HVX Fisheye (custom) - this may be useful

Code Rad

Code Rad

Active member
I was at first reluctant to post this, but I figure, why not share any knowledge that may help someone down the road. I set out to put together a fisheye that could rival the Century Extreme HVX Fisheye but not cost me $3000. Amazingly this combination worked first try.

This fisheye is composed of the front of an MKII and a DVX .6x wideangle lens. Both are Century lenses so HD resolution is maintained with no color aberration. The DVX wideangle sits flush against the rear of the external lense and is held (in my case) with tape. Since tape is not permanent, the lenses can be separated for easy cleaning.

Total cost for me was less than $800. I purchased both used which helped save me some money. With such a relatively small price tag, I am not dreading a board hit like I would with a $3000 lens.

I use it for both filming skateboarding and for a hdtv pilot about automobiles and luxury lifestyle. Clips follow the pics.

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Footage:

Clip 1 - skateboard

Clip 2 - garage sample
 
Very impressive...
Are you just taping the fisheye to the camera, or are there threads on the outside of the wideangle lens?
 
Its actually a friction hold that grips the focus ring. Believe me though, it is a good hold or I wouldn't use it. Little fyi, the part of the outside that grips the camera is actually a portion of a big gulp cup covered in duct tape and then electrical tape. It works out well because with the fisheye, changing the focus isnt necessary. All you need is to set it at M05 and you're done.

-Ryan
 
Thats so sick! I wanna try something like this for the dvx, I wanna eliminate the vignetting, making it a REAL mk2! I have no clue what lens I would use to replace the back element though. Right now I cant even get the rear element off! What did you do? I took off the bayo mount, unscrewed the screws that were beneath it and tried to screw the back off. It wont budge. Ive got the dvxmk2 but i think it would be similar?
 
Looks like a really good alternative..
Doesnt seem to get as much distortion as the Century Extreme fisheye though.
Oh, it's good to see a fellow perceptioner on here by the way!
 
beebs said:
Thats so sick! I wanna try something like this for the dvx, I wanna eliminate the vignetting, making it a REAL mk2! I have no clue what lens I would use to replace the back element though. Right now I cant even get the rear element off! What did you do? I took off the bayo mount, unscrewed the screws that were beneath it and tried to screw the back off. It wont budge. Ive got the dvxmk2 but i think it would be similar?
Click to expand...

To get to the back element, you have to go through the front. The front piece that is slightly a different color than the black housing is actually a threaded filter-like thing that holds the glass in.

I use a leatherman with two pointy things coming out of each handle (this may not be clear, but substitute another tool), then stick those in the two holes directly across from each other and gently but with quite a bit of pressure, begin to turn the front til it screws all the way off. Thats it!
 
it happens to be the glass out of a gl1/2 mk2 but it doesnt matter.

Any GL, VX, DVX, 58mm MK2 will work fine.
 
lol this is so funny cuz i was sitting around thinking i was f***ked cuz i used to shoot skateboarding with a pd-170 with my fisheye and i was trying to figure out how to make it fit on my hvx so didnt have to spend a ton of money. im doin this tomorrow thanks!
 
Hi there,

I found this thread to be extremely helpful, I just got a vhx200 and am seriously considering this mod.
The links at the bottom of the original post seem dead, any chance of seeing the test footage please?

Thanks!

Sergio
 
samclems said:
Hi there,

I found this thread to be extremely helpful, I just got a vhx200 and am seriously considering this mod.
The links at the bottom of the original post seem dead, any chance of seeing the test footage please?

Thanks!

Sergio
Click to expand...

This thread is 8 years old, but maybe you get lucky, so - bump.
 
Hi everyone,

I know this thread is very old, but the issue I think is still very relevant today for anyone like me looking for an alternative to the Century Optics Fisheye Extreme.

I don't think a proper death lens look has been achieved in HD without that lens.

That's why I was so curious to see the results of this great mod.

Any info greatly appreciated, thanks!

S.
 
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