Stylus 1: is CLA-13 useful?

I can get the Stylus 1 with CLA-13 & TCON-17 for just 50€ more (than 'just' the Stylus 1).

Can the CLA-13 be used for other things than (connecting) the TCON-17?

You can use it to attach filters to the camera. However, IMHO, it removes the main selling point of the Stylus-1 for me (being small enough to fit in a jacket pocket when it is powered off). I don't recall if I tried it with a 58mm filter, and if so, whether it vignettes at wide angle (28mm equivalent field of view) or not.

If the extra $50 is only for the CLA-13 and not a used Tcon-17/B-300 lens, you can buy a 3rd party clone tube for $12.50 from ebay (search for Olympus CLA-13).

The extra 50€ is for both (adaptor + teleconverter). If I'd buy it, I wouldn't take it with me when walking/hiking/traveling - 'just' use it around the house (birds in the garden, occasional moon-shot - who knows?).

strawbale said:

The extra 50€ is for both (adaptor + teleconverter). If I'd buy it, I wouldn't take it with me when walking/hiking/traveling - 'just' use it around the house (birds in the garden, occasional moon-shot - who knows?).

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That is a deal, providing you would actually use it. The price of the two combined is about 3-4 times that price. If you find you never use it, I imagine you can sell them off for about what you paid for them.

I have one of the cheap 3rd party adapters, and I had a Tcon-17/B-300 that I bought about 10 years ago. I haven't done much long distance shots, but there is a heron nest that should be used shortly that I plan to use with it.

I'll use it, but very occasionally - most likely (attempts at) bird shots in the garden, especially around the bird feeders in winter. And like you say, I could always sell it.

CLA-13 with snap-on Raynox!

I got the kiwifotos tube to use filters... never use it, as has been said, overrides one of the main benefits of compact design.

It does vignette the frame at start up, digital x2 overcomes this or a quick flick of the zoom..

However i'm now using this and a reversing t mount to mount my Stylus on a 1.2m reflecting skywatcher telescope.

All I need is clear nigh sky and a quiet night to try it out.

that'd be an interesting use of the adaptor!

often got very clear skies here in the Pyrenees, so keep us informed about your experience!

strawbale said:

I'll use it, but very occasionally - most likely (attempts at) bird shots in the garden, especially around the bird feeders in winter. And like you say, I could always sell it.

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GET IT!!!!!!! Nice weather is upon us.

The adapter and tele lens are not that big, they easily go in your other jacket pocket, actually balance the weight nicely side to side, or leave it in the car, whatever, it gives 510mm optical and 1,020mm 2X, all at f2.8

macros, filters, many of these we buy when we get excited by the possibilities, and then use them infrequently. I recommend inexpensive ones, then higher quality if you use them.

I have a few bags for my Stylus 1, minimum, medium, and everything all together ready to shoot, including my rx100m3 in the bag with it.









that bag has velcro loops for bike handlebars, I just got lucky, my sister in law found it.



--
Elliott

Hi there,

The new Stylus 1s is out and was thinking on trading my current Fuji HS50EXR, too heavy and large, for this 1s to travel lighter, like I used to do with my old Oly SP-510UZ + old TCON17 and CLA-10.

I can't find anywhere an explanation of what is the difference between CLA-14 and CLA-13, it seems both have 55mm front threads right ?

Would I need both to have wide angle converter and TCON17 ?

Does the CLA-14 also fit the TCON17 without lens hitting it at full tele ?

I still own filters, TCON17 (55mm), Raynox macro M250 (clip-on 42-62mm) and Bower fisheye (58mm + step-up/down rings) and would like to use them with it, as I do with the current HS 50EXR (58mm thread).



Answering Strabale's question, short answer is YES it should be helpful for other things.

I have the old TCON-17 (55mm thread) that I used with my Olympus SP-510UZ, TCON17 is heavy but fine piece of glass, you can leave it at the car or hotel if you know you won't need it in a particular day or carry it in a small backpack.

My old CLA-10 adapter was very useful for other things and was always with me, I suppose the CLA-13 would have the same purposes, examples :

- Plus TCON17, extending the optical zoom range without losing any light :



- Plus Polarizer, IR and variable ND, for waterfalls, rivers, beach, snow, etc



- Plus uv-haze protection filter, for keeping the lenses weather protected when travelling to the beach or using it in the rain, snow, desert, hiking, etc. I kept the camera with them all the time in those cases and successfully avoided scratches on the fixed lens with sand.







It will certainly extend the photographic possibilities of your camera, which you my certainly need being a fixed lens camera. When you know it won't be needed just leave it behind and put the Stylus in your pocket

Best.

I can't talk about the CLA 14 as I don't have it, nor intend to get it.

However the TCON17 is incredibly useful. My stylus suffers from an issue many others have where the camera refuses to lock focus at 300mm past a certain distance. Almost as if the camera focus system is caught short.

With the TCON17 the camera focuses at every distance and any given focal length. It's fantastic. Of course picture quality is what it is, but getting that extra bit of reach is great.

Dpreviewmember said:

Hi there,

I can't find anywhere an explanation of what is the difference between CLA-14 and CLA-13, it seems both have 55mm front threads right ?

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I believe the CLA-14 is shorter so the wide angle converter doesn't vignette.

Dpreviewmember said:

Would I need both to have wide angle converter and TCON17 ?

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Yes. Note, there are fairly cheap CLA-13 clones (look for kiwifotos), but so far, I haven't seen a CLA-14 clone.

Dpreviewmember said:

Does the CLA-14 also fit the TCON17 without lens hitting it at full tele ?

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Probably not. I would imagine that you can attach a Tcon-17X (or Tcon-17 without suffix or B-300) to a CLA-14, but only use it for the first 1/3 or 1/2 of the zoom range (which is pointless, since you could get the same zoom without attaching the Tcon). Similarly you could attach the Wcon-08x to the CLA-13, but it would vignette at wide angle, and you would have to zoom out or crop to avoid vignetting, which again is kind of pointless.

Dpreviewmember said:

I still own filters, TCON17 (55mm), Raynox macro M250 (clip-on 42-62mm) and Bower fisheye (58mm + step-up/down rings) and would like to use them with it, as I do with the current HS 50EXR (58mm thread).

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Filters should work on the CLA-13, providing the filter is not ultra-thin, where the lens may knock into the filter, and of course the filter may vignette at wide angle.

thanks for the info Michael !

I guess the only trouble is that you can't carry both cla attached to each converter and lock them into the camera when needed, several users complained it's hard to fit them into the camera especially with the converters on.

But I'm still thinking about that Stylus or the OMD M10 with 14-42ez plus I could use all my filters and converters just using step-up ring, no cla involved. it seems almost as compact and should bring better IQ and fexibility for future upgrades if desired.

Dpreviewmember said:

thanks for the info Michael !

I guess the only trouble is that you can't carry both cla attached to each converter and lock them into the camera when needed, several users complained it's hard to fit them into the camera especially with the converters on.

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It is a bit tricky at first, but, like anything else, you get good at it, you find a way of holding both parts, a slight gravity assist/balance, a gentle start, and of course frequency of use helps.

keep in mind, you need to keep the back of the converter lenses clean and dust free. It is harder to clean the rear surface with the adapter on, conversely, it is easier to handle without fingerprints with the adapter on. I clean and assemble the lens and adapter, stuff a lens cloth inside the adapter, so no dust can get in, and lens cloth will be ready to clean the outer face if needed.

then into a protective case for transport. when I mention it being a nice counterweight to the camera, in the opposite jacket pocket, this is what I mean, then out, on, ready to use,

remember to change the menu setting to tcon on, if you want the convenience of the camera doing the 1.7x math for you. then remember to turn it off upon removal.

I also turn the protective covers and pockets inside out frequently and blow them clean with amcompressor. you can use a can of compressed air. especially as I might have the camera 'naked' in my pocket.

if you take it on/off, you are unlikely to want to put the threaded lens cap on/off each time, having a lens cloth handy is an asset, and I may buy a quickie separate lens cap for this reason.

Dpreviewmember said:

But I'm still thinking about that Stylus or the OMD M10 with 14-42ez plus I could use all my filters and converters just using step-up ring, no cla involved. it seems almost as compact and should bring better IQ and fexibility for future upgrades if desired.

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Hi Elliott,

thanks for the tips on the lens cloth and extra cap, those are definitely useful. I did kept the cla10 on + uvvis filter all the time on my sp510uz as proteccion but the cap would be better for easier removal when the Tcon17 or other filter is needed.

You have a 21 mp Sony RX100 Iii and still use the Stylus1 ?

do you see a large difference in IQ between those from iso100 to 800 ?

how about high iso ?

Dpreviewmember said:

Hi Elliott,

You have a 21 mp Sony RX100 Iii and still use the Stylus1 ?

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Both these cameras can take great photographs. So does Bob's XZ-2.

To clarify, I shoot Jpeg, OOC, no or minimal PP, 'good enough' rather be in the pub. I like sharpness, detail, use manual focus with both cameras to get specific focus, AF on both cameras give that most of the time anyway.

I don't look hard at corners, for very subtle differences. If something is nasty, it's me, not the camera.

RAW shooters may get more substantial differences from these cameras than me. I post shots from both cameras on both forums, it's the subject, composition, lighting, (not the IQ) that matters. Once IQ is good enough, go forth. Mostly, you (and I) need to hover over exif to see which camera was used.

They are a wonderful complimentary pair, the Stylus 1 is actually more versatile, covering the same range as rx100 and moving way beyond, and staying bright all the way. Jacket pocket size, (I prefer1/1.7" sensor to 1/2.3") lots of zoom, the biggest camera I will use. I have my larger therefore dusty R1 (aps-c-)

TCON is more like a 3rd camera, for planned wildlife shooting, more zoom than I ever owned, finding out how I will use it now that winter is over. I like shooting architectural details of the old homes in my town, it will be fun trying it for that.

now I have 24mm start with rx100m3, so I will not be adding the WCON lens to the Stylus 1.

rx100m3 goes out the door with me always. bright lens, 1" sensor, more pixels to crop, and of course, pants pocketable, and, a lot of what I shoot is in it's range.

when I had only rx100m1, due to lack of evf, I took both cameras frequently, less so now that m3 has evf.

It's not just the larger sensor, or the number of pixels. rx100 m1,2, and m3 are brighter than Stylus 1 when wide, f1.8. (XZ-1 and 2 are also wonderfully bright) You get lower ISO in the same situations than Stylus 1, and you get low light no flash shots impossible with Stylus 1. While less zoom, rx100 or xz-2 can shoot wide in the semi-dark, then crop the heck out of it for 'post zoom', again, getting shots impossible with Stylus 1. for heavy crops, rx100's larger sensor and 20mp's are an advantage over XZ-2.

Lower ISO is always preferred by me, so even if matching ISO's compare favorably, if a camera's brighter lens gives you lower ISO, there you have it. Stylus loses to very bright lenses in the near range, but stays wonderfully bright f2.8 all the way out. my m1 is down to f4.9 at 100mm, m3 stays at f2.8 when fully zoomed, but stops at 70mm.

Stylus 1 when Zoom will be needed, Ben's soccer season has started, I bop about NYC, starting to go to Parks more, shoot birds in the wild, etc. Donna just retired, so I will get up off my ___ more now.

Dpreviewmember said:

do you see a large difference in IQ between those from iso100 to 800 ?

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No large differences, mostly, in good light, quite comparable. I have not done IQ tests, I have done a color shootout, Stylus 1 came out very well, I like both Oly and Sony Jpeg colors. Actually, Oly may do purples more accurately than the Sony, we will have an IRIS/Hydrangea shootout later this season. (If the Hydrangeas survive the deer chomping and stomping)

1. set the Stylus 1 to it's best advantages (not default settings)

2. at normal viewing sizes: 8x10 prints, computer monitor (my 23" monitor, full screen image is only 11" high) it is difficult to see IQ differences.

3. 800 ISO is the limit for comparison as you suggest, not always equal, but can be

Dpreviewmember said:

how about high iso ?

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I mostly shoot S mode, occasionally M mode, now m3 has auto ISO in M, so I will be using M more, meaning: I get resultant ISO, whatever the camera chooses. Rarely do I look to see what the ISO is/was, the images come out nicely from both cameras, or, they don't.

Oh yeah, to clarify, I am shaky and shoot handheld, making a fast lens more important for me, and good IS. both stylus 1 and m3 have excellent IS, m1 IS sucks!!!!

Hi Elliot,

Thanks a lot for your explanation of cameras uses in real life !

I can see from your writing that I'll need to have a good small M4/3 cam with two lenses or, like you do, two enthusiast small sensor cams with fixed lenses.

I'm still undecided which one to buy to replace my heavy and large Fuji HS50, the Oly OMD-M10+14-42mm is U$700 at B&H, same price as Stylus-1s. Less zoom sure but with the flexibility of adding any lens later for specific shooting plus better IQ specially at high ISOs.

f2.8 from 28-300mm equivalent is definitely something great in such a small package. I've found that I rarely use the massive zoom of the HS50 in the 500 to 1000mm range, except when I want to produce creamy bokeh but I bet the Stylus 1 don't need to go that far in zoom with that bright lens.

Fuji HS50 has terrible auto-focus accuracy from 400mm to 1000m, so is a hit and miss thing that frustrates me. Manual focus is not easy at that zoom rage so precise autofocus is needed. I read that autofocus is accurate in Stylus 1, even at 300mm, do you confirm that ? We are talking in good light of course.

I also rarely go out with a tripod so good OIS is a must in any case.

stylus 1 auto focus is fast and accurate, even zoomed, even with tcon 1.7x on it.

manual focus is very good, a perfectly positioned MF/AF switch, focus magnification, and now, with firmware of Stylus 1s we get focus peaking, I have not tried it, but I use it all the time on my Sony, it is a great feature. You get quick with Manual Focus after a short while.