Wide angle lens for HDC-TM700 Panny? at DVinfo.net

William Ellwood · October 7th, 2010, 03:16 PM

Title says it all really. I've got the new Panny and would like a wider angle lens here and there.
I think the cam has a 46mm lens thread for a wide angle lens, but I'm unsure of which Raynox or similar would be the best to buy to use it at its widest and also to avoid vignetting or major barrel distortion.

The Panasonic vw-w4607h seems to a choice to consider but doesn't seem to be available to buy from within the UK.

C.S. Michael · October 7th, 2010, 09:13 PM

B&H lists a couple of Panasonic options -- one 0.7x that costs around $200 and weighs half a pound, and one lightweight (0.1 pound = 55g) 0.8x that costs around $70. Although I'd like a wider lens, of the available choices I opted for the 0.8x latter. I will have mine next week; I'll let you know how I like it.

There is also a JVC 0.7x option that costs around $220.

Bo Skelmose · October 8th, 2010, 12:04 AM

I got a 0,7x panasonic wide for my AG-HCK10 (43 mm.) and it looks very good. Bought a century/Schneider 0,5 and it have vignetting (Black corners). Know it is more wide but not very helpfull as you have to zoom to ret rid of the corners.

Mike Beckett · October 8th, 2010, 11:10 AM

I use the Century 0.66x on my HMC41 (43mm diameter), it's a full zoom-through lens. I am underwhelmed with it, I did not expect such softness in the corners from a Century product. It's OK, it'll do in those tight spots, but it's not something I would leave on the camera all the time.

Bo Skelmose · October 8th, 2010, 11:55 AM

I have the same softness in corners and sides of the picture with Century wide adapter - but not with panasonic's own wide adapter.

C.S. Michael · October 24th, 2010, 03:06 AM

As promised, here are some comments about the Panasonic VW-WE08 Wide End Conversion Lens.

PROS:
Sharp (no fuzziness at corners)

Lightweight (weighs next to nothing!)

0.8x -- it's a little wider

Attaches with a quick & easy snap (a receptacle screws into the 46mm thread of TM700 once, then you can just snap the lens in and out of the receptacle with ease)

Cost - $69!

CONS
No lens cap! Instead they give you a plastic case for storage. This means you get to put the lens adapter on & off, on & off, on & off... A lens with no cap is rather irritating.

Partial zoom-through (but hey, at least you get a tiny smidgen of zoom)

0.8x - Not terribly wide

CONCLUSION
For the money, it's a no brainer. Sure, it would be nice if the lens was a little more wide, but at this price point one can't really complain. I love the light weight, as it does not spoil this upside of the TM700. If only it came with a cap...

Graham Hickling · October 24th, 2010, 07:41 PM

Some relevant discussion here: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasoni...gle-hmc40.html

The $200 Pany is bulky and has no front filter threads, but on my HMC40 is full zoom-through and sharp enough that it stays on my camera fulltime.

October 7th, 2010, 03:16 PM	#1
William Ellwood Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Consett UK Posts: 110	Wide angle lens for HDC-TM700 Panny? Title says it all really. I've got the new Panny and would like a wider angle lens here and there. I think the cam has a 46mm lens thread for a wide angle lens, but I'm unsure of which Raynox or similar would be the best to buy to use it at its widest and also to avoid vignetting or major barrel distortion. The Panasonic vw-w4607h seems to a choice to consider but doesn't seem to be available to buy from within the UK. __________________ Billy Ellwood is on Vimeo. Film club www.newcastleaca.co.uk i7 7700k, Asus z270f, 32gb ram, Windows 10, Premiere CS6.

October 7th, 2010, 09:13 PM	#2
C.S. Michael Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 197	B&H lists a couple of Panasonic options -- one 0.7x that costs around $200 and weighs half a pound, and one lightweight (0.1 pound = 55g) 0.8x that costs around $70. Although I'd like a wider lens, of the available choices I opted for the 0.8x latter. I will have mine next week; I'll let you know how I like it. There is also a JVC 0.7x option that costs around $220. __________________ Bored? Check out my blog (shot with Sony EX1, Panasonic TM700, Nikon D7100, Sony NEX-5N, GoPro2): LongLongHoneymoon.com

October 24th, 2010, 03:06 AM	#6
C.S. Michael Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 197	As promised, here are some comments about the Panasonic VW-WE08 Wide End Conversion Lens. PROS: Sharp (no fuzziness at corners) Lightweight (weighs next to nothing!) 0.8x -- it's a little wider Attaches with a quick & easy snap (a receptacle screws into the 46mm thread of TM700 once, then you can just snap the lens in and out of the receptacle with ease) Cost - $69! CONS No lens cap! Instead they give you a plastic case for storage. This means you get to put the lens adapter on & off, on & off, on & off... A lens with no cap is rather irritating. Partial zoom-through (but hey, at least you get a tiny smidgen of zoom) 0.8x - Not terribly wide CONCLUSION For the money, it's a no brainer. Sure, it would be nice if the lens was a little more wide, but at this price point one can't really complain. I love the light weight, as it does not spoil this upside of the TM700. If only it came with a cap... __________________ Bored? Check out my blog (shot with Sony EX1, Panasonic TM700, Nikon D7100, Sony NEX-5N, GoPro2): LongLongHoneymoon.com

October 8th, 2010, 12:04 AM	#3
Bo Skelmose Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 495	I got a 0,7x panasonic wide for my AG-HCK10 (43 mm.) and it looks very good. Bought a century/Schneider 0,5 and it have vignetting (Black corners). Know it is more wide but not very helpfull as you have to zoom to ret rid of the corners.

October 8th, 2010, 11:10 AM	#4
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	I use the Century 0.66x on my HMC41 (43mm diameter), it's a full zoom-through lens. I am underwhelmed with it, I did not expect such softness in the corners from a Century product. It's OK, it'll do in those tight spots, but it's not something I would leave on the camera all the time.

October 8th, 2010, 11:55 AM	#5
Bo Skelmose Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 495	I have the same softness in corners and sides of the picture with Century wide adapter - but not with panasonic's own wide adapter.

October 24th, 2010, 07:41 PM	#7
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	Some relevant discussion here: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasoni...gle-hmc40.html The $200 Pany is bulky and has no front filter threads, but on my HMC40 is full zoom-through and sharp enough that it stays on my camera fulltime.