I posted prices and info for Cavision in great detail about 7 posts into this thread. Links, options, prices , the whole 9 yards.

The 3x3 sunshade pricing is as I mentioned above.

The 4x4 rotating filterholder is $445 complete with adapters for the Optex and the 58mm standard. I wouldn't trust a 3x3 filter on a 82mm thread (3"=76mm).

You could buy the plain sunshade and install a thin stepping ring 82mm to 86mm and buy 86mm filters. Stacked 82mm filters will vignette.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Optex will vignette with a standard-sized UV filter in front. Look for a "slim line," and even then, run tests to make sure you're okay. I have a "slim line" polarizer, but haven't yet had a chance to try it out with the Optex.

My lense came in this morning. Its seems awful hard to lock lense tho. Is this normal. I wouldn't want to break anything.

There's a little bit of a trick to it. Once the bayonet mount is locked, you need to rotate the lens to "cinch" it in place. If it's too hard to lock, try rotating the lens in the other direction.

Boy that was easy enough! I didnt get the sunshade and not having any luck getting a reply from cavision. I'm afraid I'm goin to scratch my lense somehow. I'm videoing my sons ballgame today. How should i care for and clean this lense? Dust etc. I've been trying to find a slim line uv filter so I have no protection for the lense.

I use a microfiber cloth to clean the lens. Standard lens tissue should work well, too. Do _not_ use regular tissues, as they can scratch the lens surface. I also avoid liquid lens cleaners. I don't know if this is true anymore, but when I started in photography 200 years ago, liquid cleaners could remove the coating on coated lenses (and all good lenses are coated).

B&H sells slim-line filters.

Oh No, It's me again. I'm not stupid jes ignert. Could someone tell me what size filters I need for the Optex WA. Also, I'm not sure about sunshade. I checked with cavision and with the hood and step down ring and this and that it looks like I'd be just as well off with the hood that optex offers and what the heck is a mattebox anyway. This darn camera is gonna break me!

Yeah, Charles, you can go broke if you have a bad case of "igottahaveit-itis," which is very common among new camera owners, and not at all unlike "penis envy." It looks like you may just have a slight touch of this virus, since you are realizing that a mattebox may be overkill for your purposes. To get additional help, contact Cavision direct at 604-681-6621, and ask for John Anthony. He is quite helpful and should be able to hook you up with what you need.

There is a growing community of shooters who are abandoning their filters for software "filters," which allow you to make creative decisions at your leisure, and more importantly, change your mind. Other than a polarizer, which has its own problems, virtually any look you will get with hard filters can be duplicated in post. And remember, if you pan with a polarizer on your camera, it can affect your exposure dramatically. That is, assuming you are getting any effect from the filter in the first place.

UV filter for protection? If it makes you feel better, go for it. Do get the microfiber cleaning cloth that was mentioned earlier.

Thanks Wayne, I needed that, it all makes lots of sense. I never meant to spend no where near as much money as I did on this camera. It's so easy to get caught up in the moment and go to thinking I needed so much. Heck I don't know diddly squat bout no camera. These manufacturer's have got us morons figured out. You buy the camera then you need batteries, wide angle lense, filters, tripods that cost 3 times more than the camera lights, xlr adapter , mics etc. No insult to info boards but I'm sure others like me get to reading about ALL the accesories one needs to be really equipped to do what? Altho I've learned a lot reading the different post. I probably would have been better off going to Wal-Mart and buying that $400 camcorder that got me to wanting one in the first place. But the more I read about the different ones the more I thought I needed. So now I'm in a quagmire and probably do need all these accessories to make this camera fully functional.

I always had this dream of doing some documentaries of a few idea's I had. I thought if only I had a camera. Little did I know. After reading what you would actually need to make this dream a reality, I feel like by buying this camera it's kinda like trying to kill a Bear with a BB Gun. What the heck, I've got it know. I guess I'll just have to learn my limitations and do the best I can. But my accessory buying is coming to an end shortly. Just a couple more things and I'm done and I'm not paying more for a tripod than I did for the camera and that's that.

This board is a wealth of information. Who's know's thanks to people like me someone might get a great deal on some camera and accessories one of these days, hehaw. That is if I don't make it to the Big Screen.

Charles "Goin For Broke" French

SONY VCL-MHG07 / VCL-0752H Wide angle lenses
 

I made search on this Info Net about SONY wide angle lenses VCL-MHG07 and VCL-0752H.
I did not found any post about any of them. Please do not hash me or close my post if I'm wrong.

My question is: Do anybody know what is the different between them?
I did read somewhere about VCL-0752 that has dark corners if is used on VX2000, but I don’t know what I will gain if I will purchase VCL-MHG07 wide angle lens.
Please if somebody has experience about these lenses, let me know.

Cavision just sent me a price for a clear glass filter for the optex $60.00 WOW !!

Charles,

Always remember the quality of any production is determined by its content, not the equipment used to create it. A good story, told well, by a person with a $400 camera is far better than a poor story told on an IMAX screen and costing millions.

Don't wait to get the equipment you need, start shooting. If you are good, the money will come somehow.

Watch Genghis Blues. Shot on Hi-8 in Tuva without very much equipment at all. A Sundance winner. Or Blood, Guts, Bullets, and Octane. Shot here in Fairfield, CA on a GL1 for $7000 total cost. Shown at Sundance and distributed to theaters by Tom Cruse' distribution company. (That guy went on to direct 'Narc' and is now directing Harrison Ford in his next movie so I'm told)

As my teachers told me, "Its the story, stupid!"

So go create something. Even a one-minute short on your wife's roses.

I have the VCL-0752H and I get vignetting at wide angle. which is fixed by adjusting the lens a little to the telephoto. The results are wider than the stock lens, but not as wide as full capacity of the lens.

I have a VX-2000 and use a Sony VCL-HG0758 lens. Note the number is a little different than the other which was mentioned. This lens seems to have excellent optical quality; I did some resolution tests and couldn't see any difference when adding the wide adaptor. There is no vignetting with this lens.

So what is the difference? I got mine around October, 2001. Has my model been discontinued? Seems to me this was discussed earlier and someone asserted the lens was made by Kenko (I think) for Sony. Interestingly, there's sort of a rubber "donut" at the front of the lens if you look closely. This actually has the focal length and model number printed on it. If you roll this donut off you end up with a totally black lens housing devoid of any markings.

Sony includes the magnification power of the lens along with the attachment thread diameter in the model numbers. So an 0752 is a 0.7x wide-angle with a 52mm thread (for the TRV900) and a 2030 is a 2x telephoto converter with a 30mm diameter thread for something poofy like a TRV33.

tom.

Wignetting versus lens
 

This explain, why model VCL-0752 what is actually 52mm thread has wignetting and VCL-H0758 what is actually 58mm thread, has no wignetting if is used on VX2000, because VX2000 has 52mm lens and 58mm lens is bigger and of course is designed for larger lens. Probably the best solution for wignetting can be: Purchase always one step up larger lens and use adapter ring to bring it down to required size of threat.
What do you think? ( professionals).

The VX2k and the PD150 have a 58mm filter thread. The TRV900 has a 52mm thread and the 950 has a 37mm thread. It's not usually necessary to go the step down route and often this can be disadvantageous as it moves the wide-angle converter away from the camera's zoom and this in itself can vignette the image.

tom.

The VX1K and the VX9K both have 52mm optical filter threads, so with these two cams my converter lens will not vignette?

You asking me Garret? We shall never know - but you will. Shoot one single frame to memory stick with the w/angle converter in place. Open the file in Photoshop (whatever). Is the picture vignetted? If not, all is well and all will be well with your movies, too.

tom.

Thanks, I'll try that and post on it, that way we all can know.

Humm... so maybe I should sell my Century Optics .65 WA? I paid about $400

So whenever you attach the wide angle lens, you have to unscrew the UV filter from the standard lens in order to mount it?

And then you use the adapter without a UV filter?

Is that true when using the bayonette mount, too?

I have a mount for an old camera that lets you screw the 'base' of the adapter onto your existing lens, and then the wide angle lens "quick mounts" onto that. Is there anything like that for the PD150?

Thanks all.

Robert
The WA adapters mount to the 58mm filter threads or the bayonet mount on the outside of the lens barrel that holds the lens hood.

The optex and century bayonet adapters are a two piece assembly that includes both the threaded lens and the bayonet. It comes from the factory assembled and is not available separately.

If you left a filter threaded into the prime lens the bayonet mount wouldn't fit. The thought of mounting either a bayonet or threaded adapter over a filter makes me cringe. Even if it worked, that's not very much holding $400 worth of glass.

Why sell your Century, Anne? And what would you buy? Don't believe the above poster who stated that the Canon is as good as the Sony for half the money. I have seen stills from the Canon, and it definitely loses focus at longer focal lengths. But the Canon is a good deal for the money.

The Century consistently receives high marks for quality, Mike Rhemus' situation notwithstanding. Plus, they are a company that stands behind their product. Hopefully Mike will let us know the outcome.

If I hadn't gotten a great deal on the Sony lens, I certainly would have gone for the Century.

Also, if you consider using a WA adaptor screwed into a filter you should first do a test and look at the entire video frame. You may find some vignetting that doesn't show in your viewfinder. I know this was the case when I tried using one along with an ND filter on my PDX-10, and have read of similar problems on the PD-150.

wide lens hood for VCL-HG0758
 

Can anyone suggest a hood protecting the wide lens VCL-HG0758 from flaring? Thanks.

Depends what the outer (front) diameter of the lens is. I bought a good aspect ratio hood from www.cavision.com for my 0.5x Tecpro widre-angle converter, and it works a treat.

tom.

I think the Sony is 95mm, at any rate the cavision Wide Angle hood has a 100mm back mount. You would buy a 100 mm to 95mm slip ring for $5, the hood is $60 US. For $40 more they have a french flag that's as big as an elephants ear.
http://www.cavision.com/LensHood/LH100S.htm

Thanks, guys. I checked cavision. They claim their hood fits my lens. I found a similar hood at www.vjcentre.com. Don't know which of them is better. Should I take into account anything except the price?

The price is identical, it's whatever floats your boat. Either dealing with the UK or Canada.

Why Does My Wide Angle Lens Do This?
 

******NEWBIE QUESTION ALERT****

HEY, I HAVE A (BRAND X)WIDE ANGLE LENS THAT I BOUGHT FROM ADORAMAS IN N.Y.C....I SHOOT A LOT OF PERFORMANCES IN NIGHTCLUBS AND I NOTICE I GET A FUZZINESS THAT SURROUNDS THE CORNERS OF THE LENS. WHAT CAUSES THIS? IS IT BECAUSE I BOUGHT A B-LEVEL LENS...OH YA WHITE ALWAYS GIVES ME A PROBLEM TOO, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PERSON IS GLOWING DAMN NEAR..I PLAY WITH EXPOSURE BUT, IT STILL GIVES OFF THAT LOOK.

IM USING A VX-2000 BY THE WAY
 

OH YA IM USING A VX-2000 BY THE WAY

wide angle help
 

As some of you know, i am going to Africa to shoot a shot documentary about my granddfather. There will be interviews, etc., but there will also be Africa to shoot! I need need need a wide angle for my VX-2000! By now i have understood the concept of "it depends what your budget is". So is there a short list of lenses at different budgelevels that work for different people? Is there, for instance, a $200 lens that I should avoid and another $200 lens that is great? I would appreciate any help.

Oh, and what wide angle (.7,.65,.5, etc.) do you all use?
Thanks,

Marcello

I have the Century Optics .65 adapter. I like the mounting technique, I'd not like it in Africa without filter threads for a protective filter.

I don't like the slight softness it gives the footage. So much so that I sent it back for a checkup. They checked it for free, saying it 'meets their specs', and billed me $6 for return postage.

I also don't like buying a $400 piece of glass and getting it in a cardboard box with no case. No optional case either. I complained and they said they would have to raise the price if they supplied a case.

My take on Century Optics is they are not a customer-friendly company. At least their customer support folks leave the impression that they don't care what their customers need or want even while providing an adequate level of support. Hard to describe but it is their attitude, not their action.

I note that I also purchased a WA adapter from them for my PC110 which is much crisper. It came with a nice plastic box and a soft pouch. I suspect they didn't build this adapter.

(I don't mind the $6 but the bill came out of NY from their parent company and had to cost them $50- $100 to issue and process.)

Michael,

A brand name and model number would help here.

The fuzzy glow you are experiencing is not vignetting, that is darkening of the edges of the frame. The fuzzyness may be caused by a number of factors, the names of which don't really matter.

I've not experienced the problem with my Century Optics adapter nor have I heard of the problem with a Sony or Canon adapter.

That doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist with those brands, just that it's not reported.

Only by testing with another brand of WA adapter can you determine that the problem rests with the copy you have and not the genre. Have you asked Adorama about the problem?

Differences exist between examples of the same model. You could have received a bad one. You might try another unit.

The white-out sounds to me as if your camcorders exposing for the whole frame whereas the subject is lit in a dark background. On the VX2k there's a "spotlight" switch under the lens barrel, and this works well if you don't want to use the manual exposure wheel.

The fuzziness you speak of could well be just unsharpness in the corners. My 0.5x Cavision was like that, and I returned it for a full refund. My Century 0.65x (like Mike has) is very much better.

tom.

Michael,

If you only notice the "fuzziness" when you are entirely zoomed out, then you are probably seeing the outer-most inside of the actual wide angle adapter lens. If you see it all the time, the lens is junk, and I would return it for a better one.

-Nori

Now that's the first post I've ever read where Century has taken a beating. Interesting.
I did a multi wide-angle test shoot-out for a British video magazine and top of the tree was the Century 0.65x. It has that wonderful breech-lock bayonet (but then so do Kenko, Optex and Tecpro), it had the best multi coating, came in a leatherette pouch and was very sharp indeed.

Frames pulled into Photoshop for evaluation were as close to the VX2k's unaided zoom as I could see. All the other lenses in the test were not as good, but then all other lenses were a lot less expensive.

The Raynox 0.66x distorted straight lines a lot less but for zero distortion the Schneider Kreutznach was Nr 1.

What widie do I use? I have a fisheye (gobs of vignetting), a 0.3x a 0,4x, a 0.5x and a 0.7x. They all have their uses, they all have their failings but they all extend the power of the Sony lens immensley. I wouldn't be without any of them.

tom.

I thought is was my PD150 but Sony replaced that and the softness is there with the new unit too.

I think it is a bum unit but Century say otherwise. Somewhere along the way they lost handing out the vinyl pouch that my other 2 Century WA adapters came with.

Now why don't they make a WA adapter like the one for my DSR-300. That's an impressive chunk of glass. The front element can be removed to provide less WA if desired. Must weight half as much as a PD150 by itself.

ya, I'm going back to adoramas on monday and drilling the staff about this problem--I shot a fashion show and the piece was extremely fuzzy, thanks for all the advice. (thats what happens when you try to save a buck)


p.s.

my work will be displayed on NONSTOPNIGHTS.com this weekend.
(my first shoot ever was the playboy party in n.y.c., man that was pressure! (but of course enjoyable)