Wide Angle Converter

[mfparcher]

I've been looking into getting a Canon WD-H58W .7x wide angle converter for my Vixia HF G10 because it seems that I can't actually put a different lens on the camera. Does this just seem like a work-around? Would I be better off getting a camera I can put an actual wide angle lens on?

Thoughts?

 

[RED ROBOT]

I bought myself a wide angle convertor and it just looks horrible .

Makes the quality of the footage worse , causes some very weird distortion and it's overall not very good .

However I use it if the space I'm shooting in is very small so I could pull off certain shots .


Also you must be aware that you might get vignete at the edges.

 

[mfparcher]

Thank you...that's what I was afraid of...

 

[Lucky Hardwood]

You would absolutely be better off with an interchangeable lens camera. That said, sometimes you just have to make due with what you have and work around the weaknesses.

 

[Zensteve]

That WD-H58W is kinda pricey at $400, according to here.

It's gotta get better results than the $50 piece of junk I ended up with, though.

Do you have a camera store near you, that will let you borrow or rent one first? See if you actually like the image you'll get from it?

 

[rayw]

I've been looking into getting a Canon WD-H58W .7x wide angle converter for my Vixia HF G10 because it seems that I can't actually put a different lens on the camera.

Sellers 	Seller Rating	Details	Base Price	Total Price	
Unique Photo	  (258)	 Free shipping, No tax	$399.00	 $399.00	
Shop »
B&H Photo-Video-Audio 	  (40,900)	 Free shipping, No tax	$399.00	 $399.00	
Shop »
Camera Chums	 No rating	 Free shipping	$355.00		
Shop »
RytherCamera 	  (435)	 Free shipping, No tax	$399.00	 $399.00	
Shop »
Full Compass Systems	  (436)	 Free shipping, No tax	$467.78	 $467.78	
Shop »
AValive 	 18 ratings	 No tax	$388.50		
Shop »
Adorama Camera 	  (14,115)	 Free shipping, No tax	$399.00	 $399.00	
Shop »
pictureline.com	 4 ratings	 Free shipping, No tax	$495.95	 $495.95	
Shop »
1 - 8 of 8

A $400 lens for a $1,300 camera seems a bit much, but that largely depends upon exactly what you plan on doing with your film products after they're completed.

If youtubing them then I'd say the fine Canon WD-H58W is a bit much.
Consider a Raynox WA lens.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RAYNOX-HD-6...12654300?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4d0002a1dc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Raynox-HD-7...170997770157?pt=AU_Lenses&hash=item27d042e7ad
I have two Raynox lenses, they're good enuff products.

If you're seeking film festival showings, because you really know what you're doing, then maybe a Canon WD-H58W.
If you're going to make a VOD feature, it'll be fine. The least of your worries.

Does this just seem like a work-around?

A wide angle lens on a Canon camcorder works exactly the same as it does on a Canon DSLR, so... no diff.
They're all work arounds.

Would I be better off getting a camera I can put an actual wide angle lens on?

Not really.
The Vixia G10 is a nice camcorder.
Again, it all depends upon what you're going to do with the final film products: youtube, film festivals, VOD?
If shooting for the stars, then you're not going to tech your way out of poor storytelling and technique.
GL!

 

[rayw]

Ran a test of my two Raynox add-on lenses (something I've been meaning to do, anyway.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCQvBberpK4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCQvBberpK4

Note:
- in the camera's image @ 1x zoom, the slight curvature of the door @ far left.
- with the 0.72x wide angle lens @ 1x zoom, the pronounced curvature @ outside edges.
- with the 0.72x wide angle lens @ 10x zoom, the diminished curvature @ outside edges.
- with the 1.85x telephoto lens @ 1x zoom, the field blockage in corners. @ 1.5x zoom it moves off field.
- with the 1.85x telephoto lens @ 10x zoom, cloudiness with spectrum shift appears. @ 8x zoom it's not notably present.