Wide Angle Lens Converter for GL / XM

Frank Granovski · July 24th, 2003, 08:22 PM

If you mean the Tiffen wide angle adaptors, yes they (all) have filter threads on the front. There's lots of misinformation on the B&H website, I find. Kenko adaptors also come with filter threads on the front; and the Raynox adaptors I've seen also have them.

Devin Doyle · July 24th, 2003, 08:44 PM

Frank, we're talking about filters that are designed to go in front of or behind wide angle lenses (such as UV), not necessarily WA adapters. Just thought I'd clarify.

Devin Doyle · July 24th, 2003, 08:56 PM

UV protection. Or would it cause too many abberations and flares with that much glass between the WA and the camera lens? I've never had any problems doing it that way (aside from vignetting). Explain why in front of the WA is better? I think I have an idea but I'd like to hear from others.

Frank Granovski · July 24th, 2003, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Frank, we're talking about filters that are designed to go in front of or behind wide angle lenses (such as UV), not necessarily WA adapters. Just thought I'd clarify.

front: vignetting most likely - the ultra slim ones work best, depending on the adaptor - but with "wides," now you know why Century and Sony (and Canon I believe) don't bother to put threads on in front.

back: same, but sometimes it works - not recommended

Either way, you want the strong slim ones, that would be...the brand that Bryan Beas bought. Hoya, I think---also multi-coated.

Jason Keene · July 24th, 2003, 11:07 PM

I use the Kenko wide angle .65 lens with the bayonet. It's very sharp, and it does have threads in the front but after I bought a UV filter for it I discovered that it adds a ton of excess flare and actually vignettes when its at its widest. Removing the UV filter solved the problem, and I use it all the time without any problems. I got it for $159 at Tristate photo.

Sam Houchins II · July 29th, 2003, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the review, Brendan - much appreciated. I'm more confident that the wd-58h is the way to go. Just in time for an order today.

Ryan McCrary · August 10th, 2003, 04:27 PM

is there a huge difference between the glass or lenses available for the gl2.. there are plenty or lenses available on ebay anywhere from $60 to the wd-58h for $180..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=29964

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=3335

how would those compare to the wd-58h.. i'm getting a wide angle for sure.. just wanted to find out any alternatives.. i like the fact that the wd-58 comes with a hood..

thanks..

-ryan

John Heskett · August 10th, 2003, 04:31 PM

I got the 58h and use it a lot. The one thing I did not know when I got it is - you can not attach any filters to it. You will have to get a matte box if you want to use filters after you put the 58h on the camera. Some WA converters are threaded. I don't know which ones though.

Aaron Koolen · August 10th, 2003, 06:30 PM

If you get the WD58 and have double threaded filters you can probably get away with one between the camera and the adapter. A polarizer might be a hard one to manage but other ones that don't rotate might be ok.

Do a search for Wide Angle on here and you'll find lots and lots of threads about it. It seems that the WD58 is the best bang for the buck cause it's got a good price, good quality and full zoom through. You can buy something fancier of course but you will pay a lot more.

Cheers
Aaron

Ryan McCrary · August 10th, 2003, 06:32 PM

what about cheaper ones..

Ken Tanaka · August 10th, 2003, 06:37 PM

When it comes to glass, there are no deals. Good glass is expensive to manufacture and expensive to buy. Why would you want to put crap in front of that outstanding Canon flourite lens? Bad glass turns that great GL2 to a piece of daddy-cam junk.

Save up for a good wide-angle adapter such as the WD58H or a Century Optics. Just go without until then.

Tom Christensen · August 10th, 2003, 06:57 PM

I hate to admit this, but I bought a $60 wide angle lens off of ebay. For what I do, I couldn't see spending the extra cash. Digital Optics .45x with macro from Japan. Although I've never used the wd58 on my GL2, I'm not that horribly dissapointed with the cheapie. It gives me a nice wide shot and I haven't had any complaints about the image quality.

I would never recommend that you get one in a pro environment, but hey, maybe its worth it for the other stuff.

If I get a chance, I will post len-on/lens-off pics so you can see for yourself.

Tom

David Woodland · August 10th, 2003, 07:06 PM

Yea, I've just got the raynox .3x semi fish clip on for my rollerblading shots I do. It looks good but I'm going to upgrade to a century when I get the cash for it. They are a lot!

John Heskett · August 10th, 2003, 07:24 PM

On the WD58h, I do put a filter between the camera and the WD. I haven't put more than one on though. One of these days I know I will have to get matte box, but it will be awhile.

Jason Keene · August 11th, 2003, 01:39 AM

Nobody ever seems to mention the Kenko bayonet WA adapter for GL2, but I've been using it for awhile and I love it. It's $159, (maybe even less now) and you can zoom through as well as put filters on if you'd like. I think Tokina/Kenko make decent glass, and the bayonet is a really fast take off/put on.

July 24th, 2003, 08:44 PM	#197
Devin Doyle Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 188	Frank, we're talking about filters that are designed to go in front of or behind wide angle lenses (such as UV), not necessarily WA adapters. Just thought I'd clarify. __________________ http://devin.par-t-com.net

July 24th, 2003, 08:56 PM	#198
Devin Doyle Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 188	UV protection. Or would it cause too many abberations and flares with that much glass between the WA and the camera lens? I've never had any problems doing it that way (aside from vignetting). Explain why in front of the WA is better? I think I have an idea but I'd like to hear from others. __________________ http://devin.par-t-com.net

August 10th, 2003, 04:27 PM	#202
Ryan McCrary Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: chapin sc Posts: 41	wide angle is there a huge difference between the glass or lenses available for the gl2.. there are plenty or lenses available on ebay anywhere from $60 to the wd-58h for $180.. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=29964 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=3335 how would those compare to the wd-58h.. i'm getting a wide angle for sure.. just wanted to find out any alternatives.. i like the fact that the wd-58 comes with a hood.. thanks.. -ryan

August 10th, 2003, 04:31 PM	#203
John Heskett Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Terre Haute Indiana Posts: 181	I got the 58h and use it a lot. The one thing I did not know when I got it is - you can not attach any filters to it. You will have to get a matte box if you want to use filters after you put the 58h on the camera. Some WA converters are threaded. I don't know which ones though. __________________ Illuminate the Vision

August 10th, 2003, 06:30 PM	#204
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	If you get the WD58 and have double threaded filters you can probably get away with one between the camera and the adapter. A polarizer might be a hard one to manage but other ones that don't rotate might be ok. Do a search for Wide Angle on here and you'll find lots and lots of threads about it. It seems that the WD58 is the best bang for the buck cause it's got a good price, good quality and full zoom through. You can buy something fancier of course but you will pay a lot more. Cheers Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

July 24th, 2003, 08:22 PM	#196
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	If you mean the Tiffen wide angle adaptors, yes they (all) have filter threads on the front. There's lots of misinformation on the B&H website, I find. Kenko adaptors also come with filter threads on the front; and the Raynox adaptors I've seen also have them.

July 24th, 2003, 11:07 PM	#200
Jason Keene New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California. U.S.A. Posts: 8	I use the Kenko wide angle .65 lens with the bayonet. It's very sharp, and it does have threads in the front but after I bought a UV filter for it I discovered that it adds a ton of excess flare and actually vignettes when its at its widest. Removing the UV filter solved the problem, and I use it all the time without any problems. I got it for $159 at Tristate photo.

July 29th, 2003, 09:43 AM	#201
Sam Houchins II Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 282	Thanks for the review, Brendan - much appreciated. I'm more confident that the wd-58h is the way to go. Just in time for an order today.

August 10th, 2003, 06:32 PM	#205
Ryan McCrary Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: chapin sc Posts: 41	what about cheaper ones..

August 10th, 2003, 06:37 PM	#206
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	When it comes to glass, there are no deals. Good glass is expensive to manufacture and expensive to buy. Why would you want to put crap in front of that outstanding Canon flourite lens? Bad glass turns that great GL2 to a piece of daddy-cam junk. Save up for a good wide-angle adapter such as the WD58H or a Century Optics. Just go without until then. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

August 10th, 2003, 06:57 PM	#207
Tom Christensen Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cave Creek, AZ Posts: 87	I hate to admit this, but I bought a $60 wide angle lens off of ebay. For what I do, I couldn't see spending the extra cash. Digital Optics .45x with macro from Japan. Although I've never used the wd58 on my GL2, I'm not that horribly dissapointed with the cheapie. It gives me a nice wide shot and I haven't had any complaints about the image quality. I would never recommend that you get one in a pro environment, but hey, maybe its worth it for the other stuff. If I get a chance, I will post len-on/lens-off pics so you can see for yourself. Tom

August 10th, 2003, 07:06 PM	#208
David Woodland Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ky Posts: 54	Yea, I've just got the raynox .3x semi fish clip on for my rollerblading shots I do. It looks good but I'm going to upgrade to a century when I get the cash for it. They are a lot!

August 10th, 2003, 07:24 PM	#209
John Heskett Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Terre Haute Indiana Posts: 181	On the WD58h, I do put a filter between the camera and the WD. I haven't put more than one on though. One of these days I know I will have to get matte box, but it will be awhile. __________________ Illuminate the Vision

August 11th, 2003, 01:39 AM	#210
Jason Keene New Boot Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California. U.S.A. Posts: 8	Nobody ever seems to mention the Kenko bayonet WA adapter for GL2, but I've been using it for awhile and I love it. It's $159, (maybe even less now) and you can zoom through as well as put filters on if you'd like. I think Tokina/Kenko make decent glass, and the bayonet is a really fast take off/put on.