telephoto converter suggestion for hfs100 at DVinfo.net

William Boehm · April 18th, 2010, 10:03 AM

has anyone tested a good telephoto converter for this camera? 2x? i used to have a schneider (century) 1.7 for my canon xha1 but didnt see one for sale with a 58 mm reverse thread. bill

Robin Davies-Rollinson · April 18th, 2010, 03:12 PM

You want a teleconverter on top of the built in 1.7x converter in the camera?

William Boehm · April 18th, 2010, 07:56 PM

well it only goes to 460mm? i need at least 1000mm equivalent to a 35 mm.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · April 18th, 2010, 11:48 PM

Okay, understood.
If you can't find one with a 58mm thread, why don't you get a 72mm lens and attach it with a step-down ring? That's what I do with all my lenses/filters from my Sony FX1 for use on the HFS100.

William Boehm · April 19th, 2010, 04:12 PM

i still need some advice on what anyone is using for a screw on telephoto adapter 2x...? vivitar, schneider?

Ryan Avery · April 22nd, 2010, 01:35 PM

We manufacture this tele-converter but I have not tested it on the HFS100 yet.

2.0X TELE CONV. 58MM MKII - Schneider Optics

Ryan Avery
Schneider Optics

Joe Cappleman · April 22nd, 2010, 02:39 PM

I have not tried this on your camera but it works well on my Canon GL2 with 58mm thread. This is a big and heavy lens measuring 3 1/2 inches at the front and does a 1.7X. I did a quick look and Amazon had some for $125 which is considerably less than I paid for mine new. I got it to go with my Sony 717 and thought , why not, and tried it on my GL2.

Joe Cappleman · April 22nd, 2010, 02:46 PM

Sorry, forgot to give the model #--Sony Tele Conversion Lens VCL-HGD1758.

Dom Greves · May 16th, 2010, 11:14 AM

Anyone tried the Canon TL-H58 1.5x teleconverter lens designed for this camera?

Mitch Chapman · May 20th, 2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Cappleman

Sorry, forgot to give the model #--Sony Tele Conversion Lens VCL-HGD1758.

Joe, thank you for this recommendation. Following your tip I ordered a VCL-HGD1758 for about $100 on Amazon. I just tried it out this morning on some local prairie dogs, and it worked beautifully :) Sharp focus, no chromatic aberration. And apparently none of the "dimming" I've seen when using the just the built-in zoom and 1.7x digital teleconverter on the HF-S100.

That last may be a consequence of today's bright morning light :) Regardless, the Sony lens works like a champ. Thanks again.

Mitch Chapman · May 24th, 2010, 08:04 AM

In some shots against a blue-sky background, there is noticeable purple fringing. It's not a problem for me, but I felt obliged to mention it lest my previous comments were too glowing :)

Dom Greves · May 24th, 2010, 08:16 AM

Looks a lot cheaper than the Canon version. I believe this is the same as the VCL-DH1758 but with a different casing - can anyone confirm that?

Mitch - have you tried this lens in combination with the internal 1.7x teleconverter to extend the range even further?

Mitch Chapman · May 24th, 2010, 09:34 AM

Dom - Yes, and it works fine. Details are a bit muddied when focusing on distant objects, just as they are for the internal 1.7x teleconverter by itself. (I don't understand why this happens, but have noticed it when recording e.g. roosting birds at distances > 30 ft.)

Dom Greves · May 25th, 2010, 05:12 AM

With the internal 1.7x I now always use manual focus - much more reliable and does produce very sharp results in the centre of the frame at least. Have you tried that? Depth of field can be very narrow unless you change the aperture manually to compensate - hence rest of the frame can look "muddy". Background blur can still look a bit unattractive though. I've been having more problems with fringing which I was why I was interested in the external teleconverter but sounds like that might still be a issue from what you say.

Mitch Chapman · May 25th, 2010, 06:49 AM

Hi Dom,

Thanks for the suggestion! I will try again. The few times I've tried manual focus outdoors, I haven't had much luck -- even with peaking turned on and a hood over the LCD :)

April 18th, 2010, 10:03 AM	#1
William Boehm Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bothell, Washington Posts: 195	telephoto converter suggestion for hfs100 has anyone tested a good telephoto converter for this camera? 2x? i used to have a schneider (century) 1.7 for my canon xha1 but didnt see one for sale with a 58 mm reverse thread. bill

April 18th, 2010, 03:12 PM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	You want a teleconverter on top of the built in 1.7x converter in the camera?

April 18th, 2010, 07:56 PM	#3
William Boehm Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bothell, Washington Posts: 195	well it only goes to 460mm? i need at least 1000mm equivalent to a 35 mm.

April 18th, 2010, 11:48 PM	#4
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Okay, understood. If you can't find one with a 58mm thread, why don't you get a 72mm lens and attach it with a step-down ring? That's what I do with all my lenses/filters from my Sony FX1 for use on the HFS100.

April 19th, 2010, 04:12 PM	#5
William Boehm Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bothell, Washington Posts: 195	i still need some advice on what anyone is using for a screw on telephoto adapter 2x...? vivitar, schneider?

April 22nd, 2010, 01:35 PM	#6
Ryan Avery Sponsor: Schneider Optics Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 387	We manufacture this tele-converter but I have not tested it on the HFS100 yet. 2.0X TELE CONV. 58MM MKII - Schneider Optics Ryan Avery Schneider Optics

April 22nd, 2010, 02:39 PM	#7
Joe Cappleman Tourist Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2	I have not tried this on your camera but it works well on my Canon GL2 with 58mm thread. This is a big and heavy lens measuring 3 1/2 inches at the front and does a 1.7X. I did a quick look and Amazon had some for $125 which is considerably less than I paid for mine new. I got it to go with my Sony 717 and thought , why not, and tried it on my GL2.

April 22nd, 2010, 02:46 PM	#8
Joe Cappleman Tourist Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2	Sorry, forgot to give the model #--Sony Tele Conversion Lens VCL-HGD1758.

May 16th, 2010, 11:14 AM	#9
Dom Greves New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 12	Anyone tried the Canon TL-H58 1.5x teleconverter lens designed for this camera?

May 24th, 2010, 08:04 AM	#11
Mitch Chapman New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Santa Fe NM Posts: 17	In some shots against a blue-sky background, there is noticeable purple fringing. It's not a problem for me, but I felt obliged to mention it lest my previous comments were too glowing :)

May 24th, 2010, 08:16 AM	#12
Dom Greves New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 12	Looks a lot cheaper than the Canon version. I believe this is the same as the VCL-DH1758 but with a different casing - can anyone confirm that? Mitch - have you tried this lens in combination with the internal 1.7x teleconverter to extend the range even further?

May 24th, 2010, 09:34 AM	#13
Mitch Chapman New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Santa Fe NM Posts: 17	Dom - Yes, and it works fine. Details are a bit muddied when focusing on distant objects, just as they are for the internal 1.7x teleconverter by itself. (I don't understand why this happens, but have noticed it when recording e.g. roosting birds at distances > 30 ft.)

May 25th, 2010, 05:12 AM	#14
Dom Greves New Boot Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dorset, UK Posts: 12	With the internal 1.7x I now always use manual focus - much more reliable and does produce very sharp results in the centre of the frame at least. Have you tried that? Depth of field can be very narrow unless you change the aperture manually to compensate - hence rest of the frame can look "muddy". Background blur can still look a bit unattractive though. I've been having more problems with fringing which I was why I was interested in the external teleconverter but sounds like that might still be a issue from what you say.

May 25th, 2010, 06:49 AM	#15
Mitch Chapman New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Santa Fe NM Posts: 17	Hi Dom, Thanks for the suggestion! I will try again. The few times I've tried manual focus outdoors, I haven't had much luck -- even with peaking turned on and a hood over the LCD :)