auxiliary lenses for xz-1

If you look the manual linked here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1008&message=37526595 you may find some infos on page 49 regarding the TCON-17 and a new & not seen CLA-12 conversion lens adapter.

I´m afraid, the WCON-07 doesnt fit on the CLA-11, so it may not fit on the CLA-12, too??

Hm, I found another adapter that shines out for me > FR-100 macro flash adapter, please fit on that XZ-1!

p.s.: found this http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/compati/di000390e.cfm - so the WCON-07 has the same 55mm thread as the TCON-17...

I dont think this will be a problem? The WCON.07 and the TCON-17 fitted to some older models, using the same base adapter.

But maybe they have to build a "bigger" WCON. Im afraid, the XZ-1 has a bigger front lens element as, in example, the old C-5060.

But I can´t confirm this by now, I sold my old 5050 & 5060 years ago, and my XZ-1 may arrive tomorrow

For the C-5050 (it used the same TCON-17), the adapter tube CLA-5 is the same for TCON & WCON.

Recieved my XZ-1, so I could measure a view things:

Diameter of the camera base adapter thread is about 47mm, unfortunately (found this on Wrotniaks side) the 5060 had a 48.5mm thread and the 5050 a smaller 41mm thread.

Diameter of the front lens is about 28mm. I could only estimate the measurements of the 5050´s front lens from photos, and it´s about the same size, maybe a bit larger.

Length of the XZ-1 lens is 26mm set to 6mm and 34mm set to max zoom range (24mm). It uses internal focusing. Don´t have any measurements for that on C5050/5060/7070?

But, as said, maybe the WCON-07 is to "small" to be used on a 6mm lens or to cover the larger light circle of the XZ-1 sensor. The 5050s zoom range was 7.1-21.3mm and it used a 1/1.8" CCD - so sensor size factor is 1.1 From this point, it looks like the XZ-1 zuiko lens really is a new design (7.1:1.1=6.4). I don´t see any other issue for Olympus not to include it in the XZ-1 system. But maybe it´s out of production for a long time now, and they have sold the design...

For my opinion: Olympus stopped producing the large & expensive WCON-07/07C years ago, and doesn´t see enough marked share to start producing/reworking it, for only one system & maybe a few 100 that could get sold

The TCON-17 is still under production, as it was an option to their last gen. SP´s, without need of any WCON, as their zoom range starts from 26mm equiv (last WCON-07 using cam was the SP-500).

p.s.: The 8080 had a mutch larger lens and is a different design, the 5050/5060/7070´s lens design is mutch closer to XZ-1

So I got a FR-100 macro flash adapter. No, it doesn´t fit, as feared before. I did measure the XZ-1 adapter thread again, and I´m allmost sure, it has a 46.5 mm thread. Unfortunately I don´t see anything lthreaded like this elsewhere (i.e. Raynox), so I now have to wait for the CLA-12, and rework them to build a CLA-12 + FR-100 combi adapter (lathing the FR-100 and glue it on the CLA-12).

robertro wrote:

Did you use the Olympus brand adapter tube or some 3rd party tube?

How are the TCON-17 results?

For the WCON, I wonder if you could just set the lens to wide angle and then attach shorter adapter....

I am going to test whether a B-28 0.8x lens works without vignetting since it has a bigger rear element...

I've had the TCON-17X on my XZ-1 for a few weeks (but sold it because it was to bulky).

With respect to image quality, it had no faults as far as I could see. Sharpness was great, even in the far corners. Auto focus worked good. No vignetting. The 190mm F2.5 equiv lens is quite unique of course, considering the price and the package.

Here is a part of my XZ-1 gear. This superzoom case of olympus also fits just perfect with CLA-12 adapter.

Maybe someone can try the Ricoh GW-6 on the XZ-1...

This is a 0,79x converter that was introduced with the Ricoh GX-100 some years ago, a camera with "24-72"mm lens and a 1/1,75" Sensor.

Someone tried it successfully on the D-Lux 4 ("24-60"mm/F2,0-F2,8 lens in front of a 1/1,63" sensor):

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1038&message=31032808&changemode=1

The Ricoh GW-6 is lightweight (116g with both caps) and optically very good, at least on my GX-100.

best regards

PS: the Ricoh GW-2 could also be an option. This one was designed for the GR-D III, a camera with a "28"mm/F1.9 lens on a 1/175" sensor. Here is a comparison with the GW-6 on the GR-D III:

http://www.ricohforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=3143

robertro wrote:

To add to this knowledge:

Wide adapters:

Minolta ZCW-300 0.75x works well; the faintest bit of vignette at full wide setting; little distortion; reasonable sharpness to edges of frame. Tiny lens, easy to carry, looks like part of the camera.

Olympus B-28 0.8x works well optically, but vignettes a bit more than the above.

Olympus TCON-17: very nice, very compact for its angle of view, but hefty. Sharp, little CA or distortion.

Raynox DCR-1850PRO 1.85x: very nice, physically shorter than the TOCN-17, and gives a longer telephoto. Sharp, little CA or distortion. Makes the camera look like a tough superzoom!

Apologies for bumping this thread - I don't know if anybody out there is still interested in the XZ-1.

I came across a Sony VCL-MHG07 converter lens very cheaply so I put it on my XZ-1 as an experiment. It fits via its 52mm thread on the lens tube (in my case a 3rd-party knock-off of the CLA-12). The rear element is slightly recessed from the threads so it does not interfere with the XZ-1 lens. You don't get infinity focus but switching to macro mode enables it to focus everywhere. It doesn't vignette, sharpness is good, distortion is minimal, but there is some CA in the corners (this can be dialled out in post).

Conversion factor is 0.7X so we are getting roughly 20mm FOV.

The downside is that it weighs about the same as the XZ-1 (280 gm) and the front element is about 10cm across.

As I paid £6 for it on the big auction site, I am well satisfied, but you might think twice about paying a lot more for it. I hear the Minolta ZCW-300 is very good and a lot smaller, but it's a rare one and they go for very high prices.