Wide Angle lens for FX1 recomendations? at DVinfo.net

Stick Tully · February 6th, 2007, 01:01 PM

hi there, for my next project it looks like im going to need a wide angle lens.. this one is reasonably priced but im worried it wont be great quality with distortion etc.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/72MM-0-5X-PRO-...QQcmdZViewItem

any thoughts?

Peace

Tom Hardwick · February 10th, 2007, 09:20 AM

I'm always suspicious of lenses being sold with no names visible. This 72 mm 0.5x zoom through converter can be unscrewed to leave behind the powerful +10 dioptre colse-up lens, but my hunch (after testing a lot of wide-angle converters) is that although cheap, it could be a real disappointment.

There's no indication of whether it's multi-coated (some only have one sufrace of the front element coated) and certainly no indication of whether it gives barrel distorted images. I'll bet my boots that it does.

The best lens is available from Bolex in Switzerland, a 0.52x Aspheron that is powerful and doesn't add *any* barrel distortion. Then there's the much milder Canon and Sony 0.8x lenses, but these are so feeble I'd probably not bother fitting them.

Century do a very expensive 0.7x. It's a bayonet, is very heavy and beautifully made, but barrel distorts. Their 0.6x is even worse.

Then there's lenses by Raynox and Kenko that are worth a look at, but in my view they're all beaten by the Aspheron.

tom.

Chris Barcellos · February 10th, 2007, 01:10 PM

yeah, I bought a 58 mm teleconvertor with no name for my VX2000 once, and talk about chromatic aberation. Everything had a distinct halo around it.... nasty. Learned my lesson.

Richard Iredale · February 10th, 2007, 10:38 PM

The .8x wide-angle lens VCL-HG0872 made for the FX1/Z1 by Sony is a great lens, with full zoom-through. Not quite as wide as some, but then very little barrel distortion. Keep in mind that the FX1 already is pretty wide at its widest.

About $200-300 on eBay. Run away from the nonames. Trust Sony, Canon, and the like.

February 6th, 2007, 01:01 PM	#1
Stick Tully Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brighton Posts: 92	Wide Angle lens for FX1 recomendations? hi there, for my next project it looks like im going to need a wide angle lens.. this one is reasonably priced but im worried it wont be great quality with distortion etc. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/72MM-0-5X-PRO-...QQcmdZViewItem any thoughts? Peace

February 10th, 2007, 01:10 PM	#3
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	yeah, I bought a 58 mm teleconvertor with no name for my VX2000 once, and talk about chromatic aberation. Everything had a distinct halo around it.... nasty. Learned my lesson. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

February 10th, 2007, 09:20 AM	#2
Tom Hardwick Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Billericay, England UK Posts: 4,711	I'm always suspicious of lenses being sold with no names visible. This 72 mm 0.5x zoom through converter can be unscrewed to leave behind the powerful +10 dioptre colse-up lens, but my hunch (after testing a lot of wide-angle converters) is that although cheap, it could be a real disappointment. There's no indication of whether it's multi-coated (some only have one sufrace of the front element coated) and certainly no indication of whether it gives barrel distorted images. I'll bet my boots that it does. The best lens is available from Bolex in Switzerland, a 0.52x Aspheron that is powerful and doesn't add any barrel distortion. Then there's the much milder Canon and Sony 0.8x lenses, but these are so feeble I'd probably not bother fitting them. Century do a very expensive 0.7x. It's a bayonet, is very heavy and beautifully made, but barrel distorts. Their 0.6x is even worse. Then there's lenses by Raynox and Kenko that are worth a look at, but in my view they're all beaten by the Aspheron. tom.

February 10th, 2007, 10:38 PM	#4
Richard Iredale Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 67	The .8x wide-angle lens VCL-HG0872 made for the FX1/Z1 by Sony is a great lens, with full zoom-through. Not quite as wide as some, but then very little barrel distortion. Keep in mind that the FX1 already is pretty wide at its widest. About $200-300 on eBay. Run away from the nonames. Trust Sony, Canon, and the like.