VCL-HG0758 on XA10 at DVinfo.net

Don Palomaki · February 20th, 2012, 12:09 PM

The Sony VCL HG0758 wide angle adapter has been mentioned as an economical way to get wider with the XA10. They are often offered for sale at "reasonable" prices in the used market. But how good are they on a HD camcorder, given that they were originally marketed for used on a DV camcorder?

The attached photo was staged using a XL10, automatic exposure and focus photo mode, located about 6 feet from the plane of the test targets. Lighting was a mix of cool white and warm white standard florescent overhead. The image contains four PhotoShop grabs from the .JPG files stored by the camcorder. The top two are from the extreme lower right corner of the frame, the bottom two are from the center of the frame. As noted the images on the left are from the XA10 at full wide angle, and on the right with the VCL HG0758 mounted, and zoom adjusted to provide the same field of view (not full wide). No filters were on the camcorder. Each of the 4 grabs was 144x108 pixels of the 1920x1080 frame.

In this test there is a wee bit of loss of sharpness at the center, and a bit more at the corner, but in my opinion not bad all considered.

(Note: To resolve the resolution target's widest grid would require over 2000 lines of video resolution. The slight exposure shift is probably due to )

Jeff Harper · February 20th, 2012, 03:58 PM

I have one ($50 never used, great deal) but in low light the shortcomings really come out. My images were almost blurry the one and only time I used it in low light, it was really bad.

On the other hand, for the ceremony earlier the same day, the images were totally acceptable. Weird.

Don Palomaki · February 21st, 2012, 08:06 AM

Were you using auto focus? It often has difficulty in poor light.

Jeff Harper · February 21st, 2012, 08:23 AM

The center of the image was blurry like vaseline had been smeared on the lens. I did use auto focus but I was using the touch screen to focus, it was a run and gun situation, very fast paced. I should have used a GH2, but there was no time to switch cameras, the bride and groom were rushing things trying to leave for their honeymoon. I didn't know about the weakeness of the adapter or I would've removed it. Image would still have been too dark, but at least it wouldn't have looked smeary.

I knew at the time it was the adapter that caused it but I just forgot about it, haven't used it since, but in well lit situations wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

Don Palomaki · February 21st, 2012, 08:31 AM

Was the Convesion Lens setting set for WIDE? The Instant AF sensor may have beenblockd by the adapter preventing proper AF.

Jeff Harper · February 21st, 2012, 09:07 AM

No, it wasn't. But as I mentioned it didn't look out of focus, just smeary in the center. The auto focus had worked perfectly all night during the reception where I had been using lights, but nevertheless I will remember to check that setting and activate it next time.

Don Palomaki · February 21st, 2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

...didn't look out of focus, just smeary in the center...

...it was a run and gun situation, very fast paced...

Not by any chance an artifact of slowish shuttercoupled with camcorder and/or subject motion.

Jeff Harper · February 21st, 2012, 11:51 AM

Not sure it was, since it was the center of the image that was poor, not the area outside the center. I'd find it and do a frame grab but I'm so swamped right now I can't see straight.

Don Palomaki · February 21st, 2012, 05:23 PM

Better to be busy than not, especially if you can bill the hours!

Jase Tanner · February 21st, 2012, 11:16 PM

I don't have the VCL wide angle but I did have a similar question about a 2x Century Optics teleconverter I had for my PD 150. I wasn't exactly cheap, I don't recall what I paid for it but probably $300 - 400. I haven't run any true tests with it, no charts etc nor have used it in a real shoot so far, but the little bit of experimentation I've done with it, it does look pretty sharp given it was meant for an sd camera

Buba Kastorski · February 22nd, 2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

The Sony VCL HG0758 wide angle adapter has been mentioned as an economical way to get wider with the XA10. They are often offered for sale at "reasonable" prices in the used market. But how good are they on a HD camcorder, given that they were originally marketed for used on a DV camcorder?

Zunow is much better, but I can't justify the purchase, so for me VCL-HG0758 on HFG10 does well;
sorry for reposting the link, but one picture is better than...

Jeff Harper · February 22nd, 2012, 11:08 AM

That's Ok that your reposted Buba, I never get tired of seeing your amazing shots. As long as there is sufficient light, the WA adapter works very well, as your clip shows. It is a great value.

February 20th, 2012, 12:09 PM	#1
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	VCL-HG0758 on XA10 The Sony VCL HG0758 wide angle adapter has been mentioned as an economical way to get wider with the XA10. They are often offered for sale at "reasonable" prices in the used market. But how good are they on a HD camcorder, given that they were originally marketed for used on a DV camcorder? The attached photo was staged using a XL10, automatic exposure and focus photo mode, located about 6 feet from the plane of the test targets. Lighting was a mix of cool white and warm white standard florescent overhead. The image contains four PhotoShop grabs from the .JPG files stored by the camcorder. The top two are from the extreme lower right corner of the frame, the bottom two are from the center of the frame. As noted the images on the left are from the XA10 at full wide angle, and on the right with the VCL HG0758 mounted, and zoom adjusted to provide the same field of view (not full wide). No filters were on the camcorder. Each of the 4 grabs was 144x108 pixels of the 1920x1080 frame. In this test there is a wee bit of loss of sharpness at the center, and a bit more at the corner, but in my opinion not bad all considered. (Note: To resolve the resolution target's widest grid would require over 2000 lines of video resolution. The slight exposure shift is probably due to ) Attached Images __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

February 20th, 2012, 03:58 PM	#2
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 I have one ($50 never used, great deal) but in low light the shortcomings really come out. My images were almost blurry the one and only time I used it in low light, it was really bad. On the other hand, for the ceremony earlier the same day, the images were totally acceptable. Weird.

February 21st, 2012, 08:06 AM	#3
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 Were you using auto focus? It often has difficulty in poor light. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

February 21st, 2012, 08:23 AM	#4
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 The center of the image was blurry like vaseline had been smeared on the lens. I did use auto focus but I was using the touch screen to focus, it was a run and gun situation, very fast paced. I should have used a GH2, but there was no time to switch cameras, the bride and groom were rushing things trying to leave for their honeymoon. I didn't know about the weakeness of the adapter or I would've removed it. Image would still have been too dark, but at least it wouldn't have looked smeary. I knew at the time it was the adapter that caused it but I just forgot about it, haven't used it since, but in well lit situations wouldn't hesitate to use it again.

February 21st, 2012, 08:31 AM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 Was the Convesion Lens setting set for WIDE? The Instant AF sensor may have beenblockd by the adapter preventing proper AF. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

February 21st, 2012, 09:07 AM	#6
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 No, it wasn't. But as I mentioned it didn't look out of focus, just smeary in the center. The auto focus had worked perfectly all night during the reception where I had been using lights, but nevertheless I will remember to check that setting and activate it next time.

February 21st, 2012, 11:51 AM	#8
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 Not sure it was, since it was the center of the image that was poor, not the area outside the center. I'd find it and do a frame grab but I'm so swamped right now I can't see straight.

February 21st, 2012, 05:23 PM	#9
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 Better to be busy than not, especially if you can bill the hours! __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

February 21st, 2012, 11:16 PM	#10
Jase Tanner Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 346	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 I don't have the VCL wide angle but I did have a similar question about a 2x Century Optics teleconverter I had for my PD 150. I wasn't exactly cheap, I don't recall what I paid for it but probably $300 - 400. I haven't run any true tests with it, no charts etc nor have used it in a real shoot so far, but the little bit of experimentation I've done with it, it does look pretty sharp given it was meant for an sd camera

February 22nd, 2012, 11:08 AM	#12
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: VCL-HG0758 on XA10 That's Ok that your reposted Buba, I never get tired of seeing your amazing shots. As long as there is sufficient light, the WA adapter works very well, as your clip shows. It is a great value.