red eye wide angle adapter for hd100
 

I am considering buying one of the Red-Eye adapters for my hd100 so I can shoot wider, and was wondering if anyone has actually used one on their camera? I would like to hear some testimonials on this before I put out 500 bucks..does it have much barrel distortion or lack of sharpness at the edges? I dont really need zoom thru capabilities when using it..thanks in advance, John

Hi John,
I have one of the WA Converters on mine and never take it off. I dont see any distortion but am really not qualified to judge. More experienced people here can surely help but the converter has been marvellous to me. It also cost a lot more than $900 here in Australia.

Hi Dennis

I thought these adaptors weren't zoom-through and could only be used at the wide end of the lens, or have I missed something?

Hi Graham,
Like I say, I never take mine off. The dealer said that I never need to. He said I would only notice the difference when zoomed in all the way. To me, the converter is the best ever.

If possible, make sure that you get the latest FX HDV version Red Eye rather than the older SD version.

That's true if used on a 2/3 broadcast camera. If used with smaller DV and HDV chips, the adapter allows at least partial zoom depending on each camera's capabilities.

See the website referenced above. It answers lots of questions and there are tv news guys that swear by them.

-gb-

dont see one in 82mm??
 

Hi Tony, from going to their website it seems at this point they only make the fx series in 72 and 62mm sizes? bummer.

Is there a FAQ on the different wide angle solutions?

What does zoom through mean anyway. That you can literally zoom in or out all the way? Who zooms anyway?

Uh, I sure hope you're joking. I zoom all the time. That's what you do when you're further away.

A wide angle converter is zoom-through. A wide angle adapter is not. These are both available for just about every video lens ever made. Adapters generally have better uniformity characteristics, but limit your focal length to one position. No such thing as a free lunch. And in this business, no such thing as a cheap one, either. :)

Thanks Greg - I use a 2/3 camera so if I want a zoom through W/A adaptor its about GBP 2k from Canon!

The Red Eye adapter seems to be a special item, using the macro to focus and needing backfocus adjustments, etc.

JVC makes a more traditional .8x converter (yes, zoom through) that gives a 20%wider field.

Century makes a .8x converter (zoom through), and a .7x/.5x adapter set (not zoom through) that have been very popular over the years. More information and links on these is in this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...eangle+adapter

I have one of these. I think it's a piece of garbage.

If you don't mind edge distortion or severe CA then go for it. Otherwise, give it a miss.

Even a client of mine noticed the CA!

Once in a great while I'll zoom OUT. Never IN. I don't like zooming.

Maybe you used the old (and now discontinued) Aspheric .5X SD version Red Eye?(that does have plenty of CA).

If all 'garbage' produced such stunning DV footage as my .7X FX HDV version Red Eye does, then I'd probably spend more time rooting in the dustbin...