Raynox HD 6600 and HD 7000 experiences?

[BarnOwl]

As the Canon WD-H43 is not available here in Holland I was considering the Raynox as an alternative. I have only seen one user on this forum that uses a 6600.
A lot of Panasonic SD1 users are pretty positive about these wide angle converters but I was wondering if anyone that uses one can post some more comparison stills here if possible?

Thanks,

I am talking about these:

HD6600-180 gr:
http://raynox.co.jp/comparison/images/video/hdc_sd1/camera/SD1-HD6600PRO43.jpg

HD7000-330gr:
http://raynox.co.jp/comparison/images/video/hdr_hc7/camera/hc7_hd7000pro6.jpg

[Yann]

I got the HD6600 on ebay ( http://cgi.ebay.de/Raynox-HD-6600-Panasonic-HDC-SD1-DX1-GS500-Canon-HV20_W0QQitemZ230132632930QQihZ013QQcategoryZ18612 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem ), i very contently with it.

[BarnOwl]

Could you post some samples in wide mode?

[Yann]

maybe tomorrow, when i have time.

[Mal]

I don't want to rubbish 3rd party products per se, and use many of them myself for various items.
When it comes to lenses though, I am really not sure that saving a few $$$ will be worth it. When it comes to optics in front of the lens, whether it be filters or any other glass (i.e. lenses), I prefer to spend a few extra dollars for quality products, and get the least amount of distortion and light loss.

By the way, here's a neat look at a semi-interactive virtual tour of a Canon lens' manufacturing process:
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/tech/l_plant/f_index.html

[Yann]

but i must say that Raynox is not bad quality. I m sure, the WD H43 will be a little bit more better, but i come from Belgium and in order to import the WD H 43 i must pay more than 250 $... and that only for a little bit more quality?? I will post some few footage tomorrow and you will see, that the HD-6600 is not so bad for this price segment.

Here some pictures about the HV20 and the HD-6600

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1795/hd6600001hy7.jpg

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/896/hd6600002kn5.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7359/hd6600003jd3.jpg

[Mal]

Thanks for those pics.

Maybe this lens isn't too bad after all. I now also read some good reviews, namely this one (for the 55mm version):
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=16321763
Another neat thing is that the Raynox has a front 72mm filter thread, something quite unusual for a wide angle lens adapter.


Also, it's $120 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/227155-REG/Raynox_HD6600PRO43_HD_6600_43mm_0_66x_Pro.html#got o_itemInfo

I'll still wait for the Canon WD-H43 though, I think.

Would be nice to see a side-by-side comparison Canon vs. Raynox!

[Yann]

A question what i m posing to me is: i have ordered the FS-43U filterset and my question is... can i use the grey- and the uv-filter with the HD-6600?... Does the filters has a thread to screw the HD-6600 on it?
Or must i order 72mm filters too?

[Mal]

Well you'd not really want a 43mm filter in between the cam and the lens, so yes, you'd want a 72mm filter in front of the lens only.

BUT, the reason why most WA lenses do not have the option of a filter is because with a WA lens most everything is in focus, and the cam will want to focus on dust on the filter. That's quite a difficult thing to avoid...

[BarnOwl]

Thanks for the pictures Yann!

For me the weight difference is crucial. To apply a 330g. lens (Canon) on a 530g camera will throw it completely out of balance. I will be shooting 99% of my footage from the arm so no tripod.
The quality is a trade off. The 6600 is commonly used on other small HD cams like the Pany SD1, Sony HC7 etc. because of it's 178 gr.

The Raynox 7000 has a better resolution, see Raynox website:
http://raynox.co.jp/english/video/hd7000pro/index.htm
But it is also 330 grams, so a heavy piece of glass for a small cam!

[Mal]

For me the weight difference is crucial.

I can understand that.

BUT, from my understanding, the HD6600 can resolve about 350 lines, the HD7000Pro can resolve 540 lines.
It seems that using one of these Raynox lenses will defeat a lot of the HV20's PQ.
Raynox DOES make better HD lenses, such as the HDP-6000EX, but that's very large and would need a step-ring....oh, and it's $500.00:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/479713-REG/Raynox_HDP6000EX_HDP_6000EX_0_79X_HD_Wide_Angle.ht ml

My vote is still for the Canon WD-H43. But it would be nice to see a resolution chart of the WD-H43 vs. the Raynox HD6600.
Hmm, maybe I'll do this test to make this an easier decision once and for all....

[Mal]

I'll do a shootout with about 4 WA lenses:
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=441

[BarnOwl]

Great! I'll be looking forward to that! Thanks, Mal........:hv20-smilie03:

[Yann]

Now here is the captured footage comparison about the HD-6600. :hv20-smilie110:

All automatic, 1080i and I.AF Off

No-HD6600 01
Click (http://hv20.info/yopu/non_wide_01.wmv)

HD6600 01
Click (http://hv20.info/yopu/wide_1.wmv)

No-HD6600 02
Click (http://hv20.info/yopu/non_wide_001.wmv)

HD6600 02
Click (http://hv20.info/yopu/wide_2.wmv)

[BarnOwl]

Thanks for the shots, Yann.

I am positively surprised by the quality of the Raynox.
In the wide range (that's what I'll be using it for, no zooming) there is hardly noticable softness on the sides, only at extreme zoom the unsharpness kicks in.
I'll just wait for Mal to post the test, but the Canon has to be a lot better for more than twice the price and weight..........

[iotatau]

Now here is the captured footage comparison about the HD-6600.

Thanks for your samples!

I'd recommend to switch off "auto" and disable image stabilization the next time. In the current clip the picture jumps frequently during the pan movement.

[Karel]

@ BarnOwl/Jeroen

Bij Foto Konijnenburg: e. 94,50

Klik (http://www.fotokonijnenberg.nl/product_details.php?id_product=12531)

[BarnOwl]

Thanks, Karel. I know, already ordered one...........:hv20-smilie03:

[MeiLaiWah]

BUT, from my understanding, the HD6600 can resolve about 350 lines, the HD7000Pro can resolve 540 lines.
It seems that using one of these Raynox lenses will defeat a lot of the HV20's PQ.



The HD6600 resolves 350 lines/mm at center.

That's plenty of resolving power for the HV20. Raynox says the lens can resolve 2520 lines onto a 1/3" chip:

http://www.raynox.co.jp/english/video/egwidehdxl.htm

[Mal]

Phew, THAT's better then.
350 lines (total) would of been pretty blurry, and inconsistent with what people have been reporting here...

Thanks for the clarification, MeiLaiWah! :hv20-smilie77:

[Olphus]

About the weight...to me added weight is welcome, it gives you a steadier shot when handheld - altough it might feel unbalanced for the hand.

[M700P]

+1 to weight being a good thing. But at the same time balance is just as important. I'd just add weight if it wasn't for travel. There are stick on lead strips that would help or just add a mono-pod with with weight on the bottom.

[25p]

Karel / BarnOwl

The Raynox HD-6600 from Bij Foto Konijnenburg is 3 weeks backorder. :-(

Do you know what is the difference between the HD-6600 Pro-43 High Defenition Wi and the Raynox DCR-6600 Pro 0,66x HD Wideangle from Bij Foto Konijnenburg website? :hv20-smilie50:

[BarnOwl]

Karel / BarnOwl

The Raynox HD-6600 from Bij Foto Konijnenburg is 3 weeks backorder. :-(

Do you know what is the difference between the HD-6600 Pro-43 High Defenition Wi and the Raynox DCR-6600 Pro 0,66x HD Wideangle from Bij Foto Konijnenburg website? :hv20-smilie50:

I really don't know the difference between the DCR and the HD. (Somehow I suspect the HD is better for the HV20.)

I got the HD 6600 from Foto video Boom (http://www.fotovideoboom.nl/Home.15.0.html?showgroup=496) Just hit "6600 43" in the search field. They still seem to have them in stock.

[Karel]

Funny, I got mine today from Konijnenberg. According to the website they should be in stock.
Oh wait: are you a Belgian costumer?
Maybe they can transfer one from Den Ham?

AFAIK with the DCR you'll need an adpter ring for the HV20.
I rally don't know if there are any optical differences.

[25p]

That's the response from Den Ham :(

Geachte heer,

U moet rekening houden met zeker 3 weken.

Met vriendelijke groet,

[javayoda]

Amazing. I saw this thread and remembered I had a Raynox HD 6600 that I used on my broken Panasonic cam. I haven't shot any footage yet but I'm quite happy with this discovery.

[lwm99]

I read that some of you got the Raynox HD-6600PRO43. But on Raynox site http://raynox.co.jp/english/video/pdf/Wideangle_Cross_Reference.pdf it references to HD-6600PRO52 plus RA5243A adapter for HV20. Anyone knows why or the difference?

[BarnOwl]

I read that some of you got the Raynox HD-6600PRO43. But on Raynox site http://raynox.co.jp/english/video/pdf/Wideangle_Cross_Reference.pdf it references to HD-6600PRO52 plus RA5243A adapter for HV20. Anyone knows why or the difference?

I have no idea why they recommend an extra conversion to 52mm. All I can say is I use the HD 6600PRO 43 and I am very pleased with it. No vignetting in all zoom positions and I sandwiched a 43 B&W UV filter between the lens and the camera.

[Nacho]

Hi!

Any tests with the HD-7000?

Would be very thankful!!!

[freeflight]

Good work. It is pretty decent at wide angle, once you zoom in the picture gets some color aberration and blurr.


Now here is the captured footage comparison about the HD-6600. :hv20-smilie110:

All automatic, 1080i and I.AF Off

[freeflight]

I read from dpreview that using a 72mm filter in front of HD6600 Pro can cause vignetting.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=16321763
The main benefit to get HD6600 instead of Canon WD-H43 is to use filters.

Did anybody tried that on HV20? What is your observation?

Thanks.

[HalD]

I really like Canon lenses - they make some really good glass and I have some awesome lenses for my SLR especially my 70-300mm DO zoom . That said, I have a WD-58 WA lens for my VX2000 and there is no excuse in the world for Canon to produce a WD lens with no threads for filters or hoods. NONE!
That is sorry.
So my money is going to Raynox for a 7000 series WA lens for my HV20.
HalD