Sony F707: any good tele-lens??

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?

i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or 3x zoom.

Thanks!

Vins.

The bad news is, that there aren't any high quality TC's above 1.7X, that will work on the 7X7. The good news is that there's an option to the Sony HGD1758. They Olympus B-300. Also a 1.7X with, I believe 62mm threads. It can be found for around $200 sometimes.

If you're into industrial strength tele, then the Oly TCON-300 might fill the bill. It's a 3X tele convertor, but is over $500, not including a support plate.

FWIW, please stay away from any TC with the word "titanium" in the name or description. These are junk glass. The Raynox 1850PRO (1.85 -$120) is fair, but it would be a stretch to classify it as "good".

Good luck,
Steve

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k

'If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconscious.'

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

--I have the Olympus B-300 and the TCON 14B and both are very good lenses for about half the price of the Sony brand and it is my understanding it is a better lens. You will need a step up ring that you can get fairlky cheap. I just got my TCON 14 B on Ebay for just over a hundred bucks. You can find both on Ebay. The last time I checked this site they were out of stock for the B-300 but you can get them here for just over $200. http://www.b-300.com

Tanglefoot1947 717, B-300, TCON 14B, WCON 08B, Canon i950

Try http://www.ckcpower.com They will have a nice 8x that will work, plus they have other options (like modified scopes and adapters) as well.

For a 1.5x, the Fuji unit for the 6900z will work (you will need a 58 to 55mm step down ring). For a 2x, I think Kenko may have some. I would try ckcpower and if you can't find what you want, give them a call or drop a note to them.

Wayne

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Wayne,

Since it won't be available until March, we'll be waiting to hear how it performs. Some posted samples would be very nice. Other than the 42mm T-mount and the $180 dollar price for an 8X, it sounds too good to be true...lol

I see the ckcpower also represents some of my other favorite mfgr's.
Crystal, Kenko, Titanium (where have I heard that before?) and of course Raynox.

Vins, stay away from this dealer and this junk glass. Or, at least wait until Wayne buys one and posts the samples. I may be wrong, this may be the first decent lens, any of these mfgrs have introduced. But their perfect track record (these words are dripping with sarcasm), to date, leads me to believe otherwise.

Just my opinion, and your money,
Steve

--
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k

'If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconscious.'

Hi Vins,

I have a B-300 that I bought before the VCL-HGD1758 was around
and am happy with it except for the vignetting and the step-up ring.

Seeing as you can get the VCL-HGD1758 (58mm-no step-up ring needed) in the states new for $220 shipped, I'd take a serious look at that one.
I would've gone for that if it were available to me at the time...

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

sorry, I meant step-down ring..b-300 is 55mm

happybirdie said:

I have a B-300 that I bought before the VCL-HGD1758 was around
and am happy with it except for the vignetting and the step-up ring.

Seeing as you can get the VCL-HGD1758 (58mm-no step-up ring needed)
in the states new for $220 shipped, I'd take a serious look at that
one.
I would've gone for that if it were available to me at the time...

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Looking for something in the 2x or larger range, but no the bulk of a 3x.

Sony makes VCL-HG2030. Does this not fit the 7x7?

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/rob_l

Rob,

The thread size is almost 1/2 the 7X7's thread size (30mm versus 58mm). It may work at 2X but you'd only view a small circle, in the center, of your scene. Sort of like holding a drinking straw up to your eye and looking through it. Most TC's viginette at less than, say, 3/4 optical zoom. That's if they are close in thread size. This TC with 30mm thread size, would viginette all the way out to max zoom, if used with the 7X7. Hence, the looking through a straw analogy.

Steve

Rob_L said:

Sony makes VCL-HG2030. Does this not fit the 7x7?

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/rob_l

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/slo2k

'If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconscious.'

So where can I get the VCL-HGD1758 for $220 shipped?

happybirdie said:

I have a B-300 that I bought before the VCL-HGD1758 was around
and am happy with it except for the vignetting and the step-up ring.

Seeing as you can get the VCL-HGD1758 (58mm-no step-up ring needed)
in the states new for $220 shipped, I'd take a serious look at that
one.
I would've gone for that if it were available to me at the time...

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/rob_l

Hi Rob,

I've ordered from both of these places before w/no problems.

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?DPNo=7710&adcampaign=email,ECOSTPG

http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail.asp?DPNo=7710&adcampaign=email,zwb11607

Rob_L said:

happybirdie said:

I have a B-300 that I bought before the VCL-HGD1758 was around
and am happy with it except for the vignetting and the step-up ring.

Seeing as you can get the VCL-HGD1758 (58mm-no step-up ring needed)
in the states new for $220 shipped, I'd take a serious look at that
one.
I would've gone for that if it were available to me at the time...

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/rob_l

Click to expand...

http://www.thenerds.net/productpage.asp?pn=001154

Rob_L said:

happybirdie said:

I have a B-300 that I bought before the VCL-HGD1758 was around
and am happy with it except for the vignetting and the step-up ring.

Seeing as you can get the VCL-HGD1758 (58mm-no step-up ring needed)
in the states new for $220 shipped, I'd take a serious look at that
one.
I would've gone for that if it were available to me at the time...

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/rob_l

Click to expand...

Can you please tell me where you can get TCON 14B? is that 3x or 1.7x?

is this http://www.ckcpower.com/newlens2.htm the 8x optical lens that you guys are talking about?
It is 42mm, i am not sure if it will make darken corners.

hmm, 7.5x maybe a littile too large. I am looking for something between 3x to 5x. Did anyone tried any one of these ( http://www.ckcpower.com/lenscompare.htm ) before??

Thanks!

wayne said:

For a 1.5x, the Fuji unit for the 6900z will work (you will need a
58 to 55mm step down ring). For a 2x, I think Kenko may have some.
I would try ckcpower and if you can't find what you want, give them
a call or drop a note to them.

Wayne

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

is the size of Sony's 1.7x larger when compared to B-300?? or is around the same?

Vins said:

is this http://www.ckcpower.com/newlens2.htm the 8x optical lens
that you guys are talking about?
It is 42mm, i am not sure if it will make darken corners.

hmm, 7.5x maybe a littile too large. I am looking for something
between 3x to 5x. Did anyone tried any one of these
( http://www.ckcpower.com/lenscompare.htm ) before??

Thanks!

wayne said:

For a 1.5x, the Fuji unit for the 6900z will work (you will need a
58 to 55mm step down ring). For a 2x, I think Kenko may have some.
I would try ckcpower and if you can't find what you want, give them
a call or drop a note to them.

Wayne

Vins said:

Hi, i am looking for a high-quality tele-lens for my F707. Just
wanna know if u guys have any suggestions?
i know Sony has a 1.7x tele lens. But i think it is too expensive
for only 1.7x. I am looking for tele lens that has at least a 2 or
3x zoom.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Yeah, the examples posted on their site of the other lenses they carry were all pretty horrible. The Vivitar being the best of the group, you can see horrible blurring near the edges, and really bad darkening of the images, especially from the right side for some reason.

I'll take the quality over the reach in this case. I'm sure I'll be happy with the Sony, or B300 when the time comes to get a tele. (though more reach would be nice)

Dale

Steve Cavigliano said:

FWIW, please stay away from any TC with the word "titanium" in the
name or description. These are junk glass. The Raynox 1850PRO
(1.85 -$120) is fair, but it would be a stretch to classify it as
"good".

Click to expand...

I have the "Vision Optics Titanium 2.0x Digital Tele Lens Made in Japan"

I paid about $140.00 for it delivered (ebay) and it is not that bad. They make some that are really bad for under a hundred dollars that everyone complains about but they are much smaller than 72mm on the outside end and the lens which is smaller yet looks like a bubble so it is not sharp and it clouds the edges badly.

The one I have has 58mm threads at the camera end so no adaptor is required it screws right onto my 707 and it has 72mm threads on the other end for filters or a hood. The outer glass goes all the way to the 72mm wall. At about half zoom it gives a full screen view and is just a little bit blurry around the edges untill you go closer to full zoom. The picture quality at full zoom with this lens is much,much better than when I take the same shot with the digital zoom. I have taken pictures with it and used 2x digital zoom as well (with good light) and got fairly sharp pictures. The finish is almost a perfect match for my 707 and looks like part of the camera. I am sure you get what you pay for and if you pay more the quality may be better, but I am happy with it as it gives me a 35mm equivilant of 360mm optical. With the 707's 5 megapixels there is still plenty of resolution to crop!
shamanjp DSC-F707

Start with the basics. A TC is nothing more than a telescope.

In afocal coupleing to avoid vigieting the exit pupil of the "Telescope" must be larger than the "entrance pupil" of the of the camera. The exit pupil must also coincide with the entrance pupil (long eye relief ... or in this case camera relief).

With a plane camera lens this is fairly simple, but the optics in F707's internally focusing zoom lens play all kind of tricks with the light path (otherwise you would not have fr=2.4 at full soom and fr=2.0 at wide). The other thing is that the "entrance pupil" is somewhere deep in that lens. My point: The size of the ocular (rear opening of the TC) does not matter as much as distance of its exit pupil. I have a two 2X converters for smaller cameras. Of the two the one with the smaller ocular gives less vigeting. The diiference is the light path and longer relief.

The reason the Nikon (X series works so well with scopes is that that tiny lens has a tiny entrance pupil that is a very short distance inside the lens. The oposite case exist for the F707.

I make the of the F707 lens to be 37mm in diamter and I am guessing that the maximum entrance pupil is somewhere around 24mm, but I am still trying find enough data on the lens to do the math to back that up.