On Tue, 11 Feb 2003 20:36:01 GMT, Brian Siano <bsiano@bellatlantic.net> wrote:

>I just purchasedca Sony TRV 740 (very nice), but the widest angle the

>camera's lens affords me is, well, not wide enough. I'd like to get a

>wide-angle lens adapter for this camera, and I'd like to know a few

>things first:

>

>1. How does the zoom work with the wide-angle attachment? Is there any

>distortion or fish-eye effect? If the wide-angle lens is _too_ wide, can

>I zoom in to adjust the framing?

Wide-angles come in two sets of two types:

zoom-through/non-zoom-through; and those with

barrel distortion at the WA end - or those with

little distortion. Almost all non-zoom-through

converters have barrel distortion; most zoom-through

converters have some barrel distortion (at the wide

end, not as zoomed long); and zoom-through converters

maintain normal focus and apply the magnification

factor to all FLs in the zoom range when installed...

(For more on "distortion", see:

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/perspective-correction.htm

www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/articles.html#perspective)

>2. Are Sony wide-angle lens attachments likely to "vignette?"

No - these are designed for Sony camcorders, though

they are useable on others (as others are useable

on Sony cameras...).

>3. Is it possible to remove the entire lens, and replace it with a more

>robust or flexible lens?

No.

[>4 What are some good WA converters for the TRV740?]

Best sharpness and lowest distortion at the wide end:

(Zoom-through)

Sony 0737HG (heavy, large, requires 30-37mm step-up

ring, shows some color-fringing near long end of the

zoom range); Raynox .66X Pro (needs ring adapters,

large-but-light, higher flare tendency, very low

distortion, may not be wonderful near tele end);

Sony 0637 (cheap and light, more distortion near

short end, requires step-up ring, not as sharp

near wide end as the other two).

(Non-zoom-through)

Sony ES06 (large-diameter, but flat and light, often

best with empty filter rings added between lens and

converter, cheap); many .42X fisheye converters

can work well.