Anchor Optics Achromats at DVinfo.net

Matthew Wauhkonen · August 16th, 2005, 05:41 PM

My adapter is working great: decent resolution, moderate light loss, and no visible grain at relatively open apertures (f4 and under, below that there's not grain but it gets hazy).

The macro lens I'm using (Asian brand off ebay) kind of sucks, though. Has anyone used the anchor optics ones? I'm thinking of getting a 54mm (mountable in a 58mm filter?) achromatic diopter with a focal length of like 90mm or something (which should be equal to about +11, right?) It's coated and dual element so I assume it should be good, and it's only about 30 shipped.

Will these be considerably better? Has anyone used anchor optics achromatic diopters? If so, how are they? If not, is there anything decent for a reasonable price ($40 and under is reasonable according to me)?

Thanks.

Riley Stearns · August 16th, 2005, 06:47 PM

I purchased a condensor lens from Anchor Optics and it's really good quality.

Quyen Le · August 16th, 2005, 07:35 PM

I have bad experience with Anchor Optics. Ordered 2 prisms, they have scratches all over, both of them.

Quyen

Riley Stearns · August 16th, 2005, 08:06 PM

They label their products as 1, 2, and 3. Make sure you buy 1 as the other two are used or worn. 1 should be completely clean.

Quyen Le · August 16th, 2005, 08:51 PM

The item I bought didn' show any grade next to it.

Quyen

Matthew Wauhkonen · August 16th, 2005, 09:35 PM

I bought some condensors from them that were great quality so I'm going for it.

Just a question: if the achromats are indeed good quality, will a +11 strength exhibit more distortion than a +7 or something? My choices are (for the same price, roughly):

+7 No coating
+11 with anti-reflective coating
+5.5 with anti-reflective coating

I'm using a dvx100a so I know I need a moderately strong diopter. Currently I'm using a +10 and it's plenty strong enough. I know +7 is strong enough, but it doesn't have a coating. Any ideas?

Jim Lafferty · August 17th, 2005, 08:16 AM

Have two PCX lenses from them that appear to be good (no scratches). Haven't put them to use yet, though. They are 50mm 97FL and were super cheap.

- jim

Bob Hart · August 18th, 2005, 06:00 AM

I suggest before you buy the achromat with the smaller diameter you might check the capability of your camera's zoom lens by making a mask of the same diameter as the achromat and placing it against the front of your camcorder and see if you can zoom through without getting corner cropping or vignette. Even if you don't there is no guarantee you will get a good corner to corner image without edge softness as you will likely have to use a lot of zoom-through to avoid the edges.

I believe the DVX-100 to be a 72mm filter mount. The front optical element in the DVX-100 may well be a smaller diameter in the same manner that the Sony PD150 filter mount is 58mm but the front element diameter is 52mm. I put a 44mm diameter lens on front of it via adaptors and I found I had to go to about 70% zoom to get rid of the corner cropping. Close focus crashed at about 80% with this glass on front. So the 54mm diameter in front of your DVX-100 may be a bit tight also. Given that your chosen achromat may focus furthur away than the one I used, the vignette problem may be more apparent. Then again I could be totally wrong and you may well have proven it so by the lens you are currently using. In that case ignore my comments at will.

Matthew Wauhkonen · August 18th, 2005, 06:47 AM

You may be right, but the achromats on the g35 and micro35 (while lower power, I think) are of similar size. So....here's to hoping it will work out. But that's a valid concern.

I guess I'll find out soon enough!

Leo Mandy · August 18th, 2005, 09:12 AM

The ones with the Micro35 - are you talking about the free one that comes with the kit?

Matthew Wauhkonen · August 18th, 2005, 09:23 AM

Yup. It looks like they mount it similarly. Wouldn't be surprised if it came from Edmunds.

Matthew Wauhkonen · August 18th, 2005, 09:57 AM

Nevermind. Looks like this: http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/l1590.html

Am I right?

+6 power about....seems plausible.

August 16th, 2005, 05:41 PM	#1
Matthew Wauhkonen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285	Anchor Optics Achromats My adapter is working great: decent resolution, moderate light loss, and no visible grain at relatively open apertures (f4 and under, below that there's not grain but it gets hazy). The macro lens I'm using (Asian brand off ebay) kind of sucks, though. Has anyone used the anchor optics ones? I'm thinking of getting a 54mm (mountable in a 58mm filter?) achromatic diopter with a focal length of like 90mm or something (which should be equal to about +11, right?) It's coated and dual element so I assume it should be good, and it's only about 30 shipped. Will these be considerably better? Has anyone used anchor optics achromatic diopters? If so, how are they? If not, is there anything decent for a reasonable price ($40 and under is reasonable according to me)? Thanks.

August 16th, 2005, 06:47 PM	#2
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	I purchased a condensor lens from Anchor Optics and it's really good quality. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

August 16th, 2005, 07:35 PM	#3
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	I have bad experience with Anchor Optics. Ordered 2 prisms, they have scratches all over, both of them. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

August 16th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#4
Riley Stearns Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 94	They label their products as 1, 2, and 3. Make sure you buy 1 as the other two are used or worn. 1 should be completely clean. __________________ i can't yet see Productions

August 16th, 2005, 08:51 PM	#5
Quyen Le Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 356	The item I bought didn' show any grade next to it. Quyen __________________ Affordable Adapter http://www.adapterplace.com

August 16th, 2005, 09:35 PM	#6
Matthew Wauhkonen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285	I bought some condensors from them that were great quality so I'm going for it. Just a question: if the achromats are indeed good quality, will a +11 strength exhibit more distortion than a +7 or something? My choices are (for the same price, roughly): +7 No coating +11 with anti-reflective coating +5.5 with anti-reflective coating I'm using a dvx100a so I know I need a moderately strong diopter. Currently I'm using a +10 and it's plenty strong enough. I know +7 is strong enough, but it doesn't have a coating. Any ideas?

August 17th, 2005, 08:16 AM	#7
Jim Lafferty Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 636	Have two PCX lenses from them that appear to be good (no scratches). Haven't put them to use yet, though. They are 50mm 97FL and were super cheap. - jim __________________ Realism, anyway, is never exactly the same as reality, and in the cinema it is of necessity faked. -- J-L G

August 18th, 2005, 06:00 AM	#8
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	I suggest before you buy the achromat with the smaller diameter you might check the capability of your camera's zoom lens by making a mask of the same diameter as the achromat and placing it against the front of your camcorder and see if you can zoom through without getting corner cropping or vignette. Even if you don't there is no guarantee you will get a good corner to corner image without edge softness as you will likely have to use a lot of zoom-through to avoid the edges. I believe the DVX-100 to be a 72mm filter mount. The front optical element in the DVX-100 may well be a smaller diameter in the same manner that the Sony PD150 filter mount is 58mm but the front element diameter is 52mm. I put a 44mm diameter lens on front of it via adaptors and I found I had to go to about 70% zoom to get rid of the corner cropping. Close focus crashed at about 80% with this glass on front. So the 54mm diameter in front of your DVX-100 may be a bit tight also. Given that your chosen achromat may focus furthur away than the one I used, the vignette problem may be more apparent. Then again I could be totally wrong and you may well have proven it so by the lens you are currently using. In that case ignore my comments at will.

August 18th, 2005, 06:47 AM	#9
Matthew Wauhkonen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285	You may be right, but the achromats on the g35 and micro35 (while lower power, I think) are of similar size. So....here's to hoping it will work out. But that's a valid concern. I guess I'll find out soon enough!

August 18th, 2005, 09:12 AM	#10
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	The ones with the Micro35 - are you talking about the free one that comes with the kit?

August 18th, 2005, 09:23 AM	#11
Matthew Wauhkonen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285	Yup. It looks like they mount it similarly. Wouldn't be surprised if it came from Edmunds.

August 18th, 2005, 09:57 AM	#12
Matthew Wauhkonen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 285	Nevermind. Looks like this: http://www.surplusshed.com/pages/item/l1590.html Am I right? +6 power about....seems plausible.