Digicam Auxiliary Wide Angle Lens

[SA Bill]

Hi Everyone!
Now that the Super Bowl is over, I've got a question:

Does anyone have a recommendation for a wide angle auxiliary lens for use on a digicam...Canon S3? I want something to increase my field of view by a significant amount. Thread size is 52mm.
  Thanks for any suggestions!
    Bill

[Roy]

Amazon says it uses the same WA as the S2, but you might call and ask first.  B&H doesn't list it as an accessory for the S3.  Amazon was $5 cheaper than B&H and looks like free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-WC-DC58A-Converter-Digital-Camera/dp/B0009NEUOK

[SHANEA]

I'm sure glad someone out there was able to help him out, as I didn't have a clue about what he was talking about - for all I know...

"Ryan, my Morse is so rusty that for all I know I could be sending him the measurements for Playmate of the month"....

[Casa Grande]

One of the best adapters lenses on the market is made by a Japanese lens company called Raynox.  Raynox makes some damn fine lense adapters, all be it they are pricey.  Adapters are notorious for retarding the quality, but the Raynox is top notch.  When I purchased mine several years ago, there were only a couple of dealers in the US. There might be more today.  Stay away from the cheapos!

Here's a link to all the lens adapters for your camera.

[SA Bill]

Roy:
The Canon doesn't go wide enough for my taste...also kinda pricey.

Shane:
I know how you feel...don't worry...we'll work through it.

Casa Grande:
Thanks for the link! I knew there was a maker of high end aux lenses...just couldn't think of the name.

I think I'll poke around and see if I can find one of the .5 Raynox lenses. That should do the trick.

I did a test last night with the time lapse software and it works fine! Now to figure out how to power the laptop and cam without running down the car battery out in the middle of nowhere!
   Bill

[Roy]

Is this it?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=273889&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

[SA Bill]

That's it Roy!

By "poke around", I mean that I'll spend hours on the web searching for a cheaper priced one. If I count what my time is worth, I'd come out ahead by just buying the thing right off the bat. Still, gotta love the thrill of scoring a "bargain"!!
  Bill

[Casa Grande]

That's it Roy!

By "poke around", I mean that I'll spend hours on the web searching for a cheaper priced one. If I count what my time is worth, I'd come out ahead by just buying the thing right off the bat. Still, gotta love the thrill of scoring a "bargain"!!
  Bill

that's a good price, too.  Great lenses you won't be disappointed!

[SA Bill]

Yeah...I may have to just buy it and try it. There's always eBay if it doesn't work out.
   Bill

[Casa Grande]

Yeah...I may have to just buy it and try it. There's always eBay if it doesn't work out.
   Bill

speaking of eBay....when I sold my Raynox 180 fisheye about 2 years after I bought it...I sold it for what I paid for it! (about 400 bucks) Talk about resale value ;)

[SA Bill]

Man! I lose $ on every item I sell on eBay or on the astronomy used equipment site. What's the secret?
   Bill

[Roy]

Gotta have what they want and can't get elsewhere.

If you've got any old Minolta lenses lying around, or even some Sigma or Tamron lenses for Minolta mount, now is the time to sell them on EBay.  If you've got any Minolta "High Speed" or "G"series lenses, that goes double.  Since Sony bought Minolta's camera division, they have been producing only a limited line of lenses and many of the third party lens manufacturers have been slow to fill the gap.  Sony/Minolta users are bidding 2-3 times original cost on USED G Series lenses on EBay.  It's downright insane.
So if you've got one of these in the closet, clean it up and get it listed (but only after you let me have first crack at it).

[SA Bill]

Hi Roy!
I started shooting Minolta with my first real SLR, an SRT-102, in '76.

I have several Minolta auto focus lenses that I'm holding on to. Eventually I will buy a Sony alpha so they should get me started in DSLR land. Is that why you're interested in the lenses...you've got a D7 or alpha? If so, how do you like it?

In AF I have:
  Minlota 35-105 kit lens - okay performer
   Sigma 75-300 APO - good performer
   Sigma 18-35 - very good performer

I still have a few MF lenses too:
   Minolta 16mm fisheye - with built in filters!
   Minolta 24mm
   Minolta 58mm f/1.2 - big glass! Solid metal focus ring too
   Sigma 135mm f/1.8 - BIG glass  :shock:
   Soligor 200mm f/2.8 - pretty big glass

I even have an XK body with meter and waist level prisms! Too bad it's not worth much any more.  

Guess I really should see about selling off the MF stuff to see if I can get enough money to buy the alpha. Supposed to be rainy here (San Antonio) this weekend...maybe I'll put the MF stuff on eBay and see what happens...unless you're interested in anything???  :?:
   Bill

[Casa Grande]

What's the secret?
   Bill

hard to get  

[Roy]

Hi Roy!
I started shooting Minolta with my first real SLR, an SRT-102, in '76.

I have several Minolta auto focus lenses that I'm holding on to. Eventually I will buy a Sony alpha so they should get me started in DSLR land. Is that why you're interested in the lenses...you've got a D7 or alpha? If so, how do you like it?

In AF I have:
  Minlota 35-105 kit lens - okay performer
   Sigma 75-300 APO - good performer
   Sigma 18-35 - very good performer

I still have a few MF lenses too:
   Minolta 16mm fisheye - with built in filters!
   Minolta 24mm
   Minolta 58mm f/1.2 - big glass! Solid metal focus ring too
   Sigma 135mm f/1.8 - BIG glass  :shock:
   Soligor 200mm f/2.8 - pretty big glass

I even have an XK body with meter and waist level prisms! Too bad it's not worth much any more.  

Guess I really should see about selling off the MF stuff to see if I can get enough money to buy the alpha. Supposed to be rainy here (San Antonio) this weekend...maybe I'll put the MF stuff on eBay and see what happens...unless you're interested in anything???  :?:
   Bill

Have a 7D AND the Alpha;  I lost any judgement at all a couple of years ago when it comes to photo gear.  The 7D is older technology by 2 years but I like the design better;  has the old Minolta button and dial layout;  not so menu driven.  It was meant to be their prosumer camera, with a professional body -9D - to come later.  Instead they went for the entry level market with the 5D, then had to sell out to Sony.  The Alpha is essentially an upgraded 5D, but it does have some neat features.  
Speculation is that Sony will be announcing at least one new body at PMA in early March;  hopefully a replacement for the 7D;  so I'd wait until then before buying anything.

Your Sigma lenses may or may not be Ok with any of their DSLRs;  most seem to be OK, the ones I had were, but I've seen where a number of older ones had to be sent in to be rechipped before they would work properly.  None of them will work with the new TTL flash system;  I've got a beautiful Quantum flash system that won't do TTL with anything but my old film bodies.

Try this web site:  dyxum.com
Minolota DSLR shooters from all over the world;  some newbies, some hackers like me but some really outstanding pros, too.  I mostly lurk, but occasionally post something and hope I don't sound too much like an idiot :)
The also have reviews of nearly every AF lens ever made for Minolta mount, flashes, editing software, RAW converters, etc..