If you have one for your camera how much is it and do you like it?

I got a second hand wide-angle lens on ebay under $500. Make sure to ask detailed photo's and arguments why they are selling the lens.

I presume that you mean a wide angle "conversion" lens rather than a wide angle "adapter"lens. A conversion lens is a zoom-thru lens and is available through B&H or Century, but they are over $500. An adapter lens will not allow zoom-thru but rather is focused at a fixed focal length. Wide angle adapter lens are available for a lot less than wide angle conversion lens, though.
Your best buy might be on eBay but be careful. I bought one on eBay that had a scratched front element. I recommend a conversion lens as being the most useful and practical.
Good luck,
Ken

If you have one for your camera how much is it and do you like it?

We offer this .7x lens:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1085&IID=1364

It is 30% wider than your existing lens but doesn't allow zooming. You also need a $100 adapter ring to make it work. Maybe you can find one used.

If you decide that you need a zoom through attachment and buy new or find one of these for sale used then this will be your best bet for most lenses. It has an 85mm clamp-on ring:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1085&IID=1367

All of this is dependent on your lens. Check the outside diameter of the lens. The OD is usualy 3mm more than the filter size. All of our broadcast lenses for this camera clamp onto the outside diameter.

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

I have the Fujinon, to me, this camera is almost un-useable without it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/401431-REG/JVC_WCV82SC_0_82x_Zoom_Through_Wide.html

I have the Fujinon, to me, this camera is almost un-useable without it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/401431-REG/JVC_WCV82SC_0_82x_Zoom_Through_Wide.html

Does anyone know whether this is also suitable for use on the Fujinon 17x lens...and whether the stock lens hood can still be used once it's attached?

I also would like to know the options for 17xlens....

Does anyone know whether this is also suitable for use on the Fujinon 17x lens...and whether the stock lens hood can still be used once it's attached?

It will "live" on the lens. I have never found any reason to take it off. The lens hood goes on without issue, just be sure the glass is spotless before adding the adapter, and you will probably never have to take it off again.

It will "live" on the lens. I have never found any reason to take it off. The lens hood goes on without issue, just be sure the glass is spotless before adding the adapter, and you will probably never have to take it off again.

I too agree with David. I have never taken mine off since the day i bought the camera. Why would anyone?

It will "live" on the lens. I have never found any reason to take it off. The lens hood goes on without issue, just be sure the glass is spotless before adding the adapter, and you will probably never have to take it off again.

David -- are your comments specific to the 17x lens as well as the 16x?

David -- are your comments specific to the 17x lens as well as the 16x?


Hey Brent,
I can't speak for the 17x, but mine is on the Fujinon T16X5.5BRMU Lens, which comes stock with the 110. Honestly, It's such a great piece of glass for the money, most of the time I take for granted that it's on there, but I can't imagine shooting without it so the risk of sending it back if it doesn't fit is far out-weighed by the improved images you will get.

<Edit>

I just took the camera out and took the lens hood off, the converter sits completely flush with the front of the lens and does not even come in contact with the hood. Upon further inspection, it looks as though you can put the adapter on without even taking the hood off. I have to assume that front of the glass on the 17x is the same size as the 16x, or the adapter wouldn't fit anyway.
Give it a shot, the worst that could happen is that you would have to send it back and pay a few bucks on shipping. Good Luck!

Give it a shot, the worst that could happen is that you would have to send it back and pay a few bucks on shipping. Good Luck!

Thanks for checking, David -- I'll definitely put this on my list.

I use the Fujinon x8 ADAPTOR which - as others have noted - lives on the lens. And I have a redeye x.7 CONVERTOR (in other words, non-zoom through) which is fine (and in your price bracket) though you have to be scrupulous about keeping it clean and dust free. The Redeye screws onto the front of the Fujinon, 0.8, giving you a combined range that is almost double that of the standard 16x lens.

http://www.red-eye.tv/

I also have a pair of old Optex x0.7/x0.5 convertors, which are great glass but now showing signs of age.

I use the Fujinon x8 ADAPTOR which - as others have noted - lives on the lens. And I have a redeye x.7 CONVERTOR (in other words, non-zoom through) which is fine (and in your price bracket) though you have to be scrupulous about keeping it clean and dust free. The Redeye screws onto the front of the Fujinon, 0.8, giving you a combined range that is almost double that of the standard 16x lens.

http://www.red-eye.tv/

I also have a pair of old Optex x0.7/x0.5 convertors, which are great glass but now showing signs of age.

Yes thats great to hear but that red eye your are using for the HD-100 is for dv not HDV so in the set up you are suggesting you would be degrading your image for such a shot or are you using the fx series for HD and using a step down ring to mount the red eye?

Has anyone tried this lense by Cavision it is Broadcast quality and gives 30% more viewing area, it is not a zoom through but I dont care about that.
http://www.cavision.com/optics/broadcast/BWA07X86.htm

Well Gary, I've never had any complaints about image quality when shooting in HDV with my standard red eye convertor. I'd like to see a comparison though, see where the differences are on a 1/3rd inch chip. Maybe you'd pick up some difference on a HD750 with a J20 on the front. But we're talking about under a thousand dollar's worth of glass on the front of a JVC HD111. I'm not sure that the standard fujinon lens can really be more than average, given its price point.

And I quite like the barrel distortion effect - 'specially on big wide landscapes.

Well Gary, I've never had any complaints about image quality when shooting in HDV with my standard red eye convertor. I'd like to see a comparison though, see where the differences are on a 1/3rd inch chip. Maybe you'd pick up some difference on a HD750 with a J20 on the front. But we're talking about under a thousand dollar's worth of glass on the front of a JVC HD111. I'm not sure that the standard fujinon lens can really be more than average, given its price point.

And I quite like the barrel distortion effect - 'specially on big wide landscapes.

So your not using the fx version, your using the standard which is 82mm and if that is the case do you ever use the red eye by itself on your camera and if so how good are the picture from that?

Mea culpa: The Red Eye is an ADAPTOR (non-zoom through): the Fujinon is a CONVERTOR (zoom through)

Gary, your read is correct: I'm using the standard version of the Red Eye adaptor, not the fx version. And I have used it both on top of the Fujinon 16x lens that comes with the JVCHD111, and on the fujinon x0.8 convertor. So long as you are scrupulous about setting the macro ring to get the correct focus (as with any convertor) it all looks pretty good. The most important thing (as I was advised on this forum) is that because of the optics on a 1/3 inch chip, any dust or dirt shows up very clearly. So it's really essential to keep the Red Eye clean, especially at lower f stops.

But look, any screw-on convertor or adaptor is going to be a compromise. The very fact that this thread is about "wide angle adaptors under USD500" suggests we're not talking about serious quality lenses here. A serious lens starts the other side of 20k. If you really want the best possible quality wide image on the JVC HDV series cameras, chuck another 7 grand in the pot and buy the Fujinon 13x lens that's built to do the job.

Mea culpa: The Red Eye is an ADAPTOR (non-zoom through): the Fujinon is a CONVERTOR (zoom through)

Gary, your read is correct: I'm using the standard version of the Red Eye adaptor, not the fx version. And I have used it both on top of the Fujinon 16x lens that comes with the JVCHD111, and on the fujinon x0.8 convertor. So long as you are scrupulous about setting the macro ring to get the correct focus (as with any convertor) it all looks pretty good. The most important thing (as I was advised on this forum) is that because of the optics on a 1/3 inch chip, any dust or dirt shows up very clearly. So it's really essential to keep the Red Eye clean, especially at lower f stops.

But look, any screw-on convertor or adaptor is going to be a compromise. The very fact that this thread is about "wide angle adaptors under USD500" suggests we're not talking about serious quality lenses here. A serious lens starts the other side of 20k. If you really want the best possible quality wide image on the JVC HDV series cameras, chuck another 7 grand in the pot and buy the Fujinon 13x lens that's built to do the job.

Ha Ha HA No thanks I have to many other thing to spend money on for this very expensive hobby of mine just looking for the best glass I can get for under $500 this is looking to be in the top two I spoke to a red eye rep today and they said they are in the works on a fx 82mm he is also checking to see if I can use the fx 72mm HDV with a step down ring so we will see should hear something later today!

Yeah, I have hobbies like that - flying and diving are basically money pits. But I'm lucky enough to be able to make a living doing the other thing I love - making images, telling stories.

I think you'll find that the 72mm step down ring will show up on the lens. If you can wait - and you think it will really make a difference - I'd hang on till the fx version of the 82mm ring comes out. I'd like to know what the Red Eye rep said about the difference between the two - should I be worried? Am I short-changing my clients by using the SD version?

Yeah, I have hobbies like that - flying and diving are basically money pits. But I'm lucky enough to be able to make a living doing the other thing I love - making images, telling stories.

I think you'll find that the 72mm step down ring will show up on the lens. If you can wait - and you think it will really make a difference - I'd hang on till the fx version of the 82mm ring comes out. I'd like to know what the Red Eye rep said about the difference between the two - should I be worried? Am I short-changing my clients by using the SD version?

If your clients like what your producing and from the sounds of it I would say they do then I would not even give it a second thought but if there is going to be better glass shortly then I think I might wait since everything I shoot is in in HDV.

Does anyone know whether this is also suitable for use on the Fujinon 17x lens...and whether the stock lens hood can still be used once it's attached?

The WCV82SC will NOT fit on the 17x. We have a 100 and a 200. The 100 has the stock 16x with the WCV82SC. When we got the 200 we got some sort of package that included the GY-HD200CHU (the camera without the stock lens) and the 17x bundled together. We had such good results with the WCV82SC that we bought one for the 200. It does not fit on the 17 - the threads are the right size but the back side of the converter sticks out too far into the lens and touched the surface.

There is a Fujinon wide angle converter (or maybe it was an adapter, I can't remember) available for the 17 but I think it was something like $2300.

The WCV82SC will fit on the stock lens with the standard lens hood but it stick out so far that the lens hood becomes less effective.

Well after listening to what everyone had to say about wide angle adapters to be honest, with as many HD-100 cameras out their and allot of wide angle lenses on back order with most vendors I was supprise to hear so little from so many but I do appriciate the people who did put in their 2cents, after the responses and talking with vendors on a variety of products I elected to go with the LWAO6HX72-HVX-HD100. Since no one seem to give any responses on this product even though thier is a back order on it I will post what I think of it after I recieve it. Thanks again for all your oppinions, by the way I think I would have bought the Red Eye if they had it available in the FX HDV 82mm version but they dont I only heard from one person who has owned one who did not like it, evey one else I heard from said it was a great peice of glass for the money perhaps he got a faulty one. Thanks again Gary Williams

http://www.cavision.com/optics/industrial/PWA06X72-HVX-HD100.htm

That cavision glass looks like a good choice. How much are you paying for it? I will be very interested to hear how it performs - screen grabs would be great. I'll try and put some up from my redeye for comparison.

Enjoy - and remember Robert Capa's advice -- and the best possible reason for getting a wide angle adaptor/convertor/lens:

"If your pictures aren't good enough, it's probably 'cos you're not close enough."

That cavision glass looks like a good choice. How much are you paying for it? I will be very interested to hear how it performs - screen grabs would be great. I'll try and put some up from my redeye for comparison.

Enjoy - and remember Robert Capa's advice -- and the best possible reason for getting a wide angle adaptor/convertor/lens:

"If your pictures aren't good enough, it's probably 'cos you're not close enough."

$189 + Shiping through B&H The Rep at cavision said the industrial glass is the same as the broadcast so we will see.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486262-REG/Cavision_LWA06X72_HVX_HD100_LWA06X72_HVX_HD100_0_6x_Industrial_Wide.html

The WCV82SC will NOT fit on the 17x. We have a 100 and a 200. The 100 has the stock 16x with the WCV82SC. When we got the 200 we got some sort of package that included the GY-HD200CHU (the camera without the stock lens) and the 17x bundled together. We had such good results with the WCV82SC that we bought one for the 200. It does not fit on the 17 - the threads are the right size but the back side of the converter sticks out too far into the lens and touched the surface.

There is a Fujinon wide angle converter (or maybe it was an adapter, I can't remember) available for the 17 but I think it was something like $2300.

The WCV82SC will fit on the stock lens with the standard lens hood but it stick out so far that the lens hood becomes less effective.

Thanks very much for this info!

$189 + Shiping through B&H The Rep at cavision said the industrial glass is the same as the broadcast so we will see.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486262-REG/Cavision_LWA06X72_HVX_HD100_LWA06X72_HVX_HD100_0_6x_Industrial_Wide.html

Just recieved my cavision wide angle lense adapter. I will try it out on my day off this Thursday and let Robert Adams and everyone know what I think of it, as far as the glass is concerned it looks great and comes in a nice protective black pouch that zips closed.

Just recieved my cavision wide angle lense adapter. I will try it out on my day off this Thursday and let Robert Adams and everyone know what I think of it, as far as the glass is concerned it looks great and comes in a nice protective black pouch that zips closed.

Well after using the cavision wide agle adapter this is what I have to say about it, its a solid peice of glass color and picture quality are not to bad for the price it cost the barrel distortion is noticable and in my opinion this lense is good only for some situations, open landscapes and situation where you may really need the extra 40% of the picture you get with this lense. It is not usable for all situations the barrel distortion would be to great for me to use it all the time of course I did not buy it for that purpose so for what it cost its not a bad deal but it will give noticable barrel distortion in some situations and in others it will not be to noticeable you will have to use your own discretion with this lense and in my opinion any other adapter that you buy I dont think thier is any adapter out their that will give you virtualy no barrel distortion for the HD-100.

I have the "Zoom through" version wide angle adapter I forget the model. Its heavy about a pound or more(or at least it feels like it) It gets me plenty wide enough but now when I start looking at my images on a big 42 inch LCD I can really see the distortion at least in SD. I cant get by it anymore which is why im checking out this thread. I either need to get a higher quality adapter or just live with the JVCs original config. Is the new Cavisions any better? Is the Century one cleaner? My is a zoom through and I think it cost like $400 last year.

Randy

I have the "Zoom through" version wide angle adapter I forget the model. Its heavy about a pound or more(or at least it feels like it) It gets me plenty wide enough but now when I start looking at my images on a big 42 inch LCD I can really see the distortion at least in SD. I cant get by it anymore which is why im checking out this thread. I either need to get a higher quality adapter or just live with the JVCs original config. Is the new Cavisions any better? Is the Century one cleaner? My is a zoom through and I think it cost like $400 last year.

Randy
I would probably wait for the new HD version of the red eye when it comes out with the threads to mount on the hd-100 it will probably be the best choice for the money, it will probably come out some time this year.

I looked into the Red Eye, it doesnt "Zoom Through" what does that mean for me? I do alot of wedding runin and gunnen shooting. Will that work for me?

I looked into the Red Eye, it doesnt "Zoom Through" what does that mean for me? I do alot of wedding runin and gunnen shooting. Will that work for me?

It means that you can't zoom. The camera will have a fixed lens at the widest zoom with the adapter on. To change the size of the image in the frame you will have to move closer are farther away.

It may or may not work for the way you are shooting.

Hi Randy

I use the Red Eye - and before that a Century/Optex adaptor - on my HD111 . I shoot news and current affairs, and docs, for international broadcast clients, mostly in Europe. I have been meaning to get the 13x Fujinon but I haven't got round to getting one shipped out here yet, and everytime I get close something else gets in the way. I have the standard Fujinon 0.8 x wide angle zoom through CONVERTOR which came with the lens. I don't think I've removed it since I bought the camera 18 months ago. The Red Eye screws on the front of the Fujinon convertor, which is screwed onto the front of the lens.

I find that I tend to keep my adaptor on the lens most of the time, which forces me to use my standard 16x Fujinon zoom lens as a wide angle prime. As Jack said, if you need to put more of your subject in the frame, you have to get closer to the subject. If you want more background, you have to move back. You get used to it. It actually makes you a better shooter, since you need to shoot and move, and you can't rely on the lazy zoom solution.

I usually shoot a sequence with the red eye on, moving around the axis, getting in close, going low (or high), and pulling back for the wides... then, time permitting, I'll drop back, take the red eye off, reset the Macro ring, and shoot close ups on faces and detail until I'm done. If time is tight, I'll just move a lot and keep the red eye in place. Most cut news sequences don't use more then three or four - maybe as many as six - shots, so this works well for me.

I don'e see why this shouldn't work for you. I'm not sure what you guys mean when you talk about "run and gun", and I've never shot a wedding. But I guess that you need to be on sticks and using the Zoom during the Church service, as i suppose you can't move around that much. But during the reception, if you can get into the crowd, I think you'd find the red eye very effective. And if it isn't working, you can always take it off again.

Two points to remember: 1: you'll need to adjust the macro ring every time you put the adaptor on and off. It's a small adjustment - perhaps a couple of millimeters - but it is essential. I usually switch on Focus Assist for a couple of seconds while I adjust the macro ring, as i find this helps get the focus good and sharp.

and 2: the adaptor attracts dust and lint, and these show up very clearly - so it's really important to keep both sides of the adaptor, and the front element of you lens, really clean. I guess that somewhere out there someone makes an "anti-static" lens cleaning fluid; if I ever see any, I'll get some, 'cos that should help.

Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Interesting thread.
Looking around at wide angle possibilities myself, although not currently a necessity.
The JVC convertor seems like a good route - I can then either look around for an adaptor for this or await the HD red eye.
Couple of things I'm a little unsure of:

Obviously with the zoom through adaptor fixed you can happily zoom as though you were using the fixed fujinon lens - is it necessary to adjust the macro lens in this situation?

If I were to aiming to achieve the 'bokeh' look might it be possible to fix a 35mm adaptor to the convertor (and/or adaptor) or is this just not feasible and should I instead use them separately?

The Cavision looks a good option, certainly cheaper than purchasing both the JVC convertor and adaptor but then again both a heck of a lot cheaper than the dedicated wide angle lenses.
I'm having trouble locating the JVC WA convertor (WCV82SC) in the uk - anyone uk based managed to procure one?
Is it the case that the convertor and adaptor will give you a wider angle (and less barrel) than a convertor alone?
Although it's no hardship to lose the zoom capability (which emphasise any minor shakes etc) it's useful for certain shots (and again it's no biggie to take the thing off).

It is indeed a money pit...!

Thanks for all your replys, I think I*need to stick with the "Zoom through" for what I do. I never tried the JVC/Fujinon adapter is it clean? This Cavision I currently have looks o.k. on a normal 4:3 tube t.v. you can see a little softness but not much. but when you put it on a big LCD it really looks bad. When I first got it I was still working in 4:3 so I really needed the %40 wideness now im shooting 16:9 and %20 will be fine. I just need something sharp. Maybe the JVC/Fujinon is good enough?

Hi Dave

With this convertor you do not need to touch the macro ring. I got mine as part of a package deal through Proactive Video in Hemel Hempsted.

http://www.proav.co.uk/

Kevin Eaton is the guy I dealt with there. Kevin@proav.co.uk

Sorry: forgive my ignorance: What is the "bokeh" look?

Hi Dave

With this convertor you do not need to touch the macro ring. I got mine as part of a package deal through Proactive Video in Hemel Hempsted.

http://www.proav.co.uk/

Kevin Eaton is the guy I dealt with there. Kevin@proav.co.uk

Sorry: forgive my ignorance: What is the "bokeh" look?

Hey thanks Robert - I know ProAv so that's really handy (I got most of my kit from there).
As for the 'bokeh' look this linkie will explain it better than I (you'll know the look but not the phrase) - first I heard of this was on here a short while back:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh