Wide Angle and Fisheye for Sony SR12

[Paul Cronin]

I just purchased a Sony SR12 and am looking for recommendations for a wide angle and fisheye.

[Derek Shantz]

Century optics makes a couple 37mm wides and a fish that are great!

-D

[Paul Cronin]

Thanks Derek have you used either?

[Paul Cronin]

Derek have you used the Century 37mm fisheye? At 1/3 the cost of the camera I would expect it to be a great lens.

Any other fisheye options that can handle the 1080P camera at 37mm?

[Paul Cronin]

Well I ordered the Century and Raynox and will see which one suits my needs better. The shop I ordered from suggested I order both then return the one that I do not want. Sorry not a sponsor so I can't mention the shop. I will put my thoughts up on both lenses.

I am using a friends Canon 37mm wide angle and that works great.

[Derek Shantz]

I really enjoyed the Century fish it is fun to play with and very sharp. Although I got alot of chromatic aberation with the sr12 or thats what it looked like.
Both the .65 and .55 wides are awesome quality but the .55 is really small which i like and only protrudes 5 mm from the camera. It is almost a fish but not quite.

[Paul Cronin]

Great info Derek thank you. It will be interesting to try the two that are coming.

[Tom O'Farrell]

Paul;
I see you are doing boating work.
How are you going to protect your SR12 from spray etc.
I'm just getting a SR12 and need protection, not an underwater casing just really good rain protection.
I presently am using a VX2000 with a plastic bag type thing that works fairly well.

[Paul Cronin]

Tom I own a Sony Sport Pak housing. It works great and is only $150. For my EX1 I use a Kata cover.

[Derek Shantz]

There is a new Kata rain cover called the crc-17 that fits small camcorders and the sports pac from sony is also available for underwater use up to 17 feet deep.

Whichh model of hosing do you have for the sr12 Paul is it the hcc?

[Paul Cronin]

Derek I have the Sportspack SPK-HCB. It fits great and there is room for lens options at the end. I don't think this is what they recommend but I had it in my pile of stuff and it is still new. Tried to sell it last year for $60 and no takers happy about that now.

It is not a real housing with a dome but for really rough conditions when I would not even take my EX1 out of the bag I will use the SR12 and be happy to get wet knowing my gear is safe.

I looked into a housing for the EX1 and at $7000 yikes.

[Dave Blackhurst]

Just FYI, the HCB, C and D should work fine with the SR12 for foul weather use - I've got the HCB as well, cam fits stock, but I'm modding it to allow use of the HG0737C Sony .07 WA lens. Not a lot of space in front of the camera unless you modify, but it's easy enough to do.

[Paul Cronin]

You are correct I am building a small block that moves it up and too the left so it is centered and room for fisheye and wide angle options.

[Paul Cronin]

Well I tried the Century .3X fisheye and sent it back too much distortion for me. Also the Raynox wide angle was too much of a loss in picture quality.

The Canon WA is nice and today the Century .55 WA showed up and first shots look great just like Derek suggested. It is almost fisheye and very clear picture. Looks like a few more test between these to and then decide.

[Dave Blackhurst]

The Century .3 is really more of a "special effects" lens - KEWL if you're doing extreme sports or want that ultra fisheye thing, but not much good for anything else!