Could you post a before and after pic. I am looking for something like this for a few special shots but can't justify $500+ for a few special shots. I would be all over this if it works.

I am looking for more of a semi fisheye look with a little bit of distortion on the sides. I have a .3 semi fisheye on SD land and loved the look for certain shots.

Is is possible to get an image to look at?

Ok I must admit that I asked for trouble by not mentioning that I don`t have a picturesque scenery before and after comparison samples but here you go:
Crappy before and after samples

Notice that it was taken with the lens wide open and AF focusing on I don`t know what :)...
The vignetting can not be seen on TV or camcorders LCD I guess I`ll modyfy the lens by removing those unusable filter threads so it will not vignette.
CA is due the camcorders own lens as you might notice and considering that original lens barrel too my estimate is that it doesn`t barrel that much.

Hope that helps a little, I`ll try to get some "beauty" shots soon enough.

Cheers,
T

Thanks for the images. It looks like it does give a little curve distortion to the outer edges of the footage....This effect is what I want. When you get a chance some outdoor images would be nice to really determine how it looks. I don't mind that tiny vigenette. I can deal with that easy enough.

Toenis, it looks to me as if your lens manufacturer has inadvertently (ha!) misrepresented a 0.7x converter and labelled it as a 0.45x - not uncommon with what I'll call 'no-name' brands. Once you've zoomed up to remove the vignetting (which you'll need to do for any film that'll be projected or shown on google video, for instance) you'll be down to a very mild 0.8x.

The vignetting will be down to the entry pupil's diameter and the distance it's from your zoom's front element, so 'removing threads' won't help. You haven't got a filter between converter lens and zoom, have you?

Ok, the lens looks pretty flare free and the image is sharp enough, but a genuine 0.45x should more than halve your focal length and in so doing give you dramatically wider footage.

For what a 0.52x converter can do for the Z1, go have a look here:

http://www.fortvir.net/gallery/v/tom...wide+.jpg.html

tom.

I like the Canon wide angle lense alot. It changes the camera balance alot and is a bit of a pain to stow if you have a small camera bag. I have produced great images with it. I have not read of anyone with a better alternative than this lense.

Wide Angle Lens & Playback
 

1. Is there a way to adjust the speaker level on the A1 when playing back footage? I have looked through the book. I have scoured the camera. I cannot come up with a mechanism to adjust it.

2. Any one able to compare the Red Eye Wide Angle Adapters with the Century/Schneider non-zoom bayonet mount, fisheye and/or .6x?

From a distance the benefit of the Red Eye WA seems to be that it is lighter, can be flipped to create a fish eye.

The benefit of the Century lens is that it is a bayonet mount. Easy on/Easy off.

Can anyone make comparisons about the quality of glass?

I used the Century FishEye on my previous camera, a Z1, and was pleased with the results.

Best,

Whit

I went NUTS trying to find it also. Someone here helped me.

It isn't obvious, but if you look closely at the menu selector button at the bottom left of the battery compartment, you'll see that it adjusts playback volume by rotating up/down.

WOW!! I actually knew the answer to something here. I'm impressed with ME. Now if I could just get up to speed with everything else!!!

The select wheel on the back of the body. The same for headphone level.

Bill

I had some century adapters, bayonet mount, for my XL2 that I kept when I got the A1. Then bought the red eye and I much much prefer it.

And the Century adaptors fit? My bayonet mount Centurys from my XL1 won't fit on my A1 (and I was under the impression that the same Century models fit both the XL1 and XL2).

One of my lenses was actually for the XL1 I believe. They do fit if they are bayonet mount, it is just a very odd fit. I played with it for five minutes and was just about to give up then it just slipped on and the resolution was good in HD too. Problem is, I couldnt figure out a reliable way to get it on but both the WA and fisheye went on with some time spent. No forcing it was needed, just wiggling.

Right on, thanks. I gave up after a minute or so as I figured it was a long shot that it would fit in the first place. I will try again!


edit: wow that took all of 15 seconds. Thanks for the tip!

Thanks, very much, for pointing me to the menu selector.
Hiding in plain view!
Those crafty bastards!!

Thanks, too, for the Red Eye perspective.
I'll give it a shot.

Best,

Whit

I actually have the:
01) Century Optics .6X
02) Century Optics FishEye
03) Red Eye .4X

And a canon A1 and XL1s

if you want guys i can try to post images of all adapters !!!
But i thought the century optics adapters will not fit the A1 camera !!!!
I will give it a try and post something soon.

Amr

But i thought the century optics adapters will not fit the A1 camera !!!!

They just came onto the market:

http://www.schneideroptics.com/centu...h-g1/xh-g1.htm

Best,

Whit