An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

disjecta

disjecta

Lucky Duck
People,

As mentioned previously, I am currently using a 58mm 2x teleconverter with a step up ring to get a focal length of 90mm on my DVX. I do a lot of nature filming so this is just not enough reach for some of my desired shots.

The thread at the outer rim on the 2x is 72mm so today I decided to buy the 1.6x Century Optics Teleconverter (the one made for the DVX) to see what will happen if I attach it to the the 2x. In theory, it should give me a focal length of 144mm. The limitation is that it will essentially be a fixed lens. I will not be able to zoom out without the lens barrel showing.

I'm not sure how much light I will loose using this method. Hell, I don't even know if it will work but I'm going to try it and report back here with some screen shots if it works.

This is certainly not a cheap way to go...it's going to require the purchase of 2 lenses....

I'm surprised someone hasn't come up with a McGyver method of getting a longer lens but I suppose most people are more concerned with wider angles not telescopic reach.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

Hmmm, I forgot the century lens is a bayonet mount....I'll have to rig something so they stay together...bummer
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

i have thought about it also, but there seem no easy solutions. there is no 4x adapter for a smaller thread (like your 58mm), is there.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

Disjecta-

How do you like your 90mm set up? Does it take a while to get all the lenses on?

Just to vent a little..I can't believe I would have to shell out $800+ just to get the focal length of a pd-170!! Isn't that correct? There are a lot of other nice accessories that $800 would cover...

yah, yah, so many great other features on the DVX- but this does bug.

Where have you found the best price on the tele-converter?

I'm interested in the achromatic diopter also..anyone have any screen shots?
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

I like the 90mm set up but the softening around the edges is very bothersome. A zoom lens is way more critical to me than any other accessory so I consider it well spent.

The best, most reliable place I found it was Adorama, they are about $50 cheaper than B&H.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

[quote author=Pookiehead link=board=Links;num=1089144877;start=0#3 date=07/07/04 at 09:05:49]
Just to vent a little..I can't believe I would have to shell out $800+ just to get the focal length of a pd-170!! Isn't that correct?[/quote]
It is correct. Of course, the PD-170 owner would have to spend $3400 to get the 24P capability of the DVX, so it nets out okay... ;D

I'm interested in the achromatic diopter also..anyone have any screen shots?
Click to expand...
I just picked up some Nikon achromatic close-up lenses, a 5T and a 6T (1.5 and 2.9 power). They're 62mm thread so you have to use a 72mm -> 62mm step-down ring. Nice glass for very cheap (I think the lenses are like $46 each, whereas the Century achromats are $330 or so). 62mm thread means you have to zoom in to Z60 to avoid vignetting, but with a close-up lens you usually want to zoom in a lot anyway, so I don't see that as a drawback. The Century is probably a better lens, but at 1/6 the cost (including a $10 step-down ring) I found the Nikons to be a compelling value.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

Wouldn't work -- the lens threads on that are 28mm, whereas the DVX requires 72mm.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

[quote author=Barry_Green link=board=Links;num=1089144877;start=0#5 date=07/07/04 at 11:18:51]

I just picked up some Nikon achromatic close-up lenses, a 5T and a 6T (1.5 and 2.9 power).  They're 62mm thread so you have to use a 72mm -> 62mm step-down ring.  Nice glass for very cheap (I think the lenses are like $46 each, whereas the Century achromats are $330 or so).  62mm thread means you have to zoom in to Z60 to avoid vignetting, but with a close-up lens you usually want to zoom in a lot anyway, so I don't see that as a drawback.  The Century is probably a better lens, but at 1/6 the cost (including a $10 step-down ring) I found the Nikons to be a compelling value.[/quote]

Excellent, excellent tip- will look into that. compelling is the word. I spoke with a Century rep. this morning and will share a bit of what he said.. of course, this is in regards to his product, but I'm sure the effect is somewhat universal.

-one nice thing about Achromatic the flat field videography-
so- everything in the same focal plain will look the same. Everything else will be out of focus. neato.

basically, this type of lens helps you fill the whole frame with the image.

what to buy depends on your $$$, I suppose, as one won't know the difference unless you had all of the above...Barry's setup and the Century diopters.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

CLOSE-UP ACCESSORIES-
Close-up Lenses
These close-up attachments can be used with most EF lense to provide a shorter minimum focusing distance with no loss of light. The 250D/500D series incorporates double-element achromatic design for maximum optical performance while the 500 series features single-element construction for maximum economy. The 250D is optimized for lenses between 50-135mm, while the 500D works best with telephoto lense from 70-300mm. Manual focusing is recommended.

Available Sizes: 52mm, 58mm, 72mm, 77mm Type: Screw-in
what about that one from canon with72 mm?
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

The Nikon achromats are extremely high quality 2-element lenses. They've proven themselves in much more demanding situations than the low-res DV format. I doubt that the DVX could resolve any differences even if the Century achromat was a bit better. The Canon 500D 2 element achromat also has a great reputation and is available with a 72mm thread.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

I looked at the 500D, but it was about 2.5x as expensive, and all the reviews I read said that they were comparable with the Nikons. I'd rather have something that's the same lens thread, surely, but $115 vs. $46, for comparable quality, plus I wasn't sure I was ever going to really use them... but now that I have them, I've discovered what (I believe it was) IAL has been preaching about -- they really do allow you to get shallower DOF indoors. Sort of. What happens is, you get the same DOF you'd get if you'd zoomed all the way in, but with the close-up lenses you can get that DOF without having to back up quite so far. So in limited spaces you can still pull off reasonable shallow DOF effects. Not much use for DOF purposes outside, but indoors they seem like they might come in handy!
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

Barry,

Yeah considering that the 72mm thread size on the DVX lens is generous, the Nikon achromats are a great buy. I passed up a mint pair for $40 a few months ago (kicks self), but I was thinking-- I don't need these things, I've got a macro lens and some extension tubes for my Nikon. The point about DOF is an interesting observation.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

[quote author=oleg link=board=Links;num=1089144877;start=0#9 date=07/07/04 at 12:51:39]CLOSE-UP ACCESSORIES-
Close-up Lenses  
These close-up attachments can be used with most EF lense to provide a shorter minimum focusing distance with no loss of light. The 250D/500D series incorporates double-element achromatic design for maximum optical performance while the 500 series features single-element construction for maximum economy. The 250D is optimized for lenses between 50-135mm, while the 500D works best with telephoto lense from 70-300mm. Manual focusing is recommended.

[/quote]

OLEG:

since the DVX is 72 mm, does that make the 250D a better match?

Is this what you're talking about?

http://www.adorama.com/CA72CU500D.html?searchinfo=canon 500d&item_no=5

I can't understand any of the terminology.

not really interested in the step down..and this is a lot cheaper than the Century

thks
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

for anyone following this- here's an update.

I looked at this 500D lens:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=87500&is=REG


and was told by a BH sales person that the 250D would be a better match for the DVX, however, they do not make it in the 72 mm thread.

With the 500d, I MIGHT have problems getting a perfect focus..due to the optics on the DVX. If you convert the specs on the webpage ( which are for photo-you will see it falls in the 250 D range. ) i don't know the math that he did to convert..

When they make these lenses, they have divided out the range..

If you go with an achromatic lens that was made specifically for the camera, perhaps you'd get better results..That probably one reason why the Century, which was made specifically for the DVX is more $$$.

I'm not enlightened enough to offer any better details than the above.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

what is the product number, your link doesn't get me anywhere.
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

[quote author=mc_productions link=board=Links;num=1089144877;start=15#16 date=07/08/04 at 15:28:38]what is the product number, your link doesn't get me anywhere.[/quote]

Tiffen 72mm Close-up Lens Set (+1,+2,+4)

at Adorama:

SKU #
MCCUS72


Mfr. Part #
72CUS


Our Price:
$74.9


--I was told they were $69.--and bought it. hoping it would get the the magnification--without the larger price tag of the Century achromat.

sales guy said the century is nice and all, but probabaly overkill for what I'm doing..I want to shoot flowers, jewelry, fabric, and baby fingers
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

Funny how this post started off talking about zoom lens and ended up with macro lenses. ;)
 
Re: An experiment for those wanting a longer lens

sooory- my fault!

any new experiments?

I have dropped the thought of any kind of teleconverter for awhile.
 
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