Best 0.7X wideangle for the HMC40?
 

I see both a Panasonic AG-LW4307 and a Panasonic VWW4307HPPK are avilable online - can anyone comment on their relative quality? Are there other 0.7X 43mm wideangles I should be considering?

I'm still thinking about which wide angle adapter to go with.

Right now, the Century 0.5x looks the most interesting at about $160:
Lens Mount 43mm Filter Thread
Mounting 43mm Filter Thread
Zoom Through Partial (One user reported up to 1/2 way in the zoom range.)
Magnification 0.5x
Filter Size 67mm
Dimensions (WxD) 1.77 x 0.37" (45 x 9.4mm)
Weight 4.6 oz (131g)
Century Precision Optics | 0HD-05WA-43 0.5x Wide | 0HD-05WA-43


Raynox makes some adapters:

Raynox
HD-3035PRO Semi-Fisheye Conversion Lens (0.3x, 37mm)
* Broadens Angle of View 180%
* Compatible with Up to 6x Zoom
* High Resolution 520 line/mm
* 37mm Thread Mount
* 2 Groups/2 Elements
* Utlra Wide Angle 0.3x
* Lens Shade Mask Included
* 27/30/30.5/34/43mm Adapter Rings
* Up to 6x zoom
* # HD-3035PRO About $125 Does NOT have a front mount for any additional lens hood, but comes with a plastic hood.
Raynox | HD-3035PRO Semi-Fisheye Conversion Lens | HD-3035PRO

Raynox
HD-6600 Pro 43mm 0.66x High Quality Wide Angle Converter Lens
Magnification 0.66x
Zoom Through: Yes (I assume they are talking about the full zoom range)
Rear Mount Diameter 43mm
Front Mount Diameter 72mm (for lens hood)
Construction, Elements/Groups 3E/3G
Lens Diameter 3.0" (75mm)
Length 1.54" (39mm)
Weight 6.27 oz (178g)
# HD660043 About $120
Raynox | HD-6600 43mm 0.66x Pro Wide Angle Lens | HD660043 | B&H


One user gave a good review on the Century with his HMC40 and there's some hint that the Raynox adapters may be good, but I don't have any user reporting on putting it on the HMX40.


Bob Diaz

Awhile back, reading what users wrote about the Raynox HD6600 with the HV20/30, apparently the 52mm (rear mount - using a 43mm to 52mm step up ring) version works better than the 43mm one.

Hmmm ... I have a 37mm Raynox and it's only OKish - definitely not as good as my Sony.

i have the panasonic one
Panasonic | VWW4307HPPK 0.7x Wide Angle | VW-W4307HPPK | B&H
and i have zero complaints with it,to my eye theres no distortion or vignetting at all

Just to say that adding a 0.7x wide converter to an HMC 40 doesn't give you much in the way of the wide-angle look, and that's because the 41 mm (equivalent) of the supplied zoom is so (dare I say it?) unacceptable.

Bob's thoughts on fitting a 0.5x will make the 20.5 mm equivalent look pretty impressive, but usually such powerful add-on lenses bring gobs of barrel distortion to the mix.

tom.

I'm wanting full zoom-through so I've ordered the HPPK model ... Found a link saying the other Panasonic was not intended for their HD cams. Thanks everyone.

There is going to be some distortion to the video, which depending on what you're trying to do, may or may not be a good thing. Here's a link to a ZIP file that contains a 720p video file using the Century adapter.

http://mikemclin.com/files/HMC40_Cen...5x_FlowPod.zip


Bob Diaz

We got an older Panasonic 0.7 WA lens off eBay, not the current model but it's 43mm so it fits fine. It works well enough, gives the HMC40 a little bit more of a normal zoom range, IMO. It stays on the camera most of the time now. The only problem is this one doesn't have an external screw thread for a filter or, more importantly, a lens hood. Of course, the original lens hood no longer fits, so it's rather susceptible to flare if you have the sun at any kind of angle off the lens. For indoor use, it is great though. If the current version of the Panasonic 0.7WA 43mm lens has filter threads on the front, then I would definitely say it's worth getting some kind of screw in lens hood to put on there, as long as it doesn't vignette of course.

Robert

Bob, thanks for the clip, that's pretty intense. Definitely seems like it'll work for the look I'll be trying to achieve. I be the CO Fisheye is really nuts in that case.

According to another user, the Century Adapter allows a zoom up to 50% before the image goes out of focus. I assume that translates to a 6x zoom.

If so it would give a 35mm equivalent of about 21.5 --> 129 zoom. I don't know if the image looses sharpness as one reaches the telephoto range, but even if we are limited to 21.5 --> 35, that would still cover a good range for wide angle.


Bob Diaz

I have quite a few 'non zoom-through' adapters and they all allow about 60% of the original zoom range to be used. My 0.52x on my Z1 lets me film from 00 to 65 on the 00 to 99 zoom scale in the v'finder.

What's nice is that at 66 the image goes suddenly and completely out of focus, and this effect I cannot replicate in post anywhere near as beautifully. I often use it in a dissolve to the next scene.

tom.

VWW4307H-PPK just arrived - no front filter threads, sadly. Whereas it looks like the Century does have threads....

The lack of filter threads is a very sensible design decision. You might be planning on fitting this to a camcorder with tiny ½" chips and smaller, and filters + very short focal lengths just do not mix.

If ever I see threads at the front of a wide converter I call them hood threads.

I was responding to Robert who asked if there were threads for a hood. These adapters are VERY prone to flare.