Nikon factory-made wideangle converter necessary?

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay, which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie: .63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

I'm not familiar with these lenses, and I wouldn't trust their optics to be up to Nikon's standards.

You have the lens angle backwards, by the way. For the WC-E68, take .68 times the focal length of the lens (the widest angle for the native CP5K lens is 28mm, so 28 * .68 = 19 mm with the add-on lens).

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

Paul:

The ebay items you linked to are "Titanium" brand lenses, which have a poor reputation. I strongly recommend you get Nikon glass.

For my 995 I bought a used Nikon WC-E24 on ebay a few months ago for around $100. (I think it fits the 885,too.) Nikon discontinued this lens, I believe because of its barrel distortion, but for my purposes it's been great. And it's much smaller and easier to carry than the lens Nikon currently sells.

Anyway, look for the Nikon glass. You'll find it on ebay if you lurk for a while. As always, caveat emptor . . .
John

Keith is right. Don't trust the no name manufacturers and others out there. Do yourself a favor and get the Nikon lenses whenever Nikon has an alternative. If it's a lens range that Nikon doesn't make, have at it.

That's my 2 cents. Go with Nikon when it's available.

Julio

http://www.pbase.com/loansharkx

Keith Moffatt said:

You have the lens angle backwards, by the way. For the WC-E68,
take .68 times the focal length of the lens (the widest angle for
the native CP5K lens is 28mm, so 28 * .68 = 19 mm with the add-on
lens).

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

If it says "titanium" anywhere on the lens, run like hell. You can thank me latter.
Ralph

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

Hi Paul,

I was in the same type of quandary a around six weeks ago when I was deciding what type of wide angle lens to buy.

Peter iNova was very helpful with his experience and I will just reference the post for you:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=2679968

The bottom line: go with the Nikon lenses for assured quality.

I did (got the E24 on Ebay) and I haven't been disappointed! I hardly take it off my camera!

Barrel distortion is the only con of the E24 but barrel distortion is easily correctable--lack of sharpness is not.

HTH.

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

--
James
CP995, WC-E24

those lenses are garbage - they are just modified video camera lenses. Go for Nikon - excellent value for the money

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

--
Sasha Obad
New Westminster, BC CANADA
Photo Gallery: http://www.canucks.ca

Man, it is good to have a forum like this where you can get help from everywhere.

And thanks James, for providing that link to the posts that clear my head further. I'll probably try to find a WC-E24 too, since I don't think I'm gonna need it very often (I could be wrong after I have it), and size is quite critical for me.

Thanks again to everyone!! Cheers! ^^

Paul

JamesS said:

I was in the same type of quandary a around six weeks ago when I
was deciding what type of wide angle lens to buy.

Peter iNova was very helpful with his experience and I will just
reference the post for you:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=2679968

The bottom line: go with the Nikon lenses for assured quality.

I did (got the E24 on Ebay) and I haven't been disappointed! I
hardly take it off my camera!

Barrel distortion is the only con of the E24 but barrel distortion
is easily correctable--lack of sharpness is not.

HTH.

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

--
James
CP995, WC-E24

Click to expand...

--
Paul Hsu

I would recommend sticking to Nikon lenses. The quality of the Nikon glass is very high and you will not be disappointed with the optics. My expereice with these thrid party lenses have NOT been good. They are adequate at times, but even the best one are nothing to write home about.

Q'Ludes

Paul Hsu said:

Hi guys,

I juz saw a few different wideangle converters on sale on eBay,
which claims would fit on CP885.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240490

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1362240460

Does anyone know if these are any good? Worth going for?

I'm considering to get myself a wideangle lens and juz wondering if
I need to get the WC-E63, which is a lot dearer. Can anyone
comment on the difference in picture quality? And correct me if
I'm wrong, the higher the number the wider the angle, right? (ie:
.63 is wider than .38) If not, what are the numbers for?

Thanks heaps! ^^
--
Paul Hsu

Click to expand...

--
Q'Ludes
http://www.wombofthedragon.com