful! being approximately 38mm to 456mm native, adding a 1.5x will give 1.5x456=684mm. I shot a moon with great details filling about half the height of the screen, without telescope!

And the TC is also coated, with minimal light loss!

But I'll suggest getting a 2x or more if real tele is needed, and a stable tripod to go with the set.

An extra 4 inches! You have to tell BB over at double e plaza and quick.