just recieved my century fisheye 0.55 at DVinfo.net

Don Pham · July 10th, 2008, 10:47 PM

just got home from vacation and saw a b&h box at my door. i was happy to see the fisheye i ordered last april has finaly made it here. opened the box and put it on my ex1 to try it out. my excitement was soon over as the image was way out of focus. i took the lense off and re install a few times and it was blurry. played around with the focus ring to try to get it to focus...no luck. verified the the zoom was all the way back...no luck. took out the instruction that came with the lens and followed it step by step...no luck.

WTF!!!! now i am piss. waited all this time and i get this?!? does anyone have the fisheye? am i doing something wrong? the image is way out of focus...not just a little.

UPDATE: got the fisheye to work!!! called century and found out i needed to do two things

1) turn macro ON
2) turn auto focus ON

Jason Bodnar · July 11th, 2008, 12:35 AM

This is the second case of this I have heard about... I so wanted to get the Fisheye because I have one for my old VX2000 and I love it! This does not sound good at all. So far it sounds as though the EX1 is hit and miss with Century Optics's accessories which I have always used...Can you post some pics of what the results look like.

Paul Kellett · July 11th, 2008, 03:40 AM

Have you switched the "macro" on,on the cam ?
There's also a "wide angle" setting somewhere in the menu.

Paul

Paul Cronin · July 11th, 2008, 06:06 AM

Don I have had the same problem. Paul good points I tried Macro on and the wide angle setting with the same problem of no focus..

I am also very upset that this does not work. Options for a fisheye that works with the EX1?

Brian Rhodes · July 11th, 2008, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Cronin

Don I have had the same problem. Paul good points I tried Macro on and the wide angle setting with the same problem of no focus..

I am also very upset that this does not work. Options for a fisheye that works with the EX1?

I tried this one at NAB works great but when I put it on my cam had the same problem the rep from schneideroptics changed a setting on the cam and it focused. Also make sure your zoom is full out these are not zoom through lens.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/Ecomm...=1474&IID=6373

Rich Dykmans · July 11th, 2008, 07:20 AM

I was going to order one of these but that's on hold now. Seems hard to believe that they would ship a product that just plain didn't work but when the first 2 people trying it say the exact same thing . . . .

Rich Dykmans · July 11th, 2008, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Cronin

I tried Macro on and the wide angle setting with the same problem of no focus..

What other settings would affect this thing working?? Their ad says partial zoom through as well. For a company known for great products seems like they would give you detailed instructions if these are that finicky!

Cuong Dinh · July 11th, 2008, 07:38 AM

I have the same problem like you guy. The best way to do it is return to the place you order. I bought from B&H and easy for return.

Wacharapong Chiowanich · July 11th, 2008, 10:00 AM

Just because it focuses still doesn't mean you have a good copy. Anyone who can get the lens focused properly, could you please check to make sure the image is acceptable, not something like what Paul got when he tried the defunct Century 0.75x zoom-through adapter a while back!

I myself have had some bad experience with Century adapters before. My first 37mm 0.65x Century adapter was totally unacceptable on my Sony HC1. It sure seemed to be a defective unit. The store saw the image and allowed me to exchange for another one. The second unit was noticeably better with symmetrical softness at the edges, a fair amount of vignetting and moderate CAs. I was then not quite sure if that was as good as it got for an adapter that wide and for the "consumer" thread of 37mm so I bought a cheaper 37mm Sony wide adapter which was a little less wide at 0.7x. Guess what, it was miles ahead in quality and that was only on the first try!

Too bad, the choice of fisheye lens is much more limited. What will Century's response be this time?

Wacharapong

Buck Forester · July 11th, 2008, 12:28 PM

You would think, since this is a Sony EX1 specific lens adapter, they would make it very clear that you need to turn the macro on and auto focus on... like in huge RED letters or something. To have to call the company on something as basic as this makes it seem Century isn't on the ball. I'm only going by what I see here, no personal experience, but geez, why would a company risk their reputation, in this world of internet and forums, on something that would be so easy to eliminate with simple instructions?

I have the Sony .8x and I hope Sony makes something even wider. Somehow this EX1 glass is throwing off the third party companies.

Steve Cahill · July 11th, 2008, 01:06 PM

Pull the focus ring forward towards the lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! switch to macro and you WILL be able to focus as long as the zoom is set to wide. BUT the focus ring must be pulled forward.

This is how I use mine without any issues. All the inside shots of the helicopter, were shot with this lens. @ http://exposureroom.com/members/stev...63f772ec0226e/

Rich Dykmans · July 11th, 2008, 04:01 PM

Don, (or anyone)

Can we see some footage taken with this adaptor on?

Piotr Wozniacki · July 11th, 2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Cahill

Pull the focus ring forward towards the lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! switch to macro and you WILL be able to focus as long as the zoom is set to wide. BUT the focus ring must be pulled forward.

Exactly - the reason being that this is the only position where the MACRO is effective.

MACRO has no meaning whatsoever with the focus ring set to FULL MANUAL!

Ola Christoffersson · July 11th, 2008, 04:58 PM

C´mon guys! Getting upset about not having instructions printed in red telling you to try something as basic as turning macro on to make an add-on adapter work sounds a bit ignorant to me. Give the guys making this thing a break!

Jason Bodnar · July 11th, 2008, 05:04 PM

So what is the word on this it works great as long as Macro is on and Focus is in Auto or full Auto?

July 10th, 2008, 10:47 PM	#1
Don Pham Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 114	UPDATED - just recieved my century fisheye 0.55 just got home from vacation and saw a b&h box at my door. i was happy to see the fisheye i ordered last april has finaly made it here. opened the box and put it on my ex1 to try it out. my excitement was soon over as the image was way out of focus. i took the lense off and re install a few times and it was blurry. played around with the focus ring to try to get it to focus...no luck. verified the the zoom was all the way back...no luck. took out the instruction that came with the lens and followed it step by step...no luck. WTF!!!! now i am piss. waited all this time and i get this?!? does anyone have the fisheye? am i doing something wrong? the image is way out of focus...not just a little. UPDATE: got the fisheye to work!!! called century and found out i needed to do two things 1) turn macro ON 2) turn auto focus ON __________________ Don Pham www.dpslider.com www.t1pblog.com www.infocusvideoevent.com Last edited by Don Pham; July 11th, 2008 at 09:59 AM. Reason: fisheye working now

July 11th, 2008, 03:40 AM	#3
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Have you switched the "macro" on,on the cam ? There's also a "wide angle" setting somewhere in the menu. Paul __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

July 11th, 2008, 06:06 AM	#4
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	Don I have had the same problem. Paul good points I tried Macro on and the wide angle setting with the same problem of no focus.. I am also very upset that this does not work. Options for a fisheye that works with the EX1? __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

July 11th, 2008, 01:06 PM	#11
Steve Cahill Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 321	Pull the focus ring forward towards the lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! switch to macro and you WILL be able to focus as long as the zoom is set to wide. BUT the focus ring must be pulled forward. This is how I use mine without any issues. All the inside shots of the helicopter, were shot with this lens. @ http://exposureroom.com/members/stev...63f772ec0226e/ __________________ Regards Steve Last edited by Steve Cahill; July 12th, 2008 at 04:50 AM.

July 11th, 2008, 12:35 AM	#2
Jason Bodnar Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 376	This is the second case of this I have heard about... I so wanted to get the Fisheye because I have one for my old VX2000 and I love it! This does not sound good at all. So far it sounds as though the EX1 is hit and miss with Century Optics's accessories which I have always used...Can you post some pics of what the results look like.

July 11th, 2008, 07:20 AM	#6
Rich Dykmans Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Discovery Bay, CA Posts: 138	I was going to order one of these but that's on hold now. Seems hard to believe that they would ship a product that just plain didn't work but when the first 2 people trying it say the exact same thing . . . .

July 11th, 2008, 07:38 AM	#8
Cuong Dinh Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dallas, TX - USA Posts: 89	I have the same problem like you guy. The best way to do it is return to the place you order. I bought from B&H and easy for return.

July 11th, 2008, 10:00 AM	#9
Wacharapong Chiowanich Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 400	Just because it focuses still doesn't mean you have a good copy. Anyone who can get the lens focused properly, could you please check to make sure the image is acceptable, not something like what Paul got when he tried the defunct Century 0.75x zoom-through adapter a while back! I myself have had some bad experience with Century adapters before. My first 37mm 0.65x Century adapter was totally unacceptable on my Sony HC1. It sure seemed to be a defective unit. The store saw the image and allowed me to exchange for another one. The second unit was noticeably better with symmetrical softness at the edges, a fair amount of vignetting and moderate CAs. I was then not quite sure if that was as good as it got for an adapter that wide and for the "consumer" thread of 37mm so I bought a cheaper 37mm Sony wide adapter which was a little less wide at 0.7x. Guess what, it was miles ahead in quality and that was only on the first try! Too bad, the choice of fisheye lens is much more limited. What will Century's response be this time? Wacharapong

July 11th, 2008, 12:28 PM	#10
Buck Forester Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 230	You would think, since this is a Sony EX1 specific lens adapter, they would make it very clear that you need to turn the macro on and auto focus on... like in huge RED letters or something. To have to call the company on something as basic as this makes it seem Century isn't on the ball. I'm only going by what I see here, no personal experience, but geez, why would a company risk their reputation, in this world of internet and forums, on something that would be so easy to eliminate with simple instructions? I have the Sony .8x and I hope Sony makes something even wider. Somehow this EX1 glass is throwing off the third party companies.

July 11th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#12
Rich Dykmans Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Discovery Bay, CA Posts: 138	Don, (or anyone) Can we see some footage taken with this adaptor on?

July 11th, 2008, 04:58 PM	#14
Ola Christoffersson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 462	C´mon guys! Getting upset about not having instructions printed in red telling you to try something as basic as turning macro on to make an add-on adapter work sounds a bit ignorant to me. Give the guys making this thing a break!

July 11th, 2008, 05:04 PM	#15
Jason Bodnar Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 376	So what is the word on this it works great as long as Macro is on and Focus is in Auto or full Auto?