NJdez
5th of November 2008 (Wed), 01:04
YES it is possible!
Despite reading numerous online threads and reviews stating that a fisheye shot with an
add on lens wasnt possible due to the distance between the sensor and lens, I was not
convinced. so i decided to conduct my own little experiment...
pictured below is a cheap ebay Digital Concepts wide angle lens with macro ring that
was advertised for the G9 (this lens cost me $50 after shipping). when i got the lens
it didnt do much for the G10. at the maximum focal length it provided a wider angle,
but it wasnt worth having to shut off the IS.
so it sat around for a while, and right before i was going to sell it I removed the macro
ring, held the wide angle head in front of me, and gazed through it. i immediately
noticed that without the macro ring attached the lens head gave an extremely wide
angle and fisheye appearance. so i went on ebay and purchased a 58mm - 58mm macro
adapter ring seen bellow. when that arrived i was able to attach the wide angle lens
head to the lens adapter without the macro ring.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Lens2.jpg
(removed macro ring to the right)
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Lens1.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Camera1.jpg
now before you go on to look at the pics below, keep in mind this is a cheap lens
that was meant as an experiment, and that there is certainty a loss in IQ. nonetheless,
imo the results are except-able.
in order to take a well focused shot with this set up you need to turn off IS, use
manual focus, and play with the focal length. otherwise you will not be able to
get a clear shot, not even close.
these shots were taken at my work today during some down time before it got
crazy with all the election coverage (CNBC Universal Headquarters in Englewood, NJ).
all are in the CNBC World room where i run master control. i would have liked to
get some Sat Ops shots (i also work Sat Ops and our stations are pretty cool), but
that wasnt possible today.
one of many VTR decks:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/VTRFisheye1.jpg
this is the same shot, just zoomed farther, and as you can see even with manual
focus i couldnt get the picture even close to where it needed to be. youll have to
play with focal length a bit before you can get it in focus:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/VTRFisheye2.jpg
the CNBC World switcher:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/SwitcherFisheye.jpg
this is the same exact shot with the lens removed:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Switcher.jpg
desk shot of the switcher and the many monitors:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/DesksFisheye.jpg
i think the effect that this setup creates is pretty cool, and im now planning on
keeping the wide angle lens to play around with. the switcher shot is by far the
best, and it gives you an idea of what is possible with such a cheap set up.
the biggest issue in IQ loss seems to be at the edges where it gets very blury
i know Raynox makes a wide angle semi-fisheye lens thatll work with the G series
cameras, but i have no reason or desire to be dropping that much on a lens ill only
use once in a blue moon.
i should also mention that the macro ring that came with this lens works very well
by itself. i can leave the IS on and use the auto focus to take some great, highly
magnified shots. ill post some up when i get a chance
Despite reading numerous online threads and reviews stating that a fisheye shot with an
add on lens wasnt possible due to the distance between the sensor and lens, I was not
convinced. so i decided to conduct my own little experiment...
pictured below is a cheap ebay Digital Concepts wide angle lens with macro ring that
was advertised for the G9 (this lens cost me $50 after shipping). when i got the lens
it didnt do much for the G10. at the maximum focal length it provided a wider angle,
but it wasnt worth having to shut off the IS.
so it sat around for a while, and right before i was going to sell it I removed the macro
ring, held the wide angle head in front of me, and gazed through it. i immediately
noticed that without the macro ring attached the lens head gave an extremely wide
angle and fisheye appearance. so i went on ebay and purchased a 58mm - 58mm macro
adapter ring seen bellow. when that arrived i was able to attach the wide angle lens
head to the lens adapter without the macro ring.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Lens2.jpg
(removed macro ring to the right)
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Lens1.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Camera1.jpg
now before you go on to look at the pics below, keep in mind this is a cheap lens
that was meant as an experiment, and that there is certainty a loss in IQ. nonetheless,
imo the results are except-able.
in order to take a well focused shot with this set up you need to turn off IS, use
manual focus, and play with the focal length. otherwise you will not be able to
get a clear shot, not even close.
these shots were taken at my work today during some down time before it got
crazy with all the election coverage (CNBC Universal Headquarters in Englewood, NJ).
all are in the CNBC World room where i run master control. i would have liked to
get some Sat Ops shots (i also work Sat Ops and our stations are pretty cool), but
that wasnt possible today.
one of many VTR decks:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/VTRFisheye1.jpg
this is the same shot, just zoomed farther, and as you can see even with manual
focus i couldnt get the picture even close to where it needed to be. youll have to
play with focal length a bit before you can get it in focus:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/VTRFisheye2.jpg
the CNBC World switcher:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/SwitcherFisheye.jpg
this is the same exact shot with the lens removed:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/Switcher.jpg
desk shot of the switcher and the many monitors:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j308/ndhernan/Canon%20G10%20Shots/DesksFisheye.jpg
i think the effect that this setup creates is pretty cool, and im now planning on
keeping the wide angle lens to play around with. the switcher shot is by far the
best, and it gives you an idea of what is possible with such a cheap set up.
the biggest issue in IQ loss seems to be at the edges where it gets very blury
i know Raynox makes a wide angle semi-fisheye lens thatll work with the G series
cameras, but i have no reason or desire to be dropping that much on a lens ill only
use once in a blue moon.
i should also mention that the macro ring that came with this lens works very well
by itself. i can leave the IS on and use the auto focus to take some great, highly
magnified shots. ill post some up when i get a chance