602 Lenses - what do I need?

Apologies as this seems to have been asked but as somebody said about Jessops staff, I don't know my a* e from my elbow....

I have a 602 - love it. What I want now is a filter to cut out bright sky glare (cos we get lets of bright days in Leicestershire Eng!), and a telephoto lense.....but.....I've read you need tubes, and adapter rings etc.

a) what exactly do I need to have a lense / filter

b) can anybody recommend a good online site for this osrt of this that is either UK based, or ship to the UK.,

Again, apologies for the dumb questions but I need to get started somewhere.

Many thanks

Malc

Malcolm Smart said:

Apologies as this seems to have been asked but as somebody said
about Jessops staff, I don't know my a* e from my elbow....

I have a 602 - love it. What I want now is a filter to cut out
bright sky glare (cos we get lets of bright days in Leicestershire
Eng!), and a telephoto lense.....but.....I've read you need tubes,
and adapter rings etc.

a) what exactly do I need to have a lense / filter

b) can anybody recommend a good online site for this osrt of this
that is either UK based, or ship to the UK.,

Again, apologies for the dumb questions but I need to get started
somewhere.

Many thanks

Malc

Click to expand...

Filitering out sky glare - I'm not sure what you mean by "glare". But a linear polarizing filter would be good to remove some haze or unwanted oblique reflections. A circular polarizer will work, too, but they are more expensive and provide no advantage over linear polarizers on the S602. Some people also keep a skylight filter always screwed on as both lens protection and to filter out the bluish haze from the sky. A UV filter also works well as protection and remove outdoor haze.

Adapter Tube - You will need a 55mm-55mm adapter tube to screw on a filter or converter (teleconverter or wide-converter). The tuve screws on to the camera body, letting the S602's lens prutrude through it. On the other end of the tube is where you screw on the filter or converter. For this purpose, you'll need to get 55mm-size filters or converters.

Telephoto Lens - A number of options exist. Some of the more popular ones are the Olympus TCON17, the Fuji TL-FX9, and the Raynox DCR1850. Of these, the TCON17 has gained the best reputation, at least, in this forum, for clarity, least chromatic aberration, and absence of vignetting in full-zoom.

2filters.com and camerafilters.com have S602 filter/tube sets that you may find useful.

Also, check out this thread: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1012&message=6866148

Sorry, I do not come from the UK and cannot help you on the shops.
--
I'd rather add life to my years than years to my life.
http://balarila.instantlogic.com
S602 TCON17 Sunpak383 IBM Microdrive

Malcolm Smart said:

I have a 602 - love it. What I want now is a filter to cut out
bright sky glare (cos we get lets of bright days in Leicestershire
Eng!), and a telephoto lense.....but.....I've read you need tubes,
and adapter rings etc.

a) what exactly do I need to have a lense / filter

Click to expand...

The best lenses are the Olympus TCON-17 and the Fuji TL-FX9. The Raynox DCR-1850pro is a good lens, but not superb, in my opinion.

The Fuji TL-FX9 is a 1.5x tele lens, and is shipped with the AR-FX9 adapter ring.

The Olympus TCON-17 is a 1.7x tele lens. It has a stronger power and is heavier than the Fuji. It does not come with the adapter ring, so you would need to get it separately. Fuji sells the adapter ring alone under the name AR-FX9, but you may also find off brad ones available. If you do, make sure that it is a 55-55mm adapter ring if you plan to use the TCON-17.

The Raynox DCR-1850pro is a 1.85x tele lens, so it is the strongest and heaviest of the bunch. While it is a good lens, it is not quite as sharp as the other two, and introduces more purple fringing. That said, many people are very happy with this lens. The DCR-1850pro does not come with an adapter ring, so you will need to buy Raynox's 55-52mm one. Note that the Raynox lens mounts onto a 52mm filter thread, while the other two mount onto 55mm.

As for mounting filters, depending on which lens you get, and thus which adapter ring, you can get either 55mm filters or 52mm filters. The mot common filters are a UV or Skylight for protection, and a polarizer to darken skies or cut down reflections. On this camera you can use a regular polarizer, there is no need to pay extra for a circular polarizer.

Malcolm Smart said:

b) can anybody recommend a good online site for this osrt of this
that is either UK based, or ship to the UK.,

Click to expand...

Sorry, I am in the wrong country to help you with this question.
--
Rob S
Victoria, BC
Canada

Fujigroup web site: http://www.fujigroup.net
Fujigroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fujigroup

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CC4US/ref=pd_sim_ce_dp_1/202-8309721-9638239

Amazon are the cheapest (I've found for the fuji lenses) see link above

I'm well pleased with my Fuji lenses...

Now that you know what you want (ie a UV, a Polarizer Filter and maybe a skylight) I would go to Jessops, or your local camera shop and get one of each from 'HOYA', a good brand and reasonably priced too. (About £12 for the UV and £16 for the Polarizer) Ask for 'HOYA 55mm'

Don't bother with multicoated, yes there are benefits, but the cost difference isn't worth it.

Once thing mind, you can't use a filter AND the add-on lenses at the same time. (unless you are willing to customise a filter!) - see http://www.camerashed.co.uk/project2.asp

Hope that helps

--
Regards

Richard
(This is the voice of the Mysterons, we know that you can hear us Earthmen)

Malcolm Smart said:

Apologies as this seems to have been asked but as somebody said
about Jessops staff, I don't know my a* e from my elbow....

I have a 602 - love it. What I want now is a filter to cut out
bright sky glare (cos we get lets of bright days in Leicestershire
Eng!), and a telephoto lense.....but.....I've read you need tubes,
and adapter rings etc.

a) what exactly do I need to have a lense / filter

b) can anybody recommend a good online site for this osrt of this
that is either UK based, or ship to the UK.,

Again, apologies for the dumb questions but I need to get started
somewhere.

Many thanks

Malc

Click to expand...

I've seen the TCON-17 mentioned a few times so I will go for that. Many thanks to both of you for your answers. Helped a lot.

Cut out bright sky glare - polarizer!!

Thanks again

Malc

Thanks Richard - approx £18 saving there - brilliant - equates to a free filter - a late christmas present!

Thanks again.

Malc

Thanatos said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000CC4US/ref=pd_sim_ce_dp_1/202-8309721-9638239

Amazon are the cheapest (I've found for the fuji lenses) see link
above

I'm well pleased with my Fuji lenses...

Now that you know what you want (ie a UV, a Polarizer Filter and
maybe a skylight) I would go to Jessops, or your local camera shop
and get one of each from 'HOYA', a good brand and reasonably priced

Click to expand...

Thanatos said:

Once thing mind, you can't use a filter AND the add-on lenses at
the same time. (unless you are willing to customise a filter!) -

Click to expand...

May I ask why? I occasionally use my linear polarizer screwed onto my 55-55 tube, then screw on top of that the TCON17. I don't see any vignetting or any other optical problems at all. I just have to be careful to twist the polarizer (by twisting the TCON17) counter-clockwise; otherwise, I may rsik unscrewing either the TCON17 or the polarizer and they may fall off.
--
I'd rather add life to my years than years to my life.
http://balarila.instantlogic.com
S602 TCON17 Sunpak383 IBM Microdrive

Maybe I should of stated Fuji lenses and filters together....

I haven't really looked, but I think the Fuji (Wide angle definetly) has glass protruding out the strew in end, as such you can't strew them together without the use of a 'blank' filter.

I haven't tried the TCON17...

balarila said:

Thanatos said:

Once thing mind, you can't use a filter AND the add-on lenses at
the same time. (unless you are willing to customise a filter!) -

Click to expand...

May I ask why? I occasionally use my linear polarizer screwed onto
my 55-55 tube, then screw on top of that the TCON17. I don't see
any vignetting or any other optical problems at all. I just have
to be careful to twist the polarizer (by twisting the TCON17)
counter-clockwise; otherwise, I may rsik unscrewing either the
TCON17 or the polarizer and they may fall off.
--
I'd rather add life to my years than years to my life.
http://balarila.instantlogic.com
S602 TCON17 Sunpak383 IBM Microdrive

Click to expand...

--
Regards

Richard
(This is the voice of the Mysterons, we know that you can hear us Earthmen)

rob scrimgeour said:

Malcolm Smart wrote:
The best lenses are the Olympus TCON-17 and the Fuji TL-FX9. The
Raynox DCR-1850pro is a good lens, but not superb, in my opinion.

The Fuji TL-FX9 is a 1.5x tele lens, and is shipped with the AR-FX9
adapter ring.
--

Click to expand...

Rob; I checked out the Fuji 1.5x at one local photo store and it is very light (3.5 oz) and yes, it comes with the AR-FRX9 adapter ring. Cost $149.95.

I tried two other camera stores to look for the TCON-17 and one had a floor sample of a TCON-17C but did not have the right step up/step down adapter for it. Would it be the 49mm-55 mm step up adapter ring? What manufacturer sells it and where can I get one online? Do I also need a tube? What do you folks out there with TCON-17s use to fit your S602 or S5000?

Now problem putting filters on the back of either of the Raynox lenses, but then those lenses suck IMO. I have a tele and a wide, the 1850 pro in fact, and it has some severe purple fringing and is quite soft.

Thanatos said:

I haven't tried the TCON17...

balarila said:

Thanatos said:

Once thing mind, you can't use a filter AND the add-on lenses at
the same time. (unless you are willing to customise a filter!) -

Click to expand...

May I ask why? I occasionally use my linear polarizer screwed onto
my 55-55 tube, then screw on top of that the TCON17. I don't see
any vignetting or any other optical problems at all. I just have
to be careful to twist the polarizer (by twisting the TCON17)
counter-clockwise; otherwise, I may rsik unscrewing either the
TCON17 or the polarizer and they may fall off.
--
I'd rather add life to my years than years to my life.
http://balarila.instantlogic.com
S602 TCON17 Sunpak383 IBM Microdrive

Click to expand...

--
Regards

Richard
(This is the voice of the Mysterons, we know that you can hear us
Earthmen)

Click to expand...

--
Chris Gervais
http://www.fujitrip.com
http://www.thegervaisfamily.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/tripanfal/ralph3.wav
[email protected]
Live - Laugh - Love

dalite said:

rob scrimgeour said:

Malcolm Smart wrote:
The best lenses are the Olympus TCON-17 and the Fuji TL-FX9. The
Raynox DCR-1850pro is a good lens, but not superb, in my opinion.

The Fuji TL-FX9 is a 1.5x tele lens, and is shipped with the AR-FX9
adapter ring.
--

Click to expand...

Rob; I checked out the Fuji 1.5x at one local photo store and it is
very light (3.5 oz) and yes, it comes with the AR-FRX9 adapter
ring. Cost $149.95.
I tried two other camera stores to look for the TCON-17 and one had
a floor sample of a TCON-17C but did not have the right step
up/step down adapter for it. Would it be the 49mm-55 mm step up
adapter ring? What manufacturer sells it and where can I get one
online? Do I also need a tube? What do you folks out there with
TCON-17s use to fit your S602 or S5000?

Click to expand...

It's not a step up adapter it's just a tube that's 55mm on both sides. I got mine from http://www.2filter.com but I think there are other places to get it as well. The TCON-17 is 55mm so it will fit right on the tube. I keep my adapter tube and a UV filter on all the time to protect the extending lens. Many others here do that as well.

Tony
--
http://www.pbase.com/diness

Hiya Malc,

I just got the Fuji wide and telephoto converters from http://www.savastore.com , a UK company based in Watford. Service was excellent and the set comes with the tube, the lens, a dinky little bag to keep them in and caps for either end of the assembly. Haven't had much chance to experiment yet but will post results when I do.

dalite wrote:
I tried two other camera stores to look for the TCON-17 and one had

dalite said:

a floor sample of a TCON-17C but did not have the right step
up/step down adapter for it. Would it be the 49mm-55 mm step up
adapter ring? What manufacturer sells it and where can I get one
online? Do I also need a tube? What do you folks out there with
TCON-17s use to fit your S602 or S5000?

Click to expand...

As Tony has already pointed out, you do not need any step-up or step-down ring. You need exactly the same adapter tube that the Fuji lenses come with. This is the Fuji AR-FX9. I believe that there are off brand versions as well. Kenko's 55-55mm adapter ring comes to mind.

--
Rob S
Victoria, BC
Canada

Fujigroup web site: http://www.fujigroup.net
Fujigroup: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fujigroup