Fired up the HV10 today for the first time, shot entirely in AUTO. Didn't mind camera ergonomics, tho did have to pay attention to not cover the speaker with my hand when holding it low to ground with me bent over it.

But definately, definately need a wide angle lens for the thing, the default AR is abyssmal, I kept having to back further and further up and could never get everything in the shot I wanted to.

Are there any lenses less than $100 bucks that will work without too much vignetting or pincushioning in the corners?

I tried out an inexpensive Targus 0.5x 37mm wide angle lens on my HV10, but ended up returning it. It did a "good" job with some distortion on the sides, but I thought the lens quality was poor. I paid $50 for it at Fry's Electronics - a two-pack with a 2x 37mm telephoto lens (which was completely worthless.)

Yeah I was afraid of that....I keep looking more at the Canon lens, which I think is .6 and is about $140.00

Problem is, did you notice a loss of visual quality via the Targus? Did you notice a softening or any focus problems with the Instant focus feature?

The auto focusing worked best when zoomed out all the way to "wide". If you try to zoom in with the wide angle lens attached, the focusing doesn't work very well - but I would only use the lens for maximum wide angle shots anyway.
The image with the lens did seem to be a little softer than without it, but I figured it was due to the poor quality of the lens itself.
I'm seriously considering the Canon lens now. Where did you see it for $140?

I'm looking at getting the HV10, and I was wondering if you'd seen either the Tiffen 0.56x 37mm or the Kenko 0.5x 37mm?

I think the generally best regarded wide angle conversion lens is this one from Century Precision optics. It's 37mm and allows you to zoom through it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=2103&A=details&Q=&sku=287710&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Money no problem...which is the best wide angle lens for the HV10? Canon or Century Precision Optics?

Money no problem...which is the best wide angle lens for the HV10? Canon or Century Precision Optics?

It's probably always safer to go for the Canon lens with a Canon camera, but I get the impression the Canon WD-H37C is out of stock most places. I take it the standard zoom on the HV-10 is no wider than a standard 50mm lens on a 35mm camera, in which case i can understand this lens being on back order.

Its definately tight.....I spend most of my time moving backwards....if I'm with the kids on the floor I have a tendency to scooch backwards, then lay down with the lcd pointing down.

Its definately just a little too tightly framed......

Money no problem...which is the best wide angle lens for the HV10? Canon or Century Precision Optics?

Century Optics, IMO

What is the difference besides price between the Centry Optics and the Canon wide angle? Are they they same ratio? IS one glass better than the other. I need to get something now.
thanks! Mike

Angle be damned because it doesn't really matter when you're going either 0.75x or 0.7x or 0.8x. Thos numbers are approximations anyway. The only thing that matters now is the quality. For SD recording, Canon attachment is good enough. However, for HD recording Century optics give far less colour abberation and less edge softness.

I got the Century Optic wide angle converter for my HV10. IT WORKS!!!!!....PERFECTLY!!!!!!

It is made of metal and very professionaly built but it does not effect me holding the camera. Actually the added weight helps steady the camera.

I got the W/A converter, extended battery pack from Adorama and the sale went smooth. I normally buy from B&H but they were out of the battery.

I picked up a couple of those "Power 2000" 1.7ma batteries...(or are they 2000..hmmm)...and they're amazing.

They're light as all get-out, I have no idea how long they'll last, but so far one battery lasts me two 1 hour tapes..(!)....and I bought two of em, plus the craptacular one that came with the camera.

Good tip on the Century Optics one.

have you noticed any fuzzing or softening of the image as a result?? Any major vignetting at the corners or the dreaded barrel distortion? Tell All!

I don't use HV-10 but I've used Century Optics for other cameras and they are the best in their class.

Well my dog is sick of me following him around the house now! No I do not notice any problems with useing the Century Optics W/A lens with my HV10 except it blocks the on board camer light which I do not use anyway. Everything looks as good as with out it but now the field of view shotting around the house is better. I have a feeling that the W/A lens will be on my camera more than off.

I have had the Century Optics wide angle lens now for almost 2 weeks and it is worth every penny I paid for it. The field of view is so much better now for using around the house and for parties. I HIGHLY suggest HV10 owner get this lens.

I bought the Century Optics 0.65x adapter based on the reputation of its Schneider optics, but I'm very disappointed with the results, it has very poor edge sharpness and very pronounced barrel distortion. Shot taken with the HV10 in 4:3 format show vignetting in the right corners but clear up in 16:9 format. I wouldn't recommend this product at all: Poor quality, poor value.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2084/century0653gn1.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6389/century065kg8.jpg

I decided to pick up the Canon .7 lens, but have not received it yet...it was only about $110 dollars at Amazon. I'm hoping that the results are reasonable.

I have the Canon WD-43. Never thought about testing in 4:3 mode, but 16:9 is perfect from what I can tell in video mode. But the discontinued and cheap WD-43 (only $29) has a factor of 0.75x which I think may have helped to retain sharpness and minimize the distortions.

I have the Canon WD-43. Never thought about testing in 4:3 mode, but 16:9 is perfect from what I can tell in video mode. But the discontinued and cheap WD-43 (only $29) has a factor of 0.75x which I think may have helped to retain sharpness and minimize the distortions.
Are you sure you mean the WD-43? (Is it perhaps the previous WD-43??) It is quoted as being 0.7X and a list price (new) at $138 @ Amazon. HERE (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-WD43-Converter-wider-perspective/dp/B00009R6WI) is the listing.

Do you know of a decent $29 lens. Where can it be found?

Thanks

Sorry guys, I meant WD-37.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6389/century065kg8.jpg

YIKES !!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

For what its worth, I picked up the WD37 from Canon, which naturally works perfectly with the Canon HV10. There is some slight barrel distortion at the extreme edges, but no real loss of focus. Also, I noticed this same barrel distortion on my Sony wide angle for my older SD camera, so I guess thats to be expected.....

......I'm pleased with the purchase at about $120 dollars.

HeadRusch,

Glad to see you finally picked up the wide angle lens. :D

I need to get one myself, and have been looking for the best deal, hopefully that will happen sooner than later.

Regarding the vignetting... It might be caused by the filter in front of the Century WA adapter. Also if you have a filter in between it and the camera.

I bought the Century Optics 0.65x adapter based on the reputation of its Schneider optics, but I'm very disappointed with the results, it has very poor edge sharpness and very pronounced barrel distortion. Shot taken with the HV10 in 4:3 format show vignetting in the right corners but clear up in 16:9 format. I wouldn't recommend this product at all: Poor quality, poor value.
Thanks for the report. I picked up a "Bower" brand .45x wide angle lens on ebay for $25 to use with my HV10. The ad claimed it was a $150 retail lens and it was for high definition. The lens appears to have a good build quality. However, my sample video I took has softness at the edges. It is pretty pronounced. It is good to know it is not just that lens but appears like any wide-angle lens at any price is going to do the same thing with high definition video. Looks like I am going to have to live with smaller field of view or video that is not as sharp. I think I will go for narrower field of view for the most part.

we're having a discussion on our board about what wide angle lenses are best to use for underwater photography with compacts, with regular cameras, doesn't matter. A lot of users there are you know, neophyte kind of photographers, most of the people using Canon and Nikon. Are there any products you think offer something to the aquarium enthusiast that maybe we just haven't had the exposure to? Does anyone have any specific experience? Of course, we have to take the lighting and water refraction into consideration, as well as the desire to capture the color in as most vivid a way as possible. Thanks.

Everyone getting soft sides should try stopping the lens down to f5.6 to f8. You may find the edge softness goes aay.