On Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:10:48 -0500, Stacey <fotocord@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Thu, 16 Jan 2003 23:45:23 GMT, d_ruether@hotmail.com (Neuman - Ruether)

>wrote:

>>(and

>>barrel distortion can be our friend -

>Not if people are part of the image!

I disagree - in wide-angle, with rounded objects

near the edges, barrel "distortion" (actually,

"spherical perspective") is MUCH kinder to these

subjects than equivalent-width rectangular-perspective

lenses are (assuming similar camera-subject positions,

including distance...). Do read for more on this:

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

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

Barrel distortion not only renders people more

"normally" when they are near edges, but rotations

of the image with panning and tilting are smoother-

looking, with less obvious "tilting" and shifting of

straight lines (though these will be curved, if off

center...;-).

>>The best for low distortion was the Raynox .66X, which

>>is rather large (though light), and it can be adapted to

>>small-front lenses (it often is poor near longest zoom,

>>and it flares easily -

>Which is why a lens hood is almost manditory. I've also learned to

>only use these adapters when I need a wide shot as the "normal" lens

>is a lot less suceptible to flare.

This depends on the flare-sensitivity of particular

WA converters. The Canon WD-58, for instance, really

is no more flare-sensitive on a VX2000 than the

lens is without it - and if similarly shaded, it is

excellent. The Raynox shows more than average flare,

though, which is why I mentioned that aspect. Since it

is the only distortion-free converter I've seen, and

since it is also sharper than most in the corners

at wide stops and short FLs, the higher than average

flare is worth dealing with on this particular

converter...