43mm 0.7x wide angle converter - recommend a good one

This is a bit of an odd question. It is neither an EF lens, nor is there any other place for a converter lens like this, because I am not exactly sticking it on a Canon Powershot or Ixus either. But since POTN has been generally forgiving and helpful I thought I would ask anyway (so I ask your forgiveness if you have been inconvenienced clicking this thread. I am sure Belmondo will be along shortly to ban me, or worse, imprison me in certain forums for my transgressions.)

I am looking for a 43mm wide angle converter and I'm wondering if you have any recommendations for a good one with low CA and low distortion. I know the S5 (and similar) owners have a few good ones.

I am quite aware that these converters are seldom on par with the dedicated ultrawides like 17-40/10-22, but I have no choice as I am sticking this on a fixed-lens camera with 43mm thread. The alternative would have been to cough up an additional $1.2K for a version with a 28mm WA equivalent (instead of 40mm wide end) and that's simply $1.2K of money I do not have. Hence me needing to resort to this solution.

So fire away

There are no good ones. Spend that money on something else.

I tried some of the ebay cheapies on my old A40. They absolutely suck. Horrible. The best one I've used is the actual canon 0.7, though I haven't done an exhaustive search. But the difference can't be described as bad and good... it's more like, puke-inducing-horrible and pretty lousy. I don't remember if they make it in 43mm or not though.

Hmm, is stiching images an option?

There are some excellent ones made for video cameras, but they are not remotely inexpensive. Century optics brand is rated pretty highly, but video is a bit less demanding.

I think your best bet may be to look for brand name, dedicated wide angle adapters made for higher end compacts. Like the WA adapters for the G series or Nikon Pxxxx series. BUt as has been said, expect to lose some IQ. You may also find choosing a lens with wider filters than you need and then using a step up adapter might provide less vignetting

I have a Canon HV20, which I use a WD-H43 (which is exactly the length and thread length you are asking about) on it. It works well for me, but I'm not a pixel peeper (even less likely, when talking about video.)

I don't find CA or distortion problems on my HV20. When the WD-H43 was in short supply, the raynox 6600 was looked at as a good alternative, but its .66 and 52mm thread. so to use that, you'd need to get some step up rings.

tkbslc wrote in post #8764107
Hmm, is stiching images an option?

There are some excellent ones made for video cameras, but they are not remotely inexpensive. Century optics brand is rated pretty highly, but video is a bit less demanding.

I think your best bet may be to look for brand name, dedicated wide angle adapters made for higher end compacts. Like the WA adapters for the G series or Nikon Pxxxx series. BUt as has been said, expect to lose some IQ. You may also find choosing a lens with wider filters than you need and then using a step up adapter might provide less vignetting

Leonard Wong wrote in post #8764167
I have a Canon HV20, which I use a WD-H43 (which is exactly the length and thread length you are asking about) on it. It works well for me, but I'm not a pixel peeper (even less likely, when talking about video.)

I don't find CA or distortion problems on my HV20. When the WD-H43 was in short supply, the raynox 6600 was looked at as a good alternative, but its .66 and 52mm thread. so to use that, you'd need to get some step up rings.

Thanks guys. I have been quite impressed by the Raynox samples I've seen. Stitching isn't much of an option - not for a video camera - but you're right that a video camera is less demanding.

Each system has its own advantages downsides. A screw-on adapter would be my very last choice for a DSLR - especially with the magnificent 17-40 and 10-22 (and I own both for FF and crop). But for a non-interchangeable-lens camcorder, even a midrange pro camcorder like some of the nice Panasonic HD ones, it's a non-starter.

There's a Raynox in 43, which would be good. I have a Canon 37mm wide con for my HF100, but the distortion is so noticeable even on the LCD! The Raynox doesn't appear to have that issue. And this is coming from someone who considers the 17-85 (apparently extremely prone to barrel distortion at the wide end) 'pretty ok' - so by the time I call bad, it's pretty bad