Canon 3x wide angle lens

Bruce S. Yarock · April 1st, 2005, 03:16 PM

Since I bought the 3x, my 20x lens is getting jealous....I rarely use it.
Bruce Yarock

Steve Smith · April 15th, 2005, 02:03 PM

I just purchased a 3x lens on Ebay. COmpared to the 20X lens, the servo motor is very loud. This is just my first impression, I have not shot anything and looked for noise yet on the film.

Is the 3X lens servo notably louder than the 20X ?

Thanks,

Derek Hoffman · May 1st, 2005, 09:16 PM

I have the xl2 and the only accesory i have purchased so far is an 8 hour battery and a warranty. My wallet has recovered from the purchase and i have been looking at the 3x wide angle lens and possibly a mic muff.
The 20x lens that i purchased with the body works great but for some of my documentary filming it would be great to not be crammed agaist a wall in a small room. I have heard the 3x wide angle lens works great and looks great. What, if any are the major downsides to this lens? Also, i could probably get it for around $1000 and i know this is a pretty good price but do you think that maybe the whole lens is overated? If you do recommend getting it, where would you recommend getting it?
Now about the mic muff, i have been looking around and i found a $40 muff for the XL1s, im pretty sure it will fit and all their mics work the same so all i have to worry about is the size, right? Im not trying to go crazy and get anything fancy, it just says it cuts wind up to 40mph and it has no effect on the volume even when there is no wind. I just think it would be a nice improvement. I know everyone that i have worked with that has the XL2 has a wind guard or muff of some kind but i always forget to ask about it. Any suggested models?

Mark Sasahara · May 1st, 2005, 09:56 PM

I've heard that the 3x is soft on the XL2. I haven't used it on mine so I can't say for sure. I have a Century .7 wide angle converter for my 20X, it has been very nice and looks good. A little noticeable at times, but not bad. At some point I'll get one for the 16x manual, or maybe trade.

You may want to get a better mic than the factory camera mic. Check out the audio forum "Now Hear This" and look around at what people are using. Choosing the right mic depends on the conditions under which you will be working.

Matthew Nayman · May 2nd, 2005, 06:35 AM

the 3X looks great on the XL2. no Complaints about it at all. Infact, I think it adds to the "film look"

Bob Safay · May 2nd, 2005, 06:52 AM

I have had the Canon 3x on both the Xl-1 and the XL-1s. I love it! You may have to have it calibrated for your Camcorder, but man it is worth it. Bob

Mike Teutsch · May 2nd, 2005, 07:38 AM

FYI, type this---canon XL1 3X--- and search ebay right now and you will find 3 for sale. One is with a $900.00 buy-it-now, and the other two are regular auctions that are at about $700.00 so far. If you are not affraid of ebay, just keep checking there. Want new and warantee, B&H has it for $ 1,179.95.

I do like my 3X.

Mike

Derek Hoffman · May 2nd, 2005, 08:53 AM

Thanks for the advice, im still wonderfing about how it looks though, is there any distortion or visible "wide angle" that is distracting, especially when you are in a situation where you dont need the wide angle lens? I just want to know that if im filming a documentary and i get in a position where i dont have a chance to switch out the 3x wide for the 20x will the shot still look okay? I know i wont be able to zoom much but im figuring its just going to look like all these reality TV shows look today...

Matthew Nayman · May 21st, 2005, 01:41 PM

Has this happened to anyone? My lens was minding it's own business, and one day I hooked up to my cam and suddenly, it wouldn't zoom. Neither the rocker nor the ring would make it zoom. I tested it on an XL1 and it wouldn't zoom. It had been wkring fine for a month.

Anyhoo, I got it exchanged and the new one is fine.

Has this happened to anyone?>

Bob Safay · May 21st, 2005, 02:47 PM

Matt, did you power down the camcorder before you mounted the lens? If not you may have blown a circut. Just a thought. Bob

Matt Irwin · May 21st, 2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Safay

Matt, did you power down the camcorder before you mounted the lens? If not you may have blown a circut. Just a thought. Bob

That sounds like what happened. The exact same thing happened to me with the 3x. I sent it to Canon and it cost about $90 to repair.

ALWAYS power down the camera when changing lenses!!

Chris Hurd · May 21st, 2005, 05:01 PM

Agreed -- sounds like crossed contacts while powered. Never a good thing.

Matthew Nayman · May 21st, 2005, 05:18 PM

That may have happened, I know i did it once but it worked fine after that. My question is why Canon couldn't build in the tiniest feature which is, when you pull the lens release, it's puts the cam in standby

Chris Hurd · May 21st, 2005, 08:24 PM

Quote:

My question is why Canon couldn't build in the tiniest feature which is, when you pull the lens release, it's puts the cam in standby.

Going into standby mode requires about one second or so for the camera head to cycle through some things and completely power down. You have the potential with one simultaneous twist of your wrist and a push of your finger to disengage the lens even more quickly, which would negate the effectiveness of such a feature. That's why the best (and safest) procedure is to take the extra step of either powering the camera down or putting it in standby mode first before attempting to remove the lens.

Matthew Nayman · May 22nd, 2005, 07:07 AM

Very good thinking Chris. I don't know what it is about this camera in particular, but there is somehting about it that makes me forget it's on. It might be weird "ON" dial, or the lack of LCD screen (usually out when a cam is on). Has anyone else experiecned this. I put away my camera last week and left it in VCR mode all night, thus draining the batteries.

I feel they little red on light is in the wrong spot or too small.

April 15th, 2005, 02:03 PM	#137
Steve Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Munich Germany Posts: 31	3X Servo noise I just purchased a 3x lens on Ebay. COmpared to the 20X lens, the servo motor is very loud. This is just my first impression, I have not shot anything and looked for noise yet on the film. Is the 3X lens servo notably louder than the 20X ? Thanks, __________________ Gone Fishing. If you need me, please wait! If it is important, please wait longer.

May 1st, 2005, 09:16 PM	#138
Derek Hoffman New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 11	Shopping Spree? I have the xl2 and the only accesory i have purchased so far is an 8 hour battery and a warranty. My wallet has recovered from the purchase and i have been looking at the 3x wide angle lens and possibly a mic muff. The 20x lens that i purchased with the body works great but for some of my documentary filming it would be great to not be crammed agaist a wall in a small room. I have heard the 3x wide angle lens works great and looks great. What, if any are the major downsides to this lens? Also, i could probably get it for around $1000 and i know this is a pretty good price but do you think that maybe the whole lens is overated? If you do recommend getting it, where would you recommend getting it? Now about the mic muff, i have been looking around and i found a $40 muff for the XL1s, im pretty sure it will fit and all their mics work the same so all i have to worry about is the size, right? Im not trying to go crazy and get anything fancy, it just says it cuts wind up to 40mph and it has no effect on the volume even when there is no wind. I just think it would be a nice improvement. I know everyone that i have worked with that has the XL2 has a wind guard or muff of some kind but i always forget to ask about it. Any suggested models?

May 1st, 2005, 09:56 PM	#139
Mark Sasahara Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 649	I've heard that the 3x is soft on the XL2. I haven't used it on mine so I can't say for sure. I have a Century .7 wide angle converter for my 20X, it has been very nice and looks good. A little noticeable at times, but not bad. At some point I'll get one for the 16x manual, or maybe trade. You may want to get a better mic than the factory camera mic. Check out the audio forum "Now Hear This" and look around at what people are using. Choosing the right mic depends on the conditions under which you will be working. __________________ Mark Sasahara Director of Photography

May 2nd, 2005, 07:38 AM	#142
Mike Teutsch Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 2,614	FYI, type this---canon XL1 3X--- and search ebay right now and you will find 3 for sale. One is with a $900.00 buy-it-now, and the other two are regular auctions that are at about $700.00 so far. If you are not affraid of ebay, just keep checking there. Want new and warantee, B&H has it for $ 1,179.95. I do like my 3X. Mike __________________ Chapter one, line one. The BH.

May 2nd, 2005, 08:53 AM	#143
Derek Hoffman New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 11	3x Thanks for the advice, im still wonderfing about how it looks though, is there any distortion or visible "wide angle" that is distracting, especially when you are in a situation where you dont need the wide angle lens? I just want to know that if im filming a documentary and i get in a position where i dont have a chance to switch out the 3x wide for the 20x will the shot still look okay? I know i wont be able to zoom much but im figuring its just going to look like all these reality TV shows look today... Last edited by Derek Hoffman; May 3rd, 2005 at 09:11 AM.

April 1st, 2005, 03:16 PM	#136
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Since I bought the 3x, my 20x lens is getting jealous....I rarely use it. Bruce Yarock

May 2nd, 2005, 06:35 AM	#140
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	the 3X looks great on the XL2. no Complaints about it at all. Infact, I think it adds to the "film look"

May 2nd, 2005, 06:52 AM	#141
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	I have had the Canon 3x on both the Xl-1 and the XL-1s. I love it! You may have to have it calibrated for your Camcorder, but man it is worth it. Bob

May 21st, 2005, 01:41 PM	#144
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	3X lens Died Has this happened to anyone? My lens was minding it's own business, and one day I hooked up to my cam and suddenly, it wouldn't zoom. Neither the rocker nor the ring would make it zoom. I tested it on an XL1 and it wouldn't zoom. It had been wkring fine for a month. Anyhoo, I got it exchanged and the new one is fine. Has this happened to anyone?>

May 21st, 2005, 02:47 PM	#145
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Matt, did you power down the camcorder before you mounted the lens? If not you may have blown a circut. Just a thought. Bob

May 21st, 2005, 05:01 PM	#147
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Agreed -- sounds like crossed contacts while powered. Never a good thing. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 21st, 2005, 05:18 PM	#148
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	That may have happened, I know i did it once but it worked fine after that. My question is why Canon couldn't build in the tiniest feature which is, when you pull the lens release, it's puts the cam in standby

May 22nd, 2005, 07:07 AM	#150
Matthew Nayman Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 917	Very good thinking Chris. I don't know what it is about this camera in particular, but there is somehting about it that makes me forget it's on. It might be weird "ON" dial, or the lack of LCD screen (usually out when a cam is on). Has anyone else experiecned this. I put away my camera last week and left it in VCR mode all night, thus draining the batteries. I feel they little red on light is in the wrong spot or too small.