.43x Wide Angle Lens at DVinfo.net

Pete Crawford · August 8th, 2009, 01:25 PM

I have never used a wide angle lens on a video or still camera. The wide angle lens that I have is .43x. When I zoom in, the outside edges around the picture of the camcorder gets cloudy. Am I doing something wrong, or is this natural?

Thanks in advance,

Pete

Boyd Ostroff · August 8th, 2009, 07:36 PM

.43x is very wide... unless it's a really good lens ($$$) I would expect some problems. It may not be full zoom-through, meaning it will lose focus at some point as you zoom in. It will also probably have a lot of barrel distortion (make straight lines appear curved).

Pete Crawford · August 8th, 2009, 08:17 PM

Thanks Boyd......When I zoom in is when I get the cloudiness on the edges of the picture. I guess that's a normal problem huh? It is a very wide angle lens, I guess it's pretty much useless for football games. The z5 seems to have a pretty wide lens already.

Thanks,

Pete

Boyd Ostroff · August 9th, 2009, 07:32 AM

I don't think it's a "normal problem" because there is no "normal lens". There are many different brands, quality levels and prices for wide adaptor lenses. You get what you pay for. But I would be very surprised to find a .43x wide adaptor with decent quality. Sony makes an adaptor specifically for the z5 which is very expensive and heavy, and it is only a .8x.

Pete Crawford · August 9th, 2009, 07:57 AM

Thanks a ton Boyd!

Pete

Lukas Siewior · August 9th, 2009, 01:04 PM

Boyd is right. Sony's 0.8x is a top-notch lens and costs $500 (without matte box or hood). The .43x you have must be simpler lens and not zoom-through, which means you should be using it only in zoom-out position. It might be a great lens for a skater or other extreme sports fanatic :-) What brand is it, Pete?

Pete Crawford · August 9th, 2009, 09:16 PM

It's a digital concepts, and yes, when I start to zoom out is when it gets cloudy around the edges. This thing has such a wide angle that you can actually see the edge of the lens itself in the picture.

Pete

Lukas Siewior · August 10th, 2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Crawford

It's a digital concepts, and yes, when I start to zoom out is when it gets cloudy around the edges. This thing has such a wide angle that you can actually see the edge of the lens itself in the picture.

Pete

Where can you get one? I might be interested in it :-)

August 8th, 2009, 01:25 PM	#1
Pete Crawford New Boot Join Date: May 2009 Location: Collierville, Tn. Posts: 24	.43x Wide Angle Lens I have never used a wide angle lens on a video or still camera. The wide angle lens that I have is .43x. When I zoom in, the outside edges around the picture of the camcorder gets cloudy. Am I doing something wrong, or is this natural? Thanks in advance, Pete

August 8th, 2009, 07:36 PM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	.43x is very wide... unless it's a really good lens ($$$) I would expect some problems. It may not be full zoom-through, meaning it will lose focus at some point as you zoom in. It will also probably have a lot of barrel distortion (make straight lines appear curved).

August 8th, 2009, 08:17 PM	#3
Pete Crawford New Boot Join Date: May 2009 Location: Collierville, Tn. Posts: 24	Thanks Boyd......When I zoom in is when I get the cloudiness on the edges of the picture. I guess that's a normal problem huh? It is a very wide angle lens, I guess it's pretty much useless for football games. The z5 seems to have a pretty wide lens already. Thanks, Pete

August 9th, 2009, 07:32 AM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,801	I don't think it's a "normal problem" because there is no "normal lens". There are many different brands, quality levels and prices for wide adaptor lenses. You get what you pay for. But I would be very surprised to find a .43x wide adaptor with decent quality. Sony makes an adaptor specifically for the z5 which is very expensive and heavy, and it is only a .8x.

August 9th, 2009, 07:57 AM	#5
Pete Crawford New Boot Join Date: May 2009 Location: Collierville, Tn. Posts: 24	Thanks a ton Boyd! Pete

August 9th, 2009, 01:04 PM	#6
Lukas Siewior Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lyndhurst, NJ, USA Posts: 408	Boyd is right. Sony's 0.8x is a top-notch lens and costs $500 (without matte box or hood). The .43x you have must be simpler lens and not zoom-through, which means you should be using it only in zoom-out position. It might be a great lens for a skater or other extreme sports fanatic :-) What brand is it, Pete?

August 9th, 2009, 09:16 PM	#7
Pete Crawford New Boot Join Date: May 2009 Location: Collierville, Tn. Posts: 24	It's a digital concepts, and yes, when I start to zoom out is when it gets cloudy around the edges. This thing has such a wide angle that you can actually see the edge of the lens itself in the picture. Pete