Century Optics .3 fisheye lens at DVinfo.net

Greg Harris · August 25th, 2004, 06:32 AM

I have had this lens for about 10 months now, and i'm getting sick of the vignetting. Does anyone know if century plans on making the lens just like the vx2 or gl2's fisheyes.
Thanks

James Gleason · August 25th, 2004, 07:27 AM

I've been looking at buying this lens and I guess I'm a bit confused by your post. Being an ultra fisheye, isn't it supposed to have the extreme barrel distortion of vignetting? What is it that you don't like?

Jaser Stockert · August 25th, 2004, 09:02 AM

i used to own the .3 version for my vx1000 and it did not vignette...james, if you zoom in until no vignetting occurs, is there still a pronounced amount of barrel distortion or does the fisheye lose its effect? i'm debating whether to go w/ the .3(based on your feedback) or just go w/ century's regular fisheye which has less barrel distortion but does not vignette. there's always the do it yourself w/ the raynox fisheye lens...

Aaron Shaw · August 25th, 2004, 09:41 AM

Aren't there plenty of filters floating around the net that will correct barrel distortion?

Greg Harris · August 25th, 2004, 12:22 PM

It has GREAT distortion, but the vignetting comes up on the TV in the lower left corner. the .3 ultra fisheye for the gl2, and vx2100 dont have any vignetting at all and still has great distortion. Century needs to step it up.

Jaser Stockert · August 25th, 2004, 12:31 PM

greg, how is the barrel distortion once you zoom in enough to avoid vignetting? i agree...for a $700 lens, i would expect no vignetting!

Greg Harris · August 26th, 2004, 05:59 AM

yeah i called century last night, and they said there are no plans for a new lens with out any vignetting. I said to the guy, " it looks very unprofessioal, and its very annoying to see on a TV corner. It's 2004 not 1991. If i zoom past the vignetting, it looses a TAD BIT quality. If you guys can just put in a 1 minute phone call to century and give them some suggestions that would be great.

Jaser Stockert · August 26th, 2004, 09:14 AM

greg, what do you mean by "quality"? as in loses it's fisheye effect or softens the image as you zoom in? thanks...

Greg Harris · August 27th, 2004, 06:41 AM

well if you zoom in a lot, the picture becomes extremely blurry. So if you just zoomed in a little bit to pass the vignetting, i believe it loses some quality.

James Gleason · August 27th, 2004, 09:19 AM

Greg, is there anyway you could post a picture showing the problem? That would help me understand your complaint more and influence my purchasing decision.

Jaser Stockert · August 27th, 2004, 10:16 AM

james, he's probably referring to something like this:

http://www.skateperception.com/articles/articles.php?article=dvxfisheye

here's some grabs w/ the diy raynox version:

http://www.dvxuser.com/cgi-bin/DVX2/YaBB.pl?board=Clips;action=display;num=1090825247;start=3#3

and here's a frame grab of century's regular fisheye:

http://www.icexpo.com/dvx100/Century_fisheye.JPG

August 25th, 2004, 06:32 AM	#1
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	Century Optics .3 fisheye lens I have had this lens for about 10 months now, and i'm getting sick of the vignetting. Does anyone know if century plans on making the lens just like the vx2 or gl2's fisheyes. Thanks

August 25th, 2004, 07:27 AM	#2
James Gleason Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hillsboro, OR Posts: 39	.3x ultra fisheye I've been looking at buying this lens and I guess I'm a bit confused by your post. Being an ultra fisheye, isn't it supposed to have the extreme barrel distortion of vignetting? What is it that you don't like?

August 25th, 2004, 09:02 AM	#3
Jaser Stockert Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California Posts: 147	i used to own the .3 version for my vx1000 and it did not vignette...james, if you zoom in until no vignetting occurs, is there still a pronounced amount of barrel distortion or does the fisheye lose its effect? i'm debating whether to go w/ the .3(based on your feedback) or just go w/ century's regular fisheye which has less barrel distortion but does not vignette. there's always the do it yourself w/ the raynox fisheye lens...

August 25th, 2004, 09:41 AM	#4
Aaron Shaw Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 587	Aren't there plenty of filters floating around the net that will correct barrel distortion?

August 25th, 2004, 12:22 PM	#5
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	It has GREAT distortion, but the vignetting comes up on the TV in the lower left corner. the .3 ultra fisheye for the gl2, and vx2100 dont have any vignetting at all and still has great distortion. Century needs to step it up.

August 25th, 2004, 12:31 PM	#6
Jaser Stockert Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California Posts: 147	greg, how is the barrel distortion once you zoom in enough to avoid vignetting? i agree...for a $700 lens, i would expect no vignetting!

August 26th, 2004, 05:59 AM	#7
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	yeah i called century last night, and they said there are no plans for a new lens with out any vignetting. I said to the guy, " it looks very unprofessioal, and its very annoying to see on a TV corner. It's 2004 not 1991. If i zoom past the vignetting, it looses a TAD BIT quality. If you guys can just put in a 1 minute phone call to century and give them some suggestions that would be great.

August 26th, 2004, 09:14 AM	#8
Jaser Stockert Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California Posts: 147	greg, what do you mean by "quality"? as in loses it's fisheye effect or softens the image as you zoom in? thanks...

August 27th, 2004, 06:41 AM	#9
Greg Harris Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 356	well if you zoom in a lot, the picture becomes extremely blurry. So if you just zoomed in a little bit to pass the vignetting, i believe it loses some quality.

August 27th, 2004, 09:19 AM	#10
James Gleason Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hillsboro, OR Posts: 39	Greg, is there anyway you could post a picture showing the problem? That would help me understand your complaint more and influence my purchasing decision.

August 27th, 2004, 10:16 AM	#11
Jaser Stockert Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California Posts: 147	james, he's probably referring to something like this: http://www.skateperception.com/articles/articles.php?article=dvxfisheye here's some grabs w/ the diy raynox version: http://www.dvxuser.com/cgi-bin/DVX2/YaBB.pl?board=Clips;action=display;num=1090825247;start=3#3 and here's a frame grab of century's regular fisheye: http://www.icexpo.com/dvx100/Century_fisheye.JPG