Wide Angle Converter Lenses - Who's tried which?

[BillsBayou]

I'm looking to buy a Cokin R730 wide angle converter and was wondering if anyone has experience with it.

I have an older Canon converter I bought for my G3 some 7 years ago. At the wider end of the G3 zoom, I had vignetting. CA was minimal. I was happy with it.

The Cokin has a 0.5X multiplication factor compared to the Canon's 0.7X. B&H has the Cokin for $65. Half off of the Canon at $132.

I thought I'd ask here because I need TWO of the converters.

I bought a Loreo 9005 3D converter (LINK HERE (http://loreo.com/pages/products/loreo_3dlenscap9005.html)). I love the results so far. Now I want to widen the view. It has 58mm threads for a screw-in wide angle converter or any other filters I wish. Of course, you need to buy two of any filter you want to use.

I'm looking at $130 and a frown from my wife, or $260 and the dog house from my wife.

Anyone with any experience with any of the WA converters?

(BTW, I really don't want to look at the $10 Zeikos from Amazon. CA and vignetting must be disgusting!)

[denncald]

I have the Canon WC-DC58B .75x 58mm lens. I've used it on my G9 with excellent results, and may also use it on occasion with my G11. It's more convenient to use on the G9, since I can use the full zoom range, which gives me an equivalent 26mm-158mm range. I will be limited on the G11 to pretty much only the wide end, since the lens is different than the G9.

Here's a link on Lensmate (http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/G7wide.html) showing various wide converters designed for the G9/G7 that can give you some idea of the lens quality. The one an only review for the Cokin R730 on B&H did not recommend the lens. I would not want to waste money on it. See below;

"The converter is well built, however, image quality suffers!! I didn't expect it to do wonders but it is just a waste of money.
When mounted on my canon lens all photos were soft with very high fringing I would not recommend this item."

Dennis

[BillsBayou]

Thanks for the input. I went with the Raynox SRW-6600-58. It came out at $124.95 each at B&H. 2-day shipping $7.60.

I'll be in the dog-house, but I'll have 3-D photos to show for it!

[denncald]

I'll be in the dog-house, but I'll have 3-D photos to show for it!

At least with wide angle lenses you will be able to show more of the inside of that dog house... ;-)

Dennis

[BillsBayou]

HIDEOUS! I'm not happy with my purchase. These are going back.

[John Baker]

Another vote with Dennis - I also have a Canon WC-DC58B and regularly use it on my G11. I find the combination to be very acceptable and highly usable. While it does suffer from some very minor CA/fringing, it only tends to be when there are thin, high contrast objects at the edges of the frame e.g. tree branches against a bright sky. The other minor problem is it is quite heavy, but gaining access to 21mm on a G11 is great…

[GordonSBuck]

I have the Canon wide angle converter for my G9; my observations are here: http://lightdescription.blogspot.com/search/label/wide%20angle

[CarloY]

If I recall, the Lensmate site did not rate the Raynox .66x very well for their match-up with the G7. G3 may be different of course.

Check Raynox old info here: http://web.archive.org/web/20030202072055/www.raynox.co.jp/english/digital/egcanong3.htm

I wonder what the differences are btw the original DCR-6600PRO for digital still cameras, and the Raynox SRW-6600-58.

As for Raynox, I have the HD-7000PRO (.7x) on my G9 and it can produce excellent results. My problem with it is 'my problem' seeing well enough in the LCD to focus accurately. Also, some F-stops may be better than others. Reminds me to get out and get some more practice.

Good luck.

[objetda]

I was lucky to find @ a second hand camera supplier a brand new Nikon WC-E75 for $70AU ($64US) and just received my lensmate 58-52 adapter ring, so I'll go out and do some tests over the weekend.

Also while I was at the shop they happened to have a dusty box with a WC-DC58N in it which was also brand new, I thought what the hell I'll grab this too which the shop did for the same price as the Nikon. Brand new the Nikon lens here was $390 and the Canon $430!!! so I'm wrapped getting the 2 for $140...

If anyone on this forum is in Melbourne (AUS) and wouldlike a WC-E75 the guy mentioned there was probably a few more out the back gathering dust. The shop is called Camera Exchange and their in the city. PM me if you need their number.