"Digital Optics" Wide angle adapter at DVinfo.net

Scott T Anderson · April 16th, 2004, 09:30 PM

For the XL-1
Anyone comment?
Quality?
Distortion?
Anything I should know before buying?!!?

Don Palomaki · April 17th, 2004, 05:22 AM

Generally speaking, with optics you get what you pay for, and sometime less.

That said, do you have a URL to this item.

Scott T Anderson · April 17th, 2004, 09:32 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...809492398&rd=1

Boyd Ostroff · April 17th, 2004, 03:41 PM

Scott, what makes you think these lenses are the correct size for your XL1, other than the title of the item? Doesn't that require a 72mm thread? There is no way you're going to get a telephoto, wide angle, plus a "free" tripod for $120.

I have what appears to be this same .45x Titanium WA lens for my PDX-10, and I actually like it (although I paid about $100 for the wide adaptor alone). There is noticable barrel distortion, but that's what one might expect with a .45x lens. But the PDX-10 has as 37mm filter thread and accepts very low cost lens adaptors. The claim "The lens attaches easily and directly to any camera or camcorder" is absurd, there is no 'one size fits all' type of wide angle lens adaptor.

I would expect a decent quality 72mm wide adaptor to cost many hundreds of dollars. This looks very suspicious to me...

Scott T Anderson · April 17th, 2004, 03:44 PM

I agree... I think I am going to buy one and check it out regardless. I will post the turnout here. I really need the wide angle though... i am just piss poor right now.

Don Palomaki · April 17th, 2004, 03:54 PM

There is nothing about the lens that says "quality". Everything says "cheap." It may be Ok for casual home shooting, but do not expect professional results comparable to the quality of the XL1.

Not clear if it will properly fit the XL1 without vignetting. They do not give the thread size, and the XL1 has a large thread size, 72mm.

Quality 72mm wideangle adapters for the XL1 tend to run in the $350 to $600 range depending on whether or not you get zoom-through.

For a ~2x telextender you can add a similar amount

Good luck, and you may find another taker on Ebay if you and decide you don't like it.

Scott T Anderson · April 28th, 2004, 09:08 PM

I JUST got the lens in the mail and did some test shots... IT looks GREAT! I am SHOCKED at the quality. Minimal distortion. The ONLY thing I can say negative about it is that in the four corners you can see the outside of the lens so it has some black rounded shadows, but I am going to just chop off the top and bottom for a widescreen look. So that won't even affect me. Also with the top and bottom chopped I will BARELY even notice the distortion on the sides in what I am doing so I am STOKED. 130 bucks for 2 great lenses a cleaner kit and a mini tripod (that's kinda useless with the XL1, but who cares.)

Jason Steussy · June 6th, 2004, 01:45 PM

Scott, is there any chance of you posting before/after shots with and without the wide adapter? I'm curious about the amount of distortion and visible corners. Also, can you use the wide adapter in conjunction with a lens hood? If so, does the hood do any good with the glass sticking out farther?

Scott T Anderson · June 6th, 2004, 06:14 PM

I have no way to host any pics, and The corners when fully zoomed out are very much there, but for what I am doing (fake widescreen) it doesn't effect me at all. The hood is of not use to you with the lens.

Yi Fong Yu · June 16th, 2004, 08:02 AM

email me the pictures and i can host it for you. i would like to see the results of the lenses as i'm interested in buying similar cheap widescreen solutions as well =).

April 16th, 2004, 09:30 PM	#1
Scott T Anderson New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 24	"Digital Optics" Wide angle adapter For the XL-1 Anyone comment? Quality? Distortion? Anything I should know before buying?!!?

April 17th, 2004, 05:22 AM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Generally speaking, with optics you get what you pay for, and sometime less. That said, do you have a URL to this item. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 17th, 2004, 03:54 PM	#6
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	There is nothing about the lens that says "quality". Everything says "cheap." It may be Ok for casual home shooting, but do not expect professional results comparable to the quality of the XL1. Not clear if it will properly fit the XL1 without vignetting. They do not give the thread size, and the XL1 has a large thread size, 72mm. Quality 72mm wideangle adapters for the XL1 tend to run in the $350 to $600 range depending on whether or not you get zoom-through. For a ~2x telextender you can add a similar amount Good luck, and you may find another taker on Ebay if you and decide you don't like it. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

June 16th, 2004, 08:02 AM	#10
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	email me the pictures and i can host it for you. i would like to see the results of the lenses as i'm interested in buying similar cheap widescreen solutions as well =). __________________ bow wow wow

April 17th, 2004, 09:32 AM	#3
Scott T Anderson New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 24	http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...809492398&rd=1

April 17th, 2004, 03:41 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,797	Scott, what makes you think these lenses are the correct size for your XL1, other than the title of the item? Doesn't that require a 72mm thread? There is no way you're going to get a telephoto, wide angle, plus a "free" tripod for $120. I have what appears to be this same .45x Titanium WA lens for my PDX-10, and I actually like it (although I paid about $100 for the wide adaptor alone). There is noticable barrel distortion, but that's what one might expect with a .45x lens. But the PDX-10 has as 37mm filter thread and accepts very low cost lens adaptors. The claim "The lens attaches easily and directly to any camera or camcorder" is absurd, there is no 'one size fits all' type of wide angle lens adaptor. I would expect a decent quality 72mm wide adaptor to cost many hundreds of dollars. This looks very suspicious to me...

April 17th, 2004, 03:44 PM	#5
Scott T Anderson New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 24	I agree... I think I am going to buy one and check it out regardless. I will post the turnout here. I really need the wide angle though... i am just piss poor right now.

April 28th, 2004, 09:08 PM	#7
Scott T Anderson New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 24	I JUST got the lens in the mail and did some test shots... IT looks GREAT! I am SHOCKED at the quality. Minimal distortion. The ONLY thing I can say negative about it is that in the four corners you can see the outside of the lens so it has some black rounded shadows, but I am going to just chop off the top and bottom for a widescreen look. So that won't even affect me. Also with the top and bottom chopped I will BARELY even notice the distortion on the sides in what I am doing so I am STOKED. 130 bucks for 2 great lenses a cleaner kit and a mini tripod (that's kinda useless with the XL1, but who cares.)

June 6th, 2004, 01:45 PM	#8
Jason Steussy New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 9	Scott, is there any chance of you posting before/after shots with and without the wide adapter? I'm curious about the amount of distortion and visible corners. Also, can you use the wide adapter in conjunction with a lens hood? If so, does the hood do any good with the glass sticking out farther?

June 6th, 2004, 06:14 PM	#9
Scott T Anderson New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tempe, Az Posts: 24	I have no way to host any pics, and The corners when fully zoomed out are very much there, but for what I am doing (fake widescreen) it doesn't effect me at all. The hood is of not use to you with the lens.