Adapter/Teleconverter/Wide Converter with Powershot S3

[Agent2828]

Hey guys,

I'm relatively new to photography and this is my first post on here.

I am excited to have just purchased a Canon Powershot S3 IS and am now trying to research the most appropriate converters and lenses to buy for the camera. I viewed the samples at the Lensmate website, although I think I'm just more puzzled. I am hoping you guys can help.

First, I am looking at the adapters, comparing the Canon Lens Adapter set and the Lensmate adapters, for instance. I know there are some differences like the Canon is plastic, and the Lensmate is metal. (I've heard that some people say that the Lensmate is stronger and better, but perhaps an accidental impact to a canon adapter would transmit less force/damage to the camera?) Also, would my choice of adapter alter the quality of a future tele/wide converters that I get? For example, the samples from Lensmate are using Lensmate adapters... would they be comparable to Canon Adapters? In other words, if the lenses don't fit the same way on the various adapters, perhaps there will be different photographic results? Do you guys have a recommendation?

And when it comes to Teleconverters and Wide Converters, it seems like there is a big variety. For example, on eBay (should I even be looking here? lol) there are many that boast high power tele power for only a fraction of the cost of big name brand ones. Should I totally stay away from these?

At this point, I am thinking going with the Canon products all the way, since I don't seem to know any better in terms of selecting the appropriate combination of non-Canon brands to produce good results. This is probably an ignorant approach but I feel like I can't go wrong this way... that is, unless you guys have suggestions for me. :-)

I know my questions might be too open-ended and broad, but any input, suggestions, or tips that you can offer me are greatly appreciated!!

Thank you!

[Agent2828]

To follow up to my first posting, for example, is this set on eBay total junk? lol

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7625024360

[RossW]

Hello, Agent2828... may I call you "28?" :-) Welcome to the forums.

I'm delighted with my S2 lens adaptor from LensMate... if anything, I think it's better and provides more protection and functionality than Canon's own, and it was less expensive as well.

I forget the details -- I think LensMate mentions it on their site -- about the Canon threading preventing using their converters in conjunction with a filter. That said, I still went with a Canon teleconverter, and it works perfectly by itself with the LensMate adaptor... just a nasty color mis-match of the S2 silver camera/adaptor and the black Canon TC. The cool dark color of the S3 will probably be a better match, assuming LensMate has the color right on their adaptor (I haven't checked their site to see if they've got something just for the S3, or if the S2 one fits also). My reason for going with the Canon TC was to ensure good quality glass, although I know others have been quite pleased with their Raynox or other brands. I haven't seen your eBay item, but I have read about some TCs and WCs going cheap -- but not cheap enough for the poor quality -- there. Unless someone can absolutely vouch for it, I'd be cautious.

[Agent2828]

Hey Ross, thank you very much for your reply! What you wrote is helpful.

I might go with a LensMate adapter after all, since everyone seems to be so pleased with them and you even mention that you use the Canon Teleconverter with it, and it works well. I was wondering if I should go with a 52mm or 58mm adapter, but since the Canon Teleconverter is 58mm, I figure I should go with that size adapter. One view from the LensMate website is to go with the smaller 52mm adapter since the filters will be cheaper. But I am assuming that I should still go with the 58mm.

As for the Teleconverters and Wide Converters, I still am unsure if I should go with a more expensive name brand or if I can go with something like what is shown in the eBay link I posted above. It'd be nice to get both for $60 rather than for over $200, if the quality is sufficient. Any more thoughts on this would be great.

Thanks again!

Steve (or "28" lol)

[dyle]

As far as I now, although I don't have the S2 or S3, that with converters, you get what you pay for. Name brand ones are generally going to give you better quality. Looking at the lensmate website, it looks like there's quite a few choices that you can go. Try searching for those converters on ebay. Sometimes you get a really good deal. Also, try searching for seller "olympusauctions". They sell brand new but with scuffed packaging genuine olympus converters for really good prices. The TCON17 was featured in the lensmate website to be a very good teleconverter for the S3 so it might be worht a look if the seller has that particular model. Just make sure you read the descriptions properly since olympus sells different version of their converters--some with bayonet mounts that can only be used with olympus cameras

[ba15ck]

28, I have the 52mm lensmate adapter for my s2--I went with that size because I already had a few 52 mm filters from my film slr. I did read somewhere on lensmates website that one of the particular converters they sell actually performs better in the 52 size then the 58. But I don't really think it matters--

I would not go with those converters you found on ebay--however (though I don't think they are any good) that doesn't necessarily mean they are rubbish. These compact cameras are much more sensitive to what you put in front of them than are DSLR's.

That being said, just because lensmate recommends a few converters from the Raynox line, I would not take that to mean that every converter that Raynox makes will work well with the s2/s3--that is how sensitive these cameras are.

I would stick with a converter (no matter the brand) that you has verified results with your camera. That is why so many people around here recommend lensmate.

Also, no matter how high the quality of these converters, when putting something like this in front of your camera, you are degrading the quality; I would suggest not buying cheap for this reason alone: high quality converter will degrade the quality of the image some, and cheap/low quality converters will degrade the quality quite a bit; probably enough to render unsatisfactory results.

I have the .66 raynox WA converter and am satisfied with it--it is fun you use and the quality is quite good to me--I bought from lensmate. It produces quite a bit of lens flare when shooting into direct light, but that is just something that I will have to adjust to. I would recommend it in a heart beat.

I was in your boat about a month ago--wanted to get some converters- after much research I decided to go with a converter that was not too expensive and that had verified results.

hope this helps--if you narrow any other questions I will be glad to help you along

[Agent2828]

Thanks for your awesome suggestions guys! I will write out my conclusion that I have drawn based on my "research" and your great input. Hopefully it might be useful to someone else with a Powershot S2/S3.

I was ABOUT to order the Canon adapter for 3 reasons:

1. I liked that it would be an "all Canon" look, where everything matched.
2. I figured plastic would take more of the blow (rather than transmit the impact to the camera) if it got banged or dropped. I'd rather a broken adapter than a broken camera.
3. I really liked the Canon teleconverter, which seems to product one of the best results, and that would fit the Canon adapter well.

However, I actually decided NOT to go with the Canon adapter after all because the Lensmate adapter is still more appealing for these reasons:

1. The lensmate adapter is made of metal, and of higher quality. And my theory on why plastic might be better is probably totally wrong. Firmer is probably more desirable.
2. The lensmate adapters are cheaper.

As far as the tele-converters and wide converters, I think that the Lensmate website (www.lensmateonline.com (http://www.lensmateonline.com)) did a good job comparing the top runners. I have read some very mixed reviews about the quality of the Opteka ones, and I would assume that all the very cheap ones (like on eBay) are indeed... cheap, and you often get what you pay for.

As far as the tele-converters, I feel the two best choices for the Powershot S2/S3 are the Raynox DCR-1540 Pro or the Canon TC-DC58B. They are both comparable in quality, and the Raynox has SLIGHTLY higher power. The advantage of the Raynox is that it has front threads for a filter, whereas the Canon does not. I might therefore wind up ordering the Raynox 1540 Pro when it comes time to getting a tele-converter.

As far as the wide converters, I am not sure yet. I think I would look at the comparisons on the Lensmate website more closely, and go with one of those. If any of you has had great experience with one on the Powershot S2/S3, please do post your comments!

For now, I just ordered a Lensmate 58mm adapter, with a 58mm Hoya (double coated) UV filter. I hear that the UV filter would be good to keep on to protect the camera lens. I am still learning about what filters do, and I am interested in the Polarizing filters (they say CIRCULAR for a digital camera?). I'm also still trying to get a sense of what the different coatings do, and how necessary they are.

As I mentioned in my first post, I am really new to this, so you newbies ought to take my reasoning with a grain of salt. And to you experts out there, thank you again for all your suggestions!!

Steve