Sawing the lens hood off the Sony wide - anyone done it? Tips?
 

Hi, I need to use the 750 tru cut to deal with the lovely IR contamination issues discussed elsewhere on here, so using the matte box with a 4" filter seem an obvious choice. Clearly the fixed lenshood on the adaptor needs to come off - it looks to me that a hacksaw and some carefull filing will do the trick. Anyone been down this road? Any tips?

I am not sure that a 4" box will be wide enough to avoid vignetting but I guess we have to try.

S

you are a brave soul.
take lots of pics or video as you go.

I am sure I can't be a pioneer on this!!

Do you mean the Sony 0.8X wide angle adapter? The hood detaches from that. A 4x4 filter doesn't have a lot to spare when mounted in the rear filter stage, I'd be checking that before getting out the hacksaw or buying a 4 x 4 to work with the WA attachment. You may need the 4 x 5.65.

the hood detaches how exactly?

s

make sure you wear saw resistant gloves..seriously you need those fingers to counterbalance the EX1!

Is this the model you mean?
Sony | VCL-EX0877 0.8x Wide Angle Lens Adapter | VCL-EX0877

Nah, that looks like the z1 adaptor to me. ex1 adaptor different.

That is the one for the EX1.

well they must have changed the design then because the one I have is like this Sony Ex1 Wide Angle Lens x0.8 - eBay (item 280265084130 end time Sep-09-08 02:59:47 PDT)
and was sent with the camera with a EX1/3 specific bayonet fixing.

I don't seem to be able to find images of it now tho.

s

This page shows exactly the same photo for the z1 and the ex1 adaptor, a common error.

Creative Video > Lenses & Filters > Wide Angle Adaptors

I own one of each- the ex 1 wide is different and is shown here

Sony VCL-EX0877 Wide Angle Adapter - Pro Active

and also in the sony brochure.

Soorry if I seem to have turned into a terrible pedant over this but if there is a wide adaptor that I don't have to take a saw to I want to know about it!!

S

Indeed most sites show that same image, apparently incorrectly. Anyway, looking at the correct photograph you won't have any trouble sawing off the hood. First, I'd be looking at the construction to make sure that it doesn't unscrew. It looks (in the photo) to be a separately made item.

Doh!.....

Ok, back to my original premise then - anyone who actually *owns* one of the wide adaptors got any experience of sawing the hood off!!??

s

Stuart I own one and would love to have the silly hood off but have not tried. Maybe Sony Service can remove the hood or has a drawing to show us how to remove the hood?

I also own on and would like to remove it.
 

Stuart, I was told by Sony, diagonal cutters. I have not tried it as of yet but will need to for the same reasons as you. It appears that the shade has been put on beneath the front most ring that has been screwed on using one of those lens type spanner wrenches with the two opposing pins. I beleive the shade is held captive beneath that ring. The diagonal cutter would split the shade and if you cut it multiple places, it should be able to be removed in sections. I can't confirm this and there is a possibility that the shade can be trapped in there and can't come out easily. I would suggest asking Sony if they would remove it. I used to own a prototype shop and I would be cautious doing it although if Sony won't, I will have to. Please keep us posted because the adapter is useless with a matte box as it is.
Best, Craig

Now I've measured it I agree that a 4" box is not going to be any good on that adaptor, even without the hood.

Current plane 'b' is to cut a slot into the hood into which a 4x4" filter can be slid, held roughly in place by the slot and blu tacked or taped in place. Concerns are that there will be reflections between trhe fliter and the lens so in fact in may never work but I will give it a try! have just bought a second hand wide so I have a spare one just in case..!

Kind regards,

Stuart

Today I have just got rid of the lens hood from the wideangle so it will fit in to my vocas mattebox system.
First I cut off with a hacksaw the "Big fins" from the lens.
Then a friend of mine put it into a small lathe.
He then turned down the outer edge cutting off all of what was left of the lens hood.
He cut the external diameter down to 108mm, level with the screwed on Sony aluminium outer ring
and then turned it back about 10mm from the front edge and it now fits perfectly.
It was a bit nerve racking for the first cut, but it has worked out fine!

I salute you!!! have had too much work myself so actually have't tounched mine.

Next question- is there any vignetting from the box on the widest setting? If not, what model is it? I am convinced (from measuring and mocking up) that my Genus box will vignette even if I do hack the hood off.

bravo


s

Could you post a photo of the finished lens Mark please?

Thansk
Steve

Or possibly a photo of the finished marked lens?!?

s

Sorry for the late reply...Dinner guests!
It's late here in the UK, well for me got an early call.
I will post pictures...hopfully! Saturday PM UK time.
If I go full wide I can just see the first roataing 4x4 filter frame just on the left of frame, I have adjusted the Bars and mattebox over and over but it's still there.
I cannot have the second fixed tray in, because I can see the edges.
On monday UK time, My mate is going to put it back into the lathe!!
A few more mill's will get it right!
I will take some photo's and give measurements.
Looking Good

Well it's done!
When we turned it back we found that although the outside of the lens runs true
the inside thread is not true to centre, but it was no real problem.
As you can see from the photo the finish is not smooth because of the different layers from the old lens hood.
But it works!
the final measurments are:
External Dia: 106mm or 4.170"
And we cut it back from the front edge of the metal ring 11mm or .420"
From the second photo with it mounted on the camera you can see there is a gap between the back of the cut and the mattebox, this is to allow it to go forward to the front filter tray if needed.

well done mark!
 

any vignetteing full wide with the matte box?
Best, Craig

I have no vignetteing with the first rotating filter tray on full wide, but a
little on the sides about 2mm with the second outer filter tray in.
I rarely if ever use two filters at once, so I have removed the outer filter tray and put in some black foam to keep out the light.