bluedot
Leading Member
Hi.
I now have almost all the "recommended accessories" of the F707. For those of you considering one or more of the following items, I have put together a "mini-review" based on my experience so far. I am writing this at 12 am, so the wording might be a little awkward. Please bear with me.
Sony VCL-MHG07A x.07 Wide-end Conversion Lens
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Using the lens disables zoom, nightvision, nightframing and macro functions on the F707. According to the manual, the camera must be set to "conversion lens ON" in the setup menu, but I have found this unnecessary as long as the built-in lens is completely zoomed out.
The conversion lens comes with two rings and a carrying pouch. For use with the F707, the 58-52 step down ring must be used. The pouch fabric is quite thin and it is not padded. Also, the pouch lacks a flap to connect to your belt, which I found inconvenient.
The lens itself is really huge, and makes the F707 very front heavy. Therefore, you should definitely use both hands to support the lens barrel and should take care when using a tripod.
With the conversion lens attached, you lose about 1 F-stop. Barrel conversion is quite pronounced when shooting indoors (objects closer than 3 meters appear severely distorted. Chromatic aberration is also more evident.
I have found constantly connecting and removing the lens a big pain, especially the it is a 3 step process:
1. Connect step-down ring.
2. Connect lens.
3. Change setting in setup menu.
You can keep the step down ring connected to the F707 if you like, but then you cannot use your 58mm filters and using 52mm filters will cause vignetting at wide angle.
BUILD QUALITY: 4/5
FEATURES: 2/5
EASE OF USE: 2/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 3/5
OVERALL: 3/5
Sony HVL-1000 External Flash
-----------------------------------------
This is the most basic flash unit you can imagine. It rotates to allow bounce flash and connects to the camera via the ACC plug (rather than from the shoe, which is “cold” on the F707), so it does not have to be on the camera. This fact, and the included bracket, allow for a great variety of shooting options. The flash duplicates the ACC jack on the camera, so other accessories like the remote commander can still be used.
A diffusing screen slides neatly into a slot along the top of the flash and can be used to crate more even lighting (especially at wide angle). Carrying pouch included.
BUILD QUALITY: 4/5
FEATURES: 2/5
EASE OF USE: 4/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 3/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Sony RM-DR1 Remote Commander
-----------------------------------------------
This is also a very simple yet effective device. It connects to the F707 via the ACC plug. It has a shutter release button (which functions exactly like the one on the camera – half-press to focus, full-press to release) and zoom button.
The commander comes with a short thread (which connects through a hole on the top of the unit). This allows you to hang the commander onto a tripod rather than just let it dangle. It comes with a carrying pouch too.
BUILD QUALITY: 5/5
FEATURES: 4/5
EASE OF USE: 5/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Sony LCS-FX Carrying Case
------------------------------------
This carrying case is quite odd-looking, but works very well with the F707. the camera “slots” in vertically, allowing easy access (I sometimes accidentally turn on the camera while pulling it out). It has a small pocket on the inner side of the flap for one or two memory sticks. On the back of the case is a slot for your belt, and the bag comes with a nice leather shoulder strap which connects via metal hooks. The only thing I do not like about this is the Velcro.
BUILD QUALITY: 3/5
FEATURES: 4/5
EASE OF USE: 4/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 2/5
OVERALL: 4/5
And that’s it. Questions and/or suggestions welcome.
--bluedot.
http://www.pbase.com/nichijin
I now have almost all the "recommended accessories" of the F707. For those of you considering one or more of the following items, I have put together a "mini-review" based on my experience so far. I am writing this at 12 am, so the wording might be a little awkward. Please bear with me.
Sony VCL-MHG07A x.07 Wide-end Conversion Lens
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Using the lens disables zoom, nightvision, nightframing and macro functions on the F707. According to the manual, the camera must be set to "conversion lens ON" in the setup menu, but I have found this unnecessary as long as the built-in lens is completely zoomed out.
The conversion lens comes with two rings and a carrying pouch. For use with the F707, the 58-52 step down ring must be used. The pouch fabric is quite thin and it is not padded. Also, the pouch lacks a flap to connect to your belt, which I found inconvenient.
The lens itself is really huge, and makes the F707 very front heavy. Therefore, you should definitely use both hands to support the lens barrel and should take care when using a tripod.
With the conversion lens attached, you lose about 1 F-stop. Barrel conversion is quite pronounced when shooting indoors (objects closer than 3 meters appear severely distorted. Chromatic aberration is also more evident.
I have found constantly connecting and removing the lens a big pain, especially the it is a 3 step process:
1. Connect step-down ring.
2. Connect lens.
3. Change setting in setup menu.
You can keep the step down ring connected to the F707 if you like, but then you cannot use your 58mm filters and using 52mm filters will cause vignetting at wide angle.
BUILD QUALITY: 4/5
FEATURES: 2/5
EASE OF USE: 2/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 3/5
OVERALL: 3/5
Sony HVL-1000 External Flash
-----------------------------------------
This is the most basic flash unit you can imagine. It rotates to allow bounce flash and connects to the camera via the ACC plug (rather than from the shoe, which is “cold” on the F707), so it does not have to be on the camera. This fact, and the included bracket, allow for a great variety of shooting options. The flash duplicates the ACC jack on the camera, so other accessories like the remote commander can still be used.
A diffusing screen slides neatly into a slot along the top of the flash and can be used to crate more even lighting (especially at wide angle). Carrying pouch included.
BUILD QUALITY: 4/5
FEATURES: 2/5
EASE OF USE: 4/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 3/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Sony RM-DR1 Remote Commander
-----------------------------------------------
This is also a very simple yet effective device. It connects to the F707 via the ACC plug. It has a shutter release button (which functions exactly like the one on the camera – half-press to focus, full-press to release) and zoom button.
The commander comes with a short thread (which connects through a hole on the top of the unit). This allows you to hang the commander onto a tripod rather than just let it dangle. It comes with a carrying pouch too.
BUILD QUALITY: 5/5
FEATURES: 4/5
EASE OF USE: 5/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Sony LCS-FX Carrying Case
------------------------------------
This carrying case is quite odd-looking, but works very well with the F707. the camera “slots” in vertically, allowing easy access (I sometimes accidentally turn on the camera while pulling it out). It has a small pocket on the inner side of the flap for one or two memory sticks. On the back of the case is a slot for your belt, and the bag comes with a nice leather shoulder strap which connects via metal hooks. The only thing I do not like about this is the Velcro.
BUILD QUALITY: 3/5
FEATURES: 4/5
EASE OF USE: 4/5
VALUE FOR MONEY: 2/5
OVERALL: 4/5
And that’s it. Questions and/or suggestions welcome.
--bluedot.
http://www.pbase.com/nichijin