On Thu, 4 Oct 2001 20:08:26 +0200, "Danny" wrote:

>Several inquiries regarding wide-angle converters have been posted in this
>NG. Here is my experience.
>
>I just returned from a barging trip in Provence and had a look at my
>"production". I am a newbie to video filming but have decades long
>experience with photography. I use a Sony 620E camcorder and since I like to
>take wide-angle shots (useful in small spaces, views, reflections in water
>etc.) I bought a x0.6 wide angle converter. Here are a few caveats and
>limitations:
>
>1. Picture degradation: present but not a problem for wide angle and normal
>shots. The converter has to be removed however for tele shots.
>2. Reflections: are significantly enhanced. The converter should be used
>with diffuse or incident light only, never with lateral or backlighting..
>3. In wide-angle zoom mode (naturally the most frequently used), since
>practically everything is in focus from the camera lens forward, every bit
>of dirt, fingerprint, water drops etc. on the converter will be seen on
>film, so you have to keep it VERY clean.
>My two bits

Having used MANY WA converters on MANY different camcorders,
I conclude that matching specific converters to specific
lenses is as important as the inherent quality of either;
some converters perform better with specific amounts of
spacing added between the lens and the converter; and some
converters are truly "zoom-through", some are partially so,
and some cannot be zoomed much at all. As a result, one
may, or may not, get a sharp, flare-free image when using
a particular converter and camcorder and zoom position, but
using a different combination may change the quality of what
you get...; or, it is hard to say anything definitive about
the quality of most converters "in a vacuum" - though a few
do work about equally well on a wide variety of camcorder
lenses...