youre a cheapskate...

[JMack]

so i have an hf-s100.

and im wondering, if im going to be doing mostly internet video, and i want a wide angle lens....

do i go cheap, middle of the road or expensive?

in other words...

do i got for the cokin $40-50 range, the Raynox $110-$150 range or go to the high end canon/raynox for $220+??

[Erik Bien]

... and even though I only use it sparingly, I have a Canon WA adapter.

Between what you see when you're there with your camera and what others see when viewing your finished clips on Vimeo/YouTube you can imagine an 'imaging chain' — first come any filters or adapter/extender lenses you might be using, then the camera lens projects the picture onto the imaging chip, the rest of the camera hardware digitizes, compresses and records it, you may transcode it to an intermediate codec for editing, before finally compressing and encoding it to post on the web. Any weak link in the chain will degrade the final result, usually irreversably so, and multiple weak links tend to compound each other.

Most often, your WA adapter will be the very first link in your chain. What's the point in using a camcorder with a tack-sharp lens and an HD chip recording at the highest quality setting if you're going to feed it an image that's already been irretrievably softened, distorted, vignetted and fringed with false color by being passed through a thick chunk of cheaply-made glass? :hv20-smilie51:

[Rainer]

Also a cheapskate. Don't know about the Cokin, but I started by buying a cheap wide angle on EBay. In summary, it was well up with the expensive lenses in terms of appearance and finish. On the camera it was useful as a textbook study of what is meant by various forms of lens aberration. Its still a novelty lens and an interesting paperweight so I'm not regretting my $25. My recommendation is save yourself some time, money and heartache and buy the Raynox HD6600, I don't think you can do better.

[Flozem]

Actually you can... :P

Bought the Raynox HD 7000 Pro (0.7x) recently... Now I am not a pro, but I have yet to find any quality loss in my videos. Here in the Netherlands it was only moderately more expensive than the HD 6600 PRO which has a bit more WA but less zoom range.

The HD 7000 Pro works great through the entire optical zoom range; no vignetting; no loss of light, and auto focus still works perfectly. Only letdown would be the weight... but what do you expect of a WA convertor that looks more sturdy than the entire camera. It's a whole bunch of glass, rubber and metal. It gives you some space to put your second hand for support though.

The lens has been on my HF S10 since I bought it - I mostly film my baby daughter at home and need the WA to actually record something of the scene.

At 150 less than the 0.7x Canon convertor that promises the same, I'm a happy camper. Only thing left would be a better tripod and better light in my living room as we now only have indirect (romantic) lights... :)

[Seo]

No... don't get the 7000, just don't. My friend has both (he's the filter/lens adapter/step-up ring man), and he says the 6600 is better in every way except for the zoom through.

[cgbier]

I built a lens from a coke bottle and some black cardboard for my Holga.

Erik is right: Any extra piece of glass you put in front of your lens diminishes your IQ. It is actually not so much the glass, but the added air space between the elements (one reason why those fancy Tessar pancake lenses are so sharp - only four elements and not much air in between them).

If you really NEED a WA, buy the best you can afford.

[Flozem]

No... don't get the 7000, just don't. My friend has both (he's the filter/lens adapter/step-up ring man), and he says the 6600 is better in every way except for the zoom through.

Your friend also has the same camera? Cuz appearantly there are differences in applying WA's to different cameras.... Just what I read though, and I did no 1 on 1 comparison. I googled the comparison for a HV camera, but gathered it might be different for mine. Besides, amateur that I am, I plan to keep the WA on most of the time - can't be bothered to screw it on and off. So I needed the zoom range.

Just my two unexperienced cents though. :hv20-smilie84:

Edit: I'd love to read your friend's detailed review though... what's better/worse and to what grade.

[Seo]

Yes, he has the same camera as well. The guy's done more filter stacking than I care to mention, haha.

I'll dig up his review for you. Not very well presented (no offense Bart, you're awesome!), but good nonetheless.

[drapeama]

I'd go with the Raynox HD-6600 & Lunchbox would say that the Canon is built with better optics and that you can zoom through to the max.
As when you use a wide angle, it's definitively for a "wide" frame, so you don't need to zoom : The HD-6600 is the best for the price, imo.

[Papaya]

Me too still not decide which one to buy, whether to buy HD7000 or HD6600. I read all threads about these lens in this forum and both have positive review.

[Seo]

Just go for the 6600, period. Unless you plan on zooming through all the time, the 6600 does everything else better.

[drapeama]

Me too still not decide which one to buy

Read here (http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/HV20_Wide.htm), it might help you.

[Papaya]

Which one should i buy, raynox HD-6600 52mm or 58mm for my canon HF S11?

[JMack]

drapeama!!!!

Thank you!!1

THATS exactly what i was looking for!! you win youre the best!! thank you!

[JMack]

btw, quick update, Raynox just released the SRW-6600 which is the same as the classic DCR-6600 howver they have corrected any focus and/or vignettign issues with the DCR..

SAME price and comes in black AND silver!!

NICE!

Check it out over on BHPhoto.com

[drapeama]

quick update, Raynox just released the SRW-6600
SAME price and comes in black AND silver!!

Thanks for the info, i wasn't aware about this new model.

[SteelCurtain]

How is the SRW-6600 new if most of the reviews are from 2008? Am I missing something or is their a newer model out there? Thanks!

[Seo]

Heh, it's newer than the old 6600. Looking at it now, though, neither of them are really "new".

[Papaya]

Just go for the 6600, period. Unless you plan on zooming through all the time, the 6600 does everything else better.


Read here (http://www.imagometrics.com/FLReviews/HV20_Wide.htm), it might help you.

My final conclusion is to buy HD6600 for better overall performance and less weight, but if zooming is the major concern then go for HD7000.

And for 52mm vs 58mm issue, both have same quality, it just a matter of size.

[SteelCurtain]

Heh, it's newer than the old 6600. Looking at it now, though, neither of them are really "new".

OK gotcha...I was confused when he said "just released". Still learning and absorbing everything.



quick update, Raynox just released the SRW-6600
SAME price and comes in black AND silver!!