Ok to leave Wide Conversion on?
 

Would someone care to explain what magic the wide conversion setting is having on this camera? I am using both the Century Optics fisheye and wide angle. Am I safe simply leaving the wide angle conversion setting to on?

Thanks in advance to every one who contributes to this awesome forum!

Keith

I would guess it affects the way the back focus is set on the lens.

I thought it affected the image stabilizer setting. I think I also read somewhere it *might* also have some affect on CA correction.

I believe this setting is only to be use with Sony's own wide-angle-adapter. It has been adjusted to mathematically correct the CA that the Sony's lens causes. I doubt it does that with any other... since it is pre-calculated parameter it might harm the image under other conditions.

I can't see any CA correction in the image, when using the Sony WA. The back focus idea sounds plausible... In which case prob best to leave it on with any WA adaptor attached.. 2c

OIS. WA has different compensation than regular lens.

It would be pretty useless if it was for CA for all the people who use non-Sony WA.

Exactly. My Sony PDX-10 also had this same setting, so does the HVR-Z1. It's a little more clear what it does there however, because it's an option on the Steadyshot menu.

Hi Keith,

We did a long 20 something day shoot a few months back with the EX3 hot off the press, or at least, hot in our hands.

AS part of the package I bought a Century Optics wide angle lens. I also bought an ST-7 shoulder mount.

Even with the shoulder mount and Sony batts on back, it was still front heavy with the wide angle. But that wasn't what you asked (though I had to add it in!). We left the wide angle lens on for the first day and into the beginning of the second under pretty harsh conditions. What I found on review was that there was significant barrel distortion... - notice I didn't just scream :)

My point is, at the end of the day, if you're adding glass and you're thinkin about leavin it on (at least the Century), then you either need to test it thoroughly or chuck it and buy a proper wide anlge... IMHO :) I say this becaue I've seen singnificant barrel distortion. not sure if others see it in this config but me keep to know.

Joe

Which Century Optics wide lens did you use? Curious because there seems to be a lot of confusion on this topic if you look at other threads. Was it the 0.75x? .75X W/A HD CONVERTER EX1/EX3 - Schneider Optics

If you read back through this forum, the 0.75x lens was pulled last year and has since been replaced with a new version.

Or was it the 0.6x lens? .6X WIDE ANGLE HD ADP EX1/EX3 - Schneider Optics. That sure looks like the same adaptor I have for my z1 (with a different mount), and it has pretty severe barrel distortion and is also rather soft. I still like using it for effect from time to time, but not a lens I would leave on the whole time certainly!

I don't think it would affect backfocus at all, but it will undoubtedly compromise your lens performance and that's something you should be able to test easily by shooting the same size shot with and without the adapter. Whether the compromise is worth the convenience will be up to you.