More zoom - whats the best option?

[joakimvr]

Hi guys!

I recently got my first DVX-100AE and I'm very satisfied with it. Can't wait to read up on it, and learn from this great community! I am quite new to this, so please bare with as my questions are many and newbie-ish.

Anyway - the dilemma I'm hoping you guys could help me with: I will be filming a lot of concerts, and sometimes this is filmed from a relatively long distance (back of the venue). Although the 10x optical zoom will probably be enough in most cases, I would like to have the option of zooming more. It's my understanding that what I would need then is a telephoto-lens, right?

Now, I've tried reading up on this subject - and I've learnt that there is some quality issues with the cheaper telephoto-lenses. Could anyone enlighten me some more on this? How bad is it? Any screengrabs that will show show just what you mean?

As for actual lenses, I've found these:
- Century Optics 2x - $1249
- Century Optics 1.6x - $849
- I also did a search on eBay and came up with a number of lenses that all costs around $80.


Now - there is a tremendous price difference, and I'm afraid the Century Optics are way out of my budget as for now. Are there any more lenses out there, or is it basically these two? Are the ones at $80 worth getting for my use?

Oh - and one more thing:
I'm guessing the first C.O. lens gives me an optical zoom range (not sure if that is the correct technical term here but) of 20x and the second one 16x - am I right?

Thanks in advance, any help is greatly appriciated!

 

[Barry_Green]

I would like to have the option of zooming more. It's my understanding that what I would need then is a telephoto-lens, right?

Yes.

Now, I've tried reading up on this subject - and I've learnt that there is some quality issues with the cheaper telephoto-lenses. Could anyone enlighten me some more on this? How bad is it?

Hideous. And useless. Jarred Land bought one just to verify for us, "taking one for the team" as it were. He tried it, laughed his head off, and threw it in the trash. They're useless.

As for actual lenses, I've found these:
- Century Optics 2x - $1249
- Century Optics 1.6x - $849
- I also did a search on eBay and came up with a number of lenses that all costs around $80.

The Century lenses are the only ones that actually work. The junk cheapo lenses are a quick & easy waste of $80.

Are the ones at $80 worth getting for my use?

Only if by "my use" you mean "torching money for no discernable benefit." :thumbsup:

(in other words, no! Don't bother with those things, they just don't work on the DVX.)

I'm guessing the first C.O. lens gives me an optical zoom range (not sure if that is the correct technical term here but) of 20x and the second one 16x - am I right?

A reasonable assumption, but not accurate. An optical zoom range of 20x would mean that you could zoom throughout that range, and unfortunately that's not how they work. The lenses exhibit extreme portholing at the wide end of the range -- you can actually see the internals of the teleconverter's lens barrel when zoomed out too far! So with the 1.6x you get a usable zoom range of about Z60 to Z99. I believe that the 2x gives you a bit less usable zoom range, probablya round Z70-Z99. So you'll have 16x or 20x reach, but not a full 16x or 20x zoom range.

 

[joakimvr]

Thanks A LOT for your reply, Barry. This answered all my questions, and made it very clear that I am not moving towards any of the cheap lenses afterall. Will probably put it on backburner for a while, and buy a CenturyOptics once I have the funds.

As for "my use" I was merely referring to the fact that had there only been a marginal group of video-enthusiasts that would be fussed about the picture, I might've let it go on rare occasions. Thankfully, though, you made it clear that the lenses were not even usable for that...

I think I will go put that $80 towards your book on the DVX instead!


:dankk2: