Century Optics lens at DVinfo.net

Bruce S. Yarock · November 14th, 2004, 07:24 AM

I'm interested in a wide angle lens, and saw the Century Precision optics .6 for around $330. Is that a complete set up for the xl2?
Thanks in advance
Bruce yarock

Jeff Miller · November 14th, 2004, 08:05 AM

related question (two for one!)

Can this converter be screwed onto the 14x or 16x manual as well as the automatic 20X?

Josh Bass · November 14th, 2004, 09:14 AM

I have it for the manual 16x lens. I like it, but it's not perfect. Probably a little softer overall than the main lens, and I definitely see softness near the sides of the frame, getting sharper toward the center. Noticable about of barrel distortion too.

Oliver Power · November 14th, 2004, 09:09 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : I have it for the manual 16x lens. I like it, but it's not perfect. Probably a little softer overall than the main lens, and I definitely see softness near the sides of the frame, getting sharper toward the center. Noticable about of barrel distortion too. -->>>

Really? Have you had a chance to use the .7x Century Wide? I am debating between the .6 and the .7 right now. I'm liking the .6 price and extra wide angle area. The zoom-through capability of the .7 is not an issue for me. However if the .6 edges are soft thats bad.

Oliver

Josh Bass · November 14th, 2004, 10:19 PM

I know nothing personally of the .7x . I stand by the soft edge comments. If you really want wide, with good resolution, you gotta, you know, fork up for the 3x. I think. Unless there's another option I don't know about.

Jeff Miller · November 14th, 2004, 10:42 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : I have it for the manual 16x lens. I like it, but it's not perfect. -->>>

Josh-
Which 0.6x do you have? It appears there is one for the smart lens and one for the 16x manual lens.

VS-06WA-XL2 ,,,,Canon 16x auto lens or Canon 3X wide angle zoom.

VS-06WA-MXL ,,,,6x Wide Angle Adapter for the Canon XL1/XL1S, 16x manual lens

Wow this WA stuff is confusing! I'm about to start a thread just about it. WA is one of my favorite modes of shooting, not something to screw up! :)

Josh Bass · November 14th, 2004, 11:45 PM

Ok, wait. Let's get ourselves on the same page.

As far as I know, which may not be very far (haha), there are two .6x WA adapters (fixed focal length) for the XL1/XL1s, and now, XL2.

There is one for the ISII lens, and one for the 16x manual. I have it for the 16x manual. So, though my base lens is sharper, I still see softness at the edges. It's not super-blurry, but looks very slightly out of focus.

Christopher Go · November 15th, 2004, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Wow this WA stuff is confusing!

Jeff, you're right about that. Actually the story gets interesting when we introduce yet another lens: the Canon 14X manual.

For that lens, you'll need the VS-06WA-75! This is yet another .6 wide angle adapter for the Canon XL series of DV camcorder.

I emailed Century Optics for confirmation and that is the wide angle adapter for the 14X. It's been mentioned here in the past as well. Jean-Philippe Archibald did some research a while back, check this thread here.

So, three wide angle adapters so far: 1) VS-06WA-XL2 for the 16X IIS and XL2; 2) VS-06WA-MXL for the 16X manual; and 3) VS-06WA-75 for the Canon 14X manual.

Jeff Miller · November 15th, 2004, 08:22 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Christopher Go : So, three wide angle adapters so far: 1) VS-06WA-XL2 for the 16X IIS and XL2; 2) VS-06WA-MXL for the 16X manual; and 3) VS-06WA-75 for the Canon 14X manual. -->>>

/me shakes head :D
Canon 3X wide, anyone? :)))

Bruce S. Yarock · November 15th, 2004, 08:43 AM

</me shakes head :D
Canon 3X wide, anyone? :)))>

My sentiments exactly.
Bruce yarock

Jeff Miller · November 15th, 2004, 09:39 AM

The 3X is hardly the most capable combo but for those (like me) who've hardly touched the camera it sounds hard to go wrong. Take advantage of that interchangable lens capability.

Forget the fact that for the price of two converters and the filtershade you can buy the 3X

Oliver Power · November 15th, 2004, 01:32 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Miller : The 3X is hardly the most capable combo but for those (like me) who've hardly touched the camera it sounds hard to go wrong. Take advantage of that interchangable lens capability.

Forget the fact that for the price of two converters and the filtershade you can buy the 3X -->>>

Sure, but if you still need the full manual capability and feel of the 14x and the 16x manual lens, then a wide angle adaptor/convertor is a better bet. And on a set, changing lens is down time, and down time = $.

Now if there were a 3x manual...:-)

Oliver

Marty Hudzik · November 15th, 2004, 01:51 PM

Can anyone confirm that the .7x wide angle Century converter suffers from the "softness" around the edges?

Bruce S. Yarock · November 15th, 2004, 02:23 PM

This may be slightly off topic, but can someone tell me the differrences between the two manual lenses? (14x and 16x).
Bruce yarock

Jeff Miller · November 15th, 2004, 02:37 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Oliver Power : <<<--
Sure, but if you still need the full manual capability and feel of the 14x and the 16x manual lens, then a wide angle adaptor/convertor is a better bet. And on a set, changing lens is down time, and down time = $.
Oliver -->>>
Oh yeah, there's nothing like the manual. We're probably talking about different shooting situations. I've wondered is changing the lens timely to do in the field? I just wonder what it's like. I don't care about down time, I'm unemployed :D

"Now if there were a 3x manual...:-)"
I would buy it without a thought!

November 14th, 2004, 07:24 AM	#1
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Century Optics lens I'm interested in a wide angle lens, and saw the Century Precision optics .6 for around $330. Is that a complete set up for the xl2? Thanks in advance Bruce yarock

November 14th, 2004, 09:14 AM	#3
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I have it for the manual 16x lens. I like it, but it's not perfect. Probably a little softer overall than the main lens, and I definitely see softness near the sides of the frame, getting sharper toward the center. Noticable about of barrel distortion too. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

November 14th, 2004, 09:09 PM	#4
Oliver Power Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 26	how about the 0.7x wide Convertor? <<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : I have it for the manual 16x lens. I like it, but it's not perfect. Probably a little softer overall than the main lens, and I definitely see softness near the sides of the frame, getting sharper toward the center. Noticable about of barrel distortion too. -->>> Really? Have you had a chance to use the .7x Century Wide? I am debating between the .6 and the .7 right now. I'm liking the .6 price and extra wide angle area. The zoom-through capability of the .7 is not an issue for me. However if the .6 edges are soft thats bad. Oliver

November 14th, 2004, 10:19 PM	#5
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I know nothing personally of the .7x . I stand by the soft edge comments. If you really want wide, with good resolution, you gotta, you know, fork up for the 3x. I think. Unless there's another option I don't know about. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

November 14th, 2004, 11:45 PM	#7
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Ok, wait. Let's get ourselves on the same page. As far as I know, which may not be very far (haha), there are two .6x WA adapters (fixed focal length) for the XL1/XL1s, and now, XL2. There is one for the ISII lens, and one for the 16x manual. I have it for the 16x manual. So, though my base lens is sharper, I still see softness at the edges. It's not super-blurry, but looks very slightly out of focus. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

November 14th, 2004, 08:05 AM	#2
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	related question (two for one!) Can this converter be screwed onto the 14x or 16x manual as well as the automatic 20X?

November 14th, 2004, 10:42 PM	#6
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	<<<-- Originally posted by Josh Bass : I have it for the manual 16x lens. I like it, but it's not perfect. -->>> Josh- Which 0.6x do you have? It appears there is one for the smart lens and one for the 16x manual lens. VS-06WA-XL2 ,,,,Canon 16x auto lens or Canon 3X wide angle zoom. VS-06WA-MXL ,,,,6x Wide Angle Adapter for the Canon XL1/XL1S, 16x manual lens Wow this WA stuff is confusing! I'm about to start a thread just about it. WA is one of my favorite modes of shooting, not something to screw up! :)

November 15th, 2004, 08:22 AM	#9
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	<<<-- Originally posted by Christopher Go : So, three wide angle adapters so far: 1) VS-06WA-XL2 for the 16X IIS and XL2; 2) VS-06WA-MXL for the 16X manual; and 3) VS-06WA-75 for the Canon 14X manual. -->>> /me shakes head :D Canon 3X wide, anyone? :)))

November 15th, 2004, 08:43 AM	#10
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	</me shakes head :D Canon 3X wide, anyone? :)))> My sentiments exactly. Bruce yarock

November 15th, 2004, 09:39 AM	#11
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	The 3X is hardly the most capable combo but for those (like me) who've hardly touched the camera it sounds hard to go wrong. Take advantage of that interchangable lens capability. Forget the fact that for the price of two converters and the filtershade you can buy the 3X

November 15th, 2004, 01:32 PM	#12
Oliver Power Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 26	<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Miller : The 3X is hardly the most capable combo but for those (like me) who've hardly touched the camera it sounds hard to go wrong. Take advantage of that interchangable lens capability. Forget the fact that for the price of two converters and the filtershade you can buy the 3X -->>> Sure, but if you still need the full manual capability and feel of the 14x and the 16x manual lens, then a wide angle adaptor/convertor is a better bet. And on a set, changing lens is down time, and down time = $. Now if there were a 3x manual...:-) Oliver

November 15th, 2004, 01:51 PM	#13
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	Can anyone confirm that the .7x wide angle Century converter suffers from the "softness" around the edges?

November 15th, 2004, 02:23 PM	#14
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	This may be slightly off topic, but can someone tell me the differrences between the two manual lenses? (14x and 16x). Bruce yarock

November 15th, 2004, 02:37 PM	#15
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	<<<-- Originally posted by Oliver Power : <<<-- Sure, but if you still need the full manual capability and feel of the 14x and the 16x manual lens, then a wide angle adaptor/convertor is a better bet. And on a set, changing lens is down time, and down time = $. Oliver -->>> Oh yeah, there's nothing like the manual. We're probably talking about different shooting situations. I've wondered is changing the lens timely to do in the field? I just wonder what it's like. I don't care about down time, I'm unemployed :D "Now if there were a 3x manual...:-)" I would buy it without a thought!

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