I still think , this lens is soft for the most part. It's possible to achieve focus, a decent one, but not razor sharp like on the 16x. They cut some corners with this lens.

It also only has one ND filter setting, which lies between too much for indoor and to little for bright daylight.

It's zoom and focus rings feel like they are digital. You can spin them 360 degrees and you never get a real feel of pulling focus. A rack focus nightmare.

You widest apeture is going to be 2.0/1.8

However, if you need to get a nice wide angle shot, this will do it for you. If you are far back enough, you will be able to get a decent shallow depth of field going.

going price for used 3x wide lens for xl1s?
 

is $800 shipped considered a good price for a used, in good shape 3x wide xl1s lens?

I picked up my 3x lens for $900 brand new in box off E-bay

Ken, was that from those Seaggie guys? Or Somewhere in NY/Brooklyn?

edit - My bad - JOHN :)

Who is ken? i bought it from someone in brooklyn, ny

$800 seems a little high for a used one, especially off Ebay. I'd probably be more likely to spend $100 more and get a new one. Whichof course, may or may not be new...

<<<-- Originally posted by John Threat : Who is ken? i bought it from someone in brooklyn, ny -->>>

Sorry John! I meant John. Sorry, I've interacted with so many K-names this past 2 weeks, I've got K on the brain. Appologies :)

The one i got from ebay, and i know this doesnt happen everytime
was absolutely new and flawless. I seriously doubt it was ever mounted anywhere.

a Note for new 3x lens users
 

The 3x wide angle is a nice lens. There's one issue I thought you should know about. If you're planning on using screw-on filters, you can use a maximum of one if you're going full-wide. Since the lens zoom is fairly weak in magnification, most people will be using this lens wide anyways.

I shot video this weekend, and the results in Vegas show a nice circular masking over the corners where my polarizer was sitting. I did not see this in my viewfinder during the shoot (FU-500 colour) however, so just a friendly warning. :) Perhaps the colour viewfinder is just too small (both in physical size and resolution) to pick up small problems like that...

Using a single filter is fine, I had a UV filter on for protection, and it was a bright day so I threw on the circpol.... all my full wide's are problematic, I can cut and crop but damn.

Otherwise I'm enjoying my 3x.

That's a good tip, Andrew. I've never tried to use more than 1 filter with mine, but I can certainly imagine how a stack would begin to vignette the image at wide settings. Using the "thin" models of filters, where available, may enable you to use two without causing trouble.

If you use the 3x wide, you should think about buying a matte box that holds filters (4x4) to avoid the vignetting that comes with screwing on more than one filter at once.

It will also save you a bit of time when switching lenses as you dont have to risk touching the glass of the lens or the filter by trying to swap them between your lens.

Regarding this 3x wide angle lens, I was wondering if someone could either post, email me, or point me in the right direction of some frame grabs of the same scene between the 3x and the regular or manual 16x lens.

I'm curious to see just how wide it can get. Thanks.

Brad,
As you can see from the spec page the 3x's widest angular coverage is just over 70 deg horizontally by just under 34 deg vertically. This compares to the 16x manual lens' coverage of just under 48 deg horizontally by just under 27 deg vertically.

So it gives you about 46% more horizontal coverage and about 20% more vertical coverage.

thanks Ken! That helps.

I have even seen vignetting on my standard 16x lense with two
filters on there at its widest. But I always add black bars so it
isn't a problem for me....

Dont forget the eletronic zoom ring which prevents you from doing any sort of professional level follow focus.rendering the lens a step up from a toy.

The DOF is pretty extreme with the 3X. There is not much to try and follow unless the subject is right on top of the lens. I use it with my Glidecam V-8 and it can virtually eliminate the need to worry about focus in some shots.

Canon 3X VL Wide Zoom Lens
 

Does anyone know if this lens can be used in a XL1s
Thanks
www.video.com.mx

No, these lenses only fit the XL1's predesessor. Sorry.

See the article Canon VL Lenses on the XL1? by Don Palomaki.

Thank you
www.video.com.mx

Jose. Where did you buy your camera in Mexico? I have been trying to find a good dealer of video equipment in Mexico, but without much luck. I never live near DF so didnt know that area too well to go hunting around for gear. And most seem to be just amateurish stuff and nothing good. Or did you just get yours across the US border and bring it back, or mail order it and pay the tax in the Aduana?

Thanks

Christopher
I bought all my stuff on ebay and USA stores
and then send it to my USA Address in merkalink www.merkalink.com
I pay my import taxes around 17% and the shipping to Laredo and then to Mexico (Around $30 US CY for up to $1000 US CY and 2 Kilos

The Canon 3X
 

A question. I have the opportunity to buy a used Canon 3X for $600. This is through a camera shop. I have the Canon 16X II and the 14X manual. I have usually been able to borrow the 3X in the past and know how fine a lens it is. In light of the XL-2 possibly coming out this year would this be a good purchase? Bob

$600 seems like a pretty reasonable price. I'd buy it. The XL2 probably won't be available for 6 months at best, and that leaves you lots of time to get good use out of it. Plus you can always sell it. There are probably a hundred thousand XL1 users out there, and they won't disapear when the XL2 comes out.

Bob,

I tend to use the 3X lens more than the 16X. I definitely recommend it.

3X is a must have for the XL series.

RB

OK, I picked it up last night. You guys were right. It sure is a nice hunk of glass. Thanks for the input. Bob

Bob, can you recommend the place you bought it from? I am looking for one but the brand new retail price is a bit hard to swallow if you can get an honest deal on a used one.

Rafal, it is a camera shop in Atlanta called Showcase. I have been dealing with them for 14 years. Excellant reputation. This is the first 3X that I have seen there. They usually do not handle used equipment much that was why I was so surprized. I will keep a look out in the Atlanta area for you. Bob

Thanks a lot Bob. Don't worry though, being the obsessive compulsive type ( this is my wife's opinion ) I will probably get it from BH ( USING LINK FROM THIS SITE :-) ).
Thanks again for your answer.

3X and 16X
 

I'm about to buy a fisheye for my lens from Century Optics. But they have 2 diffrent kinds. One for the 3X and one for the 16x lens. I emailed them and asked if it was the same fisheye. They said the fisheye for the 3X would fit both. What I can't figre ut is how a bayonet monted fisheye can fith on both, the 3X and 16x lens if you buy the 3X version. But only fits the 16x if you buy the 16x.

So I wonder, for those of you that have both these lenses, are the mount any diffrent on the 3X? (lens shade) from the bayonet mount on the 16x?

They should both physically fit on each lens. I think what they are refering to is that if you put the fisheye for the 16x lens on the 3x you will get vignetting due to the 3x lens's wider angle of view. I've seen the 3x hood on a 16x lens, why I don't know, but it was on there.

All of the Canon XL lenses share the same accessory thread diameter: 72mm. So I suspect that Century meant that you will be able to mount their lens on either lens.

Given the extreme wide-angle nature of a fish-eye lens I doubt that you will be using a hood at all with this accessory mountd on either lens.

So if I understand correct,

1. Bayonet mount is when you use the mount where you usually mount your lenshood. The fisheye use a bayonet mounting system so it should fit where the lenshood usually goes? Pretty logical.

2. Both the 3X and 16x could share the same lenshood?

I can't figure out why they should have one for the 16x and one for the 3x as they list on their homepage. When I emailed and asked them, they said the one for the 3X would fith both lenses but it seems that one for the 16x won't go on to the 3X.

So that's why I'm confused, because if the lenshood mount is the same on both leneses there would be no problem.

Due to the wide field of view on the 3x, you would see the edges of the 16x lens hood in frame if you used it on the 3x. That's why they're telling you not to do it -- and that's why the 3x lens hood has such an exotic tulip shape. Hope this helps,

I just ordered a used 3x from B&H for 899. While not in the same price as $600 it's still cheaper than full new price of $1,200 and I trust B&H. Go to the web site and see for your self

what are some of the situations where you would use a Canon 3X lens?

Jack, 3x is a wide angle lens so it would be good for situation where you need to grab a little more in the frame without having to luxury of distance. Plus I am sure there are a whole bunch of other creative situations.

Some situations:
Indoor birthday party
First dance
Small room
Wide shot of ball game