Canon S3 Telephoto Question

[Broadway53]

I've owned an S3 for about two months now and have decided to buy a telephoto lens attachment for it. I have an older 2X lens that fits the adaptor but I can't get it to focus when it's attached so I'm thinking about buying a Canon TC-DC58 to use with the camera. The owner's manual states I need a TC -DC58B for the S3 but someone told me the only difference is the shade of black and that the older model works fine. Can anyone verify that or should I spend the extra money and buy the TC-DC58B?

[JohnBee]

Hi, I do not have the answer to your question.

But I wanted to ask you though, since you are investing into the upper end addons for a point and shoot, had you considered looking into a DSLR instead of another point and shoot? Perhaps a D50 would be cheaper and give you infinitely more IQ than any point and shoot with those makeshift telephoto adapters on them.

[Jeff1]

I would suggest you look around before you buy.

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html (http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html)

http://raynox.co.jp/english/digital/S2is/index.htm (http://raynox.co.jp/english/digital/S2is/index.htm)

http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Cameras&category%5Fname=5g5c39s2345&product%5Fid=808517 (http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Cameras&category%5Fname=5g5c39s2345&product%5Fid=808517)

http://www.aakatz.com/h1whitepaper/ (http://www.aakatz.com/h1whitepaper/)

I just got a Sony VCL-DH1758 Tele Conversion Lens for my S2 IS and love it.

Jeff :)

[bkstyl]

I would suggest you look around before you buy.

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html (http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html)

http://raynox.co.jp/english/digital/S2is/index.htm (http://raynox.co.jp/english/digital/S2is/index.htm)

http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Cameras&category%5Fname=5g5c39s2345&product%5Fid=808517 (http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Cameras&category%5Fname=5g5c39s2345&product%5Fid=808517)

http://www.aakatz.com/h1whitepaper/ (http://www.aakatz.com/h1whitepaper/)

I just got a Sony VCL-DH1758 Tele Conversion Lens for my S2 IS and love it.

Jeff :)

Jeff,

I have the Sony TC and I love it too. I would have no problems recommending it for the S2 or S3.

Will

[Just Be]

I've owned an S3 for about two months now and have decided to buy a telephoto lens attachment for it. I have an older 2X lens that fits the adaptor but I can't get it to focus when it's attached so I'm thinking about buying a Canon TC-DC58 to use with the camera. The owner's manual states I need a TC -DC58B for the S3 but someone told me the only difference is the shade of black and that the older model works fine. Can anyone verify that or should I spend the extra money and buy the TC-DC58B?

I bought a wide angle (Raynox 0.66 hd) and tele (Raynox dcr-1540pro) from www.lensmateonline.com (http://www.lensmateonline.com)

I am happy with both. I don't notice any loss of quality, but I've heard using any adapter will drop the level of quality a little.

I bought both lenses with adapters for each to speed up lens changes.

Good Luck!

[RossW]

The TC -DC58B converter is a 1.5 magnifier, so it may indeed be a bit different from your older 2x one. (And it works great, but looks somewhat silly hanging on the front of a silver S2, I might add... but should match the S3 adequately to look like it belongs.) But I suggest getting a 58mm adaptor from LensMate, and trying your TC lens before purchasing a new one. If it works, great; if not, you've lost nothing but a few days before the TC -DC58B would arrive.

[Paul B]

I have both the adaptor and the telephoto on my S3. Am getting great quality, but be sure to set the menu setting to the "B" setting for the converter. I don't know what it does but everything works perfect when you do it.

[Dynamic Aperture]

I just ordered a TC-DC58B and 58mm lens adapter for my new S3 IS myself. I cant wait to get it in and try it out. Can somebody who has this setup post some pictures of the camera at full zoom and with the telephoto on the same subject to give examples? That would be great.

[RossW]

I have an example taken with an S2 and the TC-DC58B. First, a shot taken at the wide end of the zoom (6mm); I've enlarged the stop sign and added an arrow to provide orientation for the comparison shots that will be in the next post... keeping to the two attachment limit.

[RossW]

And here are the two taken at 72mm, one with the TC on the lens. (These were pretty heavily compressed to meet the 100K limit for attachments, but I think they'll still be a valid comparison. I re-sampled to 800 x 600 and used same compression/smoothing for both. Neither were cropped.)

[Dynamic Aperture]

Hey thanks for the samples. Thats just what I was needing to see. Its amazing how close your able to get and still keep details with the small lens on this compact camera when compared to those huge telescopes attached to an slr.

[waussie]

I just got a Sony VCL-DH1758 Tele Conversion Lens for my S2 IS and love it.

Jeff :)
Hi I'm thinking about getting a TC mainly for shooting birds, but the process of putting it on and taking it off deters me. I rarely go out with the sole intention of shooting birds, I tend to wander around and shoot anything that looks interesting.
Could you help with these questions please?
Could you say why you got the Sony rather than the Canon TC?
Does it need an adapter, and what effect do these TC's have on the wide end of the lens?
Is a tripod a must? I have a steady hand but tests with the digital zoom on that I'm not steady enough.
Thanks :)

[kawwauser]

ive had the TC -DC58B for a while now and never really take it off the s2 , if you need to take a close pic you only have to press the release button pull the lense off and you are back to the basics, the manual says you have to adjust the settings but ive tried this and see no difference, to put it back on just means a quick click of the lense, the wide end will cause viginetting see pic below,but remember if you put the tele on you wont want wide pics,
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_4167.jpg
the digital zoom is not really a good guide as no matter how steady your hand is the pics will still be blurry,

[kawwauser]

here is a few dc58 pics
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_9806.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_3829.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_9032.jpg

[Jeff1]

Why get the Sony VCL-DH1758 Telephoto Lens?
After much research and comparing image quality I chose the Sony. Cannon lens is 52mm1.5X / Sony is 58mm 1.7X. I don’t think you would be able to tell the difference between 1.5X and 1.7X. The image quality IMO was better. The Sony lens has a built in hood to reduce lens flare and produces better images with less light.

Does it need an adapter? Yes, all lenses will need an adapter. Then your next question is why 2 sizes and is there any difference? NO, I have 2 adapters 1 52mm for different filters like UV, ND, and Polarizer. (52mm filters are less money) 1 58mm for my Telephoto.

What effect do these TC's have on the wide end of the lens? Minimum focusing distance is 10 to 12 feet or Focal Length 22.5mm with TC. Apposed to 6mm with native lens. What dose this mean? With the TC lens you must be farther away from your subject and you will not get as wide of an angle.

As far as taking the lens off, in most cases outdoor shots you will not have to. Is a tripod a must? NO although once you have one you will use it to get sharper images, less camera shake, with the digital zoom I would.

This may help as well:
http://www.aakatz.com/h1whitepaper/part11.htm (http://www.aakatz.com/h1whitepaper/part11.htm)

Best price for Sony VCL-DH1758 Telephoto Lens
http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Cameras&category%5Fname=5g5c39s2345&product%5Fid=808517 (http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Cameras&category%5Fname=5g5c39s2345&product%5Fid=808517)

Best price for adapter ½ of price as Lensmate(I have 2)
http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/adaptertubes.aspx (http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/adaptertubes.aspx)

http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html (http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2.html)

http://www.steves-digicams.com/ (http://www.steves-digicams.com/)

http://www.dpreview.com/ (http://www.dpreview.com/)

This should keep you busy for a while.

Jeff

[Jeff1]

Here is 1 I took today under poor lighting conditions with the Sony lens. 15X digital zoom.
This link may help as well.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20688

[brantfordbandit]

why would one adaptor be soo much cheaper than the other, quality?

[Jeff1]

IMO……… Profit!

I own 2, quality is not a problem.

[foggy45]

what adapters and filters work best with the Sony VCL-DH1758 TC