Canon 3x wide angle lens questions

[Jeff Donald]

No, it is not a fisheye lens.

[Don Palomaki]

Field of view is roughly comparable to a 28 mm lens on a 35mm still camera.

[Nicholas Foster]

Excellent. That's all I needed to know. Thanks for the help.

[Bob Safay]

Nicholas, if you have the chance to get one go for it. You will be surprised how often you will use it. Bob Safay

[Michael Dalton]

I love the lens! It does wonders for making you work not look like it is shot with a cheap DV camera, the added perspective makes the images more interesting.

[Roger Moore]

Canon site says it's 3/4" at wide end, while Adorama says it is 0.5m... which is it?

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelFeaturesAct&fcategoryid=115&modelid=8274

http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20171962.html

[Roger Moore]

Because if it's 3/4" it may be possible to use this lens like a macro? Maybe to use this lens for a Agus35 or
Alain35?

[Matt Irwin]

I'm in the middle of a shoot right now. We're shooting nights right now, and last night my 3x lens stopped working.

I've checked everything I can think of:

-Lens is seated correctly
-Lens control pins are clean.
-Iris set full open.
-ND off.
-Tested gain at all settings.
-Yes, the lens cap was off :)
-Shutter was where it should be.
-16x lens works FINE.
-There is no "check lens" warning flashing.

I can see all the HUD info in the viewfinder and on the monitor, but the image is BLACK. I'm on a 1st generation XL1. I've reasoned that the iris in the lens has locked closed or the control pins have 'shorted' somehow(?).

I really don't want to (and can barely afford to) send it in, although I may have no choice...

Anyone have any ideas?

[Rob Lohman]

Are other lenses still working? If so then it is a good bet that your
3x lens is busted. If other lenses are not working the camera is
busted and the lens probably as well.

Now to check and give out a word of warning, NEVER EVER CHANGE
THE LENS ON THE XL1/XL1S/XL2 WITHOUT POWERING DOWN THE
CAMERA FIRST!!

Now you didn't do this, right? Otherwise you might have busted
the circuit in the lens for example. If the camera was powered
down then something else has broken somehow. If other lenses
still work you can reasonably assume it is the 3x lens and send
that to Canon. Otherwise both the lens and camera have to be
send it.

[Matt Irwin]

Well....... That explains it. Heh. Heh.

Right. I dont think I powered down the body before switching lenses that night. Yes, it is only the 3x that has the problem.

Thanks for the info, Rob.

[Joel Guy]

Are there any other consequences of removing the lens while the camera is still on? What about with the 14x manual?

I'm not asking so that I can do it. I'm just curious.

Thanks.

[Rob Lohman]

Joel: yes, it is the same for removing or attaching. This is especially
true if you have a lens with those little electronic pins (not sure
if the 14x has this). But it would be wise to ALWAYS power down
the camera so as to make sure you are not damaging the camera
or the lens!

[Joel Guy]

Okay, I'll make sure not to ever do that.

It is alright to turn the camera on, without the lens attached though, right? I mean, with the black dust cap on the camera, without a lens, just to check menus, etc, and without the intention of attaching the lens while it is on. ???

[Cliff Hepburn]

This sounds like a huge design flaw.

[Rob Lohman]

Cliff: that might be, but with what other removable lens camera's
are you going to change a lens with the camera on? I wouldn't
do it with any, that's just asking for trouble.