telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

smkoch

Well-known member
Im interested in buying a telephoto lens and a question that I have is that I've seen the century optics which is like $800 and something, and then I've seen others listed as 2x telephoto with a 72mm thread for around $100 these ones look to screw on like a 72mm filter. does anyone know if this would work as a easy way to get a longer lens. I don't need it for everyday shooting but would like to do some nature shooting and the extra shooting distance would be nice for a closer look at some of the animals. here's an example I found on Ebay. I hope some one tells me what they think about whether this would be an acceptable substitute over the cetury optics or panny lens's http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20332&item=3830458539&rd=1
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

Hey Nick

From what I have read on this site, the members say that these lenses that are sold on Ebay are crap. I believe it is a "you get what you pay for" deal. The Century optics are higher priced because they are a better quality.

But by all means do a search on these forums for Digital Optics and see what people have to say.

Hope this helps,
Chris
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

Do a search under my name, I have discussed this and alternatives extensively.
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

If you do risk those $100 bucks please do post some grabs . . . would be interesting to see what they can do for thier moneys wieght in glass ::)
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

maybe I should buy one of those and test em for you guys.
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

I would throw in $5 via paypal to second that, although I think its probably crap.

BTW- I posted about a Tiffen 72mm close up lens kit I bought from adorama (  SKU # MCCUS72 ). Nothing against Adorama, but I ended up returning the kit. I don't think they even said "achromatic" anywhere in the promo materials, anyway. Maybe I'm retarded and can't read instructions, but I found the lens, all 3 of them, pretty useless. ( this was under a post of membername "disjecta" regarding longer lens.

Many times cheap is not worth the hassle.

Additionally, I talked to someone at Century and they have no plans for building a 2x or any variation from the 1.6x tele-adapter, presumably, the only lens adapter for the DVX worth considering right now.
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

Hey, how can you go wrong? First of all, if you go to ebay here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20332&item=3830370275&rd=1

You'll see that it's "Made By Digital Optics / Manufacturing The Finest Optical Lenses For Over 20 Years". ::)

Okay, here's the interesting thing: they say that it has 72mm rear threads, AND 72mm front threads! Let's chain those bad boys together! Get three or four or five of 'em. Heck, with five of 'em, you'd have a... let's see, do the math... 45mm, 90mm, 180mm, 360mm, 720mm, 1440mm lens! 1440mm! No, let's go one more (you'll see why in a second) -- with six chained together, you could have a 3,000 mm lens! For less than the cost of the Century 1.6x adapter!

And it says "pro definition" right on it, so it's got to be good, right? And they say it's made of aspheric elements...

And that $90 price is a steal, 'cause at 5 Stars Electronics the same lens is $500.

Wait -- I found one even cheaper:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20332&item=3830585227&rd=1

This one's just $84.49.

However, looks like the guy who said "72mm front threads" is just wrong, as the box clearly says "77mm front threads". Still, you could get a 77mm->72mm step-down ring and keep going and going and going...

Jarred, do it! Get that thing, 'cause if it's not as bad as it probably is, then we'd all like to know about it. And if it IS as bad as it probably is, you could probably sell it on ebay for $50 or more...

Alternatively, if anyone has bought one of these and wants to send it to me for testing, I'd be glad to do so. On the off chance that this thing actually works (which I think is a one in a bazillion chance) it would be a steal.
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

well I did it.. "take one for the team" as they say. funny it seems the price goes down every 5 minutes.

This is gonna be one funky review.
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

ha ha im sure i will find something to do with it.. My still camera takes 72mm threads so it may be nice for that.

Buddy from the auction is pretty nice in emails though... :P
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

Hey, digital optics arent all that bad. I used a wide angle on my VX2000 and it worked great.
I mean, as long as the image is sharp, who cares who makes it or what it costs.

Mark
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

For sure...the question becomes can a glass BE MADE that's sharp for 100 bucks...

I'd be the first to buy a great quality, no-name lens if it worked
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

Another option could be the Raynox DCR-2020PRO, which is a 2.2x teleconverter with 62mm lens threads. I've never used any Raynox glass so I don't know how good it may be, and with the 62mm threads there's guaranteed to be vignetting at the wider angles (but then again, there's vignetting with the Century 1.6)...
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

right on jarred the though of a cheap zoom lens has been riding my brain all week. I went to film some birds and realized I was zoomed all the way in and that on the view finder seemed to be the same distance I was from the birds. don't get me wrong I bought the camera for films, which is why the wide angle lens is so sweet. but a 20x optical zoom would've been nice. I can't wait for you're post.
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

yeah .. should be here by monday :)
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

Jarred,
Just wondering if you've recieved your lens. I'm really currious how it holds up. I've been thinking of buying one of those from ebay for some time now! Thanks for trying one out for us.

Vince
 
Re: telephoto lens for $100 bucks?

nope... red flag number one, no lens yet :)
 
Back
Top