Sean Michael
Well-known member
The .6X seems to provide the most bang for the buck. It costs a little less than the Panasonic, and provides a wider angle. Any downsides?
Preferred wide angle: .6X Century Optics or .8X Panny?
- Thread starter Sean Michael
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GenJerDan
Veteran
No zoom-through (you can get it zoomed to about Z80, though). Noticeable curvature, but not horribly so.
Don't know anything about the Panasonic .8
Century also makes .7 that does allow full zoom... Wish I had bought it, instead of the .6
Well, maybe not. I'll probably buy it, too, and have both. Different situations call for different lenses, right?
Dan
Don't know anything about the Panasonic .8
Century also makes .7 that does allow full zoom... Wish I had bought it, instead of the .6
Well, maybe not. I'll probably buy it, too, and have both. Different situations call for different lenses, right?
Dan
Sean Michael
Well-known member
GenJerDan said:
I guess that explains what the .7 costs twice as much as the .6.
The Panasonic .8 has been described as providing a 'mild wide angle.' I think it probably allows full zoom.
I know what you mean about buying 'em both! Decisions, decisions . . .
I'm thinking about the .6 Century wide angle as well. I was initially a little concerned about not being able to zoom, but after futher consideration my thoughts are:
Will I find myself in a situation where I need to zoom while tape is rolling? Probably not very often, since I am focusing on dramatic content. If I find myself needing a tighter shot, I can always just remove the adapter. I would also probably need as much WA as I can get when shooting interior footage. At least this is going to be my rationalization for saving the $400 bucks or so.
What do you use for a hood when this is attached? It looks like it would replace the standard DVX hood with it's bayonet mount.
Will I find myself in a situation where I need to zoom while tape is rolling? Probably not very often, since I am focusing on dramatic content. If I find myself needing a tighter shot, I can always just remove the adapter. I would also probably need as much WA as I can get when shooting interior footage. At least this is going to be my rationalization for saving the $400 bucks or so.
What do you use for a hood when this is attached? It looks like it would replace the standard DVX hood with it's bayonet mount.
Barry_Green
Moderator
The Century .7: good wide-angle, full zoom-thru. But twice as expensive as the other two.
Panasonic .8: full zoom-thru, half the cost of the Century. But not as wide.
Century .6: Super-wide, and the least expensive. But only allows zooming up to Z60.
Given the choices above, I went with the Century .6. The thinking was, if I want a wide-angle adapter, why not get the widest one? As tigeba said, you can always just take it off if you need to zoom through. But, there have been times when I wish it was full zoom-thru. If you don't need the wide-angle to be THAT wide, the Panasonic looks like a good choice.
The Century lenses also bayonet on and off very quickly, the Panasonic needs to be threaded on (I believe, not sure now that I think about it).
Panasonic .8: full zoom-thru, half the cost of the Century. But not as wide.
Century .6: Super-wide, and the least expensive. But only allows zooming up to Z60.
Given the choices above, I went with the Century .6. The thinking was, if I want a wide-angle adapter, why not get the widest one? As tigeba said, you can always just take it off if you need to zoom through. But, there have been times when I wish it was full zoom-thru. If you don't need the wide-angle to be THAT wide, the Panasonic looks like a good choice.
The Century lenses also bayonet on and off very quickly, the Panasonic needs to be threaded on (I believe, not sure now that I think about it).
BrianAWells
Active member
That is good to know. A little zoom goes a long way. I think I'll order one now.Barry_Green said:
GenJerDan
Veteran
I've gotten teh .6 to zoom to Z81 and still be able to focus. Real sensitive, but doable.
As for a hood. I made one. First, out of an Amazon.com box insert. I cut a hole in the middle, notches in the corners, folded it and masking-taped it. Even painted it black, so it looked extra nice.
Worked fine.
I've since made one out of plastic, with a little deeper hood to it. The hole I cut (in both) was a snug fit on the Century lens, so I didn't even need any other way to attach it...just press fit.
Dan
As for a hood. I made one. First, out of an Amazon.com box insert. I cut a hole in the middle, notches in the corners, folded it and masking-taped it. Even painted it black, so it looked extra nice.
Worked fine.
I've since made one out of plastic, with a little deeper hood to it. The hole I cut (in both) was a snug fit on the Century lens, so I didn't even need any other way to attach it...just press fit.
Dan
Baluardo
Well-known member
I used the .6 century for docuementary work. this involved many on-the-fly interviews and real life situations with up to 4 people in the frame. i couldnt have got that good with a 0.8x that's for sure.
Sometimes i wished i could zoom through more than my century would allow, and i found myself in many occasions with my left hand holding the wide adapter while right hand was holding the camera and zooming fully. fortunately the baionet mount allows very fast removal (even with one hand, *carefully*).
But in those occasions i remembered how much i saved getting a non full zoom through lens, and i was smiling during the shot :grin:
great lens, a little curved distortion at the widest but it is not an effect i dislike, it gives that wideangle feel. unless your target is architectural shots
Andrea
Motherboard
Well-known member
any grabs?