CrystalVue LX8 Focal Length

[Joey]

Question for all the LX8 users. What is the minimum focal length of the LX8 using the G2 on full tele? Ive searched the forum and the CKC site but came up empty.

Long time reader first time poster :)

[kameraguy]

Hello Joey,

I often have wondered how this lens works myself. I also have a G2 in black, and do enjoy using the optical zoom...however I would of coure like a longer lens as well. I hope someone can provide some valuable feedback to your post :)

[Joey]

kameraguy wrote:
Hello Joey,
I also have a G2 in black

Hey another fellow black user!!!! I must admit mines has taken a beating already and has some battle scars.

I do hope someone has this nfo.

[Laziferous]

I have the LX8, but don't feel like doing the math at this moment to figure out the focal length :p

I wouldn't recommend that lens though. I don't like it very much.
-You have to be at full zoom to avoid vignetting
-Chromatic aberration is problematic
-Doesn't allow in enough light IMHO
-Sometimes the camera has a hard time focusing on specific objects

Those things make it a pain in the butt for me to use. I only use it every once in a while. Just my experiences though. I know there are many others that absolutely love it.

[Joey]

Thanks for the feedback.

Sorta makes me really think twice about that lense now.

Do you have any samples showing these problems?

[TheHartster]

I have the LX8 Lens. I don't use it often, but I get very little to none Chromatic aberration, and I feel it lets in more than enough light. I do agree that trying to focus it in is kind of hard. I do enjoy the quality of the photos I can get with this lens.
You do have to have it at full zoom to avoid vignetting but I usually shoot in RAW format so I can zoom back as much as I need to, in order to get my subject in (if I am still too close with the lens) and then just crop out the vignette and not lose any quality.

[msvadi]

Chris,
did you try any other lens, KNT-20 for example? I still cannot decide if I should buy a teleconverter and, since my birthday is getting closer, I have to make up my mind fast.

[Laziferous]

Well, like I said, I know many people love it. I think my expectations were a little too high prior to getting it. I thought maybe I'd be able to get shots comparable to that of the 10D. Don't laugh... I was a newbie :D

For the average user, I guess it's fine. I've been slowly progressing with my photography skills over the last few months, and it leaves me wanting more out of that lens. I think I'm too particular (my wife calls it anal retentive :p ). It's just not what I expected.

Joey, I do have examples, but none online right now. If you really want to see them, I'll upload them for you.

Msvadi, I haven't tried any other converter. I hear that the Canon converter has the best quality of those available for the G2, but it is grossly overpriced, and is only 1.5X. I don't know what to tell you there. I'm sure someone else will have more info regarding this. I haven't really looked into it much.

[Joey]

If you could get some pictures online for me to look at that would be great. The only pictures I've seen are on the CKC site and not sure if those are like the best of the best or that everytime you press go the pictures actually come out like that. And with both of you saying it is somewhat hard to focus I am really curious now.

I do have the canon telephoto add on lense and it works as advertise. Am I wrong in thinking that the LX8 does nothing for DOF but just brings you 8x closer to your subject?

[TheHartster]

In my journey with the LX8 lens, it's is more like a spotting scope which is screwed onto the G2. The only time I like using the lens is when my family and I are in the mountains trying to get a little closer to nature without chasing the animals away. The G2 with its' 3x optical just doesn't do the trick, but if you have the patience the LX8 lens (trying to focus in) works fine. It isn't something you just screw on, with the camera on auto mode and wha-la! instant gratification, you really have to try different settings (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) Plus this lens must be placed on a tripod, it's not a lens to take hand held shots. I agree with Laziferous that you would probably expect more out of this lens as you progress in photography, It's not something you carry around with you everywhere. I would say in short, If you have $180.00 laying around somewhere collecting dust, this is a good lens, the only one out there right now that I'm aware of with it magnification, but it is only really used for that occasional shot, when you just can't get any closer. I would say you probably would not use it as much as you think you would, but it is a nice add on.

[Laziferous]

Yeah, I agree with her. It's ok once in a while, because there is nothing else for the G2 that will get you as close to a subject as this lens.

Just to clarify, I don't think it's hard to focus the lens. I only find that if I need to refocus, after the initial focus, and the object is small, as in the following picture, the camera itself has a hard time with it.

Here's one I dug up to show the chromatic aberration. I do have more, but I've got to get ready for work right now. I will at least post one or two more (if I haven't deleted them already).

http://home.comcast.net/~pottajava/misc/LX8-sample1.jpg

[Imperitus]

I have this lens and I realy like it.

But you have to remember it is an adaptor and a scope, not a true photography style lens.

Because of this it has a few drawbacks, it can be tricky to focus properyl, although with a little practice it is entirly manageable 90% of the time.

Due to the fact that it takes a few secs to get proper focus much of the time it is notr wellsuited to taking pictures of fast moving subjects, unless you can predict their movement and catch them as the move into proper position.

I've used it to get some decent pics that would be 100% impossible with the G2 without it. It very simply takes the telephoto range way out. Of course there is no in between. By that I mean once it's on the camera you have only one zoom setting. So if something too big to fit in the frame you have to physicaly back the camera up.

All in all it is not a good solution for someone looking for an easy zoom addition, but if you want somethign that gives you more possabilities to play and take pictures that you couldn't with your plain G2 it is well worth it. IMO.

Oh, and as for the pics on their site. I can't speak for them all but at least one is a fairly normal sap shot. I took the one of the goat on the hilltip at the zoo. :)

One last thing, a tripod or a mono pod is 100% neccessary with this lens.

[Joey]

thanks for all your feed back. Does anyone with the lense know the minimum distance a subject can be to be in focus?

I would hate to buy this adaptor and find out that the subjects needs to be 1320 feet away to be in focus.

[coolvair]

I've had mine LX8 for about two months and love it. It's a great addition to the G2. With some patience you can focus the lens with good results. But, you really do need a good sturdy tripod for best quality. I would recommend the LX8 to anyone interested in taking pictures of wildlife at a distance.

However, I've been as close as approx 20-25 feet from a small subject like a dragonfly with excellent results as far as being able to focus with the CrystalVue LX8.

The only time I notice the chromatic aberration is when the subject is white in color. Then, you may see a faint purple fringe around the white object. I can usually correct this completely in Photoshop. So, it's not a big deal for me. It's worth the effort.

[Laziferous]

I can also correct it in PS. The point is, I shouldn't have to. I agree that the contrast from a white subject, is where the majority of the chromatic aberration will become evident.

To verify once again... I do NOT find it difficult to focus the lens. After the initial focus, if you re-focus, the camera SOMETIMES becomes confused.

I think the lens can be useful, but to have to put it on when you see some wildlife, then adjust your tripod... well, that takes a minute or so, so you can't just "be ready" when an opportunity presents itself. You kind of have to go out with the idea that you'll only be shooting things at full zoom, or you won't... unless you want to keep mounting, and dismounting the lens constantly. I don't.

To each his/her own I guess. It is handy if you have a specific animal in mind, and know it's habitat. I know of a Bald Eagles nest, and will be sure to go there with the lens mounted.

I just want to inform those that don't have it about the caveats... and to not expect a miracle. That's all.

[2new]

I have the lens and I am selling it because I have upgraded to a dSLR.

It is a decent lens, but I too expected more. No problems shooting, focusing, or with CA, but it does require the tripod. The pictures look great but the lens is not as flexible as I had hoped.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2961807993&category=30077