GM1 + 12-32mm + wide converter = 9.5-25mm

[martin0reg]

Recently I found a wide-angle-converter in my accessories, from the days when most compacts wide-angle-lens were not so wide - and video cameras did not have wide-angle at all. It is a "Ricoh DW-6" (factor: 0,79) which was one of the best converters I had used ... but these are always designed for a special lens and IQ depends on the interaction of lens and converter. Main problems are blurry corners, barrel distortion and vignetting

As I found also a suitable adapter ring (37 to 43) in my box I just gave it a try and screwed it on the tiny 12-32mm kit-zoom of my GM1.

The results are surprisingly good! I made a fast and easy test with zoom set to 12 - 18 - 32mm and the photos taken with the DW-6 are quite sharp up to the corners, distortion is hardly to be seen, at least not more than with oriiginal 12mm. No vignetting, which is all the more astonishing, while this converter is designed for a smaller sensor and image circle than mFT. Anyway I have now a quite usable 9,5mm super wide lens respectively a 10-25mm super wide zoom.

Here are two samples: at 12mm without and with converter:


12-32 at 3.5/12mm




12-32mm at 3.5/12mm + 0,8 converter = 3.5/9.5mm



But beware of the weight: for a converter the DW-6 is relative light weight, for mounting on the fragile panasonic kit-zoom it may be a bit heavy: ca. 110g is hanging on the filter thread - action photography will damage the zoom-lens...







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[Adam-T]

Cheap alternative to getting an Oly 9-18 (and stabilized too) - not sure how the 12-32 will stand up to having that screwed on the front though ..

 

[martin0reg]

Correction: the DW-6 is designed for the the Ricoh GXR + 24-72mm, this camera has a APS-C sensor...so the results are not that astonishing (as I thought it were for a smaller sensor/image circle) ...and it is not the cheapest one, anyway cheaper than a 9-18mm...

Usually you mount this on a special tubus if the lens is not a sturdy prime but a distractable like the 12-32. So use it with care...

 

[Adam-T]

Correction: the DW-6 is designed for the the Ricoh GXR + 24-72mm,

The 24-72 (the S10, based on the GX compacts) has a 1:1.7" sensor - It`s the 24-85 (A16) which has the APS-C sensor

If I remember rightly, the DW-6 was originally made for the GX100 (which makes sense), I`m amazed it not only works on the 12-32, but as well as your findings show - probably because the sensor size is irrelevant, it`s the front element and its light angle requirements which are the important factors

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[martin0reg]

Adam T, thank you for correcting my correction, my first posting stays correct ... the DW-6 was probably for the earlier GX100...so we are right to be surprised and pleased by the result...

 

[FrankS009]

How expensive is it?

F.

 

[martin0reg]

In Germany 2009 I paid close to 100euro...search it on amazon or ebay..

PS: I will try it on the 1.7/20mm too, but I think this will be a greater challenge as the aperture is so much wider...

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[luisflorit]

Thanks for your thread.

Could you please post full resolution raw files?

Thanks,

L.

 

[Hen3ry]

Hello Martin

Excellent find -- but are your two pictures taken from the same position or did you move closer for the one using the w/a converter?

I ask because I use the 12-32 (and 12-35) on my G6 and I also use the Oly 9-18 @ 9 a lot. I have also used the Oly WCON-P01 on the 14-42 II R a bit. I just have the feeling looking at the two pix that the FOV with the converter isn’t quite as wide as I would expect.

Cheers, geoff

 

[ntsan]

Yeah, I think it should be more wider than that

 

[martin0reg]

...but are your two pictures taken from the same position or did you move closer for the one using the w/a converter?

Maybe a little bit - but I did not intend to ... most notably there is a slight turn to the right..

I have attached some more samples for pixel peepers.

And I have tried the ricoh converter on the 1,7/20: sadly the results shows blur all around the center, the blurred "corners" are quite broad. Stop down helps a little, but not enough to get a sharp result




12mm 3,5 x08






12mm 6,3 x08






12mm 3,5






12mm 3,5 x08






12mm 3,5



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