G3 Lensmate adapter - what's your plans

[Gus Stangeland]

Now that the Lensmate adapters are available for the Canon G3, I was wondering what people are planning to order. I had kind of hoped they would offer a package deal with step-down ring(s), lens caps and filters. But I guess they decided there would be too many combinations to manage.

I am planning on ordering 2 each 52mm adapters plus a 52/49 step-down ring for the one adapter and the Tiffen coplanar 52/43mm step-down ring for the other adapter. Then I will mount my U/V filter to one and my Tiffen Megaplus 2x telephoto lens to the other, and change them at the bayonet mount on the camera.

The Tiffen 2x teleconverter comes with a lens cap so that is taken care of. I don't like the lens caps they offer with the "glue-on" string. It comes apart and you lose the lens cap. I'd like to have one like the one that comes with the G3.

But what about the "camera end" of the adapter that you are not currently using. Tossing the adapter into your case without a cap will allow dust to get it. I didn't see any cap offered by Lensmate for this. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

So, I was just wondering if I am on the right track. At the moment, I don't plan to use the Canon converters so I would not need the 58mm adapter. Your comments on how you plan to go with this would be appreciated.

 

[susan doel]

Now that the Lensmate adapters are available for the Canon G3, I
was wondering what people are planning to order. I had kind of
hoped they would offer a package deal with step-down ring(s), lens
caps and filters. But I guess they decided there would be too many
combinations to manage.

But what about the "camera end" of the adapter that you are not
currently using. Tossing the adapter into your case without a cap
will allow dust to get it. I didn't see any cap offered by Lensmate
for this. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

Hi Gus,

As you say we had initially thought we would offer package deals but found there were too many combinations so instead we've done an across the board reduction on all our filters.

We should have a solution for the back cap soon and are working on a custom lens cap which is about 3-4 weeks out. Check our site for updates on these 2 items http://www.lensmateonline.com or email me to get on a interested parties list.

Regards, Susan/LensMate

 

[Paul Turton]

Now that the Lensmate adapters are available for the Canon G3, I
was wondering what people are planning to order.

Since I seem to be constanly changing my lenses, I need 5 lens adapters to accomodate my usage.

2 x 58 mm LAs for use with converters with 58 mm thread,

3 x 52 mm LAs for use with UV filter and lens hood, diopters and reverse 58 mm lens.

I have 2 Canon LAs and a homemade 52 mm LA so I've ordered two 52 mm Lensmates yesterday.

I am planning on ordering 2 each 52mm adapters plus a 52/49
step-down ring for the one adapter and the Tiffen coplanar 52/43mm
step-down ring for the other adapter. Then I will mount my U/V

If Susan also offered 55 mm step up/down rings and an assortment of reversing rings all bases would be covered. ;-)

filter to one and my Tiffen Megaplus 2x telephoto lens to the
other, and change them at the bayonet mount on the camera.
The Tiffen 2x teleconverter comes with a lens cap so that is taken
care of. I don't like the lens caps they offer with the "glue-on"
string. It comes apart and you lose the lens cap. I'd like to have
one like the one that comes with the G3.

As long as my lens is protected from the elements when not in use, any cap is fine by me.

But what about the "camera end" of the adapter that you are not
currently using. Tossing the adapter into your case without a cap
will allow dust to get it. I didn't see any cap offered by Lensmate
for this. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

The Canon G3 TC DC58N comes with a friction fit cover that fits the 58 mm thread on the TC and also the bayonet end of their LA. Unfortunately, the designer never used it outside his lab. It can be dislodged easily.

I prefer to use plastic caps from bottles, spray cans and such. I fit them with self-adhesive Velcro loop tape. Two inch plastic covers that are used for protective ends on piping also work well.

So, I was just wondering if I am on the right track. At the moment,
I don't plan to use the Canon converters so I would not need the
58mm adapter. Your comments on how you plan to go with this would
be appreciated.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[jrsites]

I previously purchased the Canon adapter, but am going to eBay it and have already ordered the LensMate adapter. The small collection of Filters I had gathered for my pre-G3 camera (a Nikon N60) were all 58mm. So, for simplicity's sake I have ordered the 58mm adapter. I've been looking for a Hoya R72 IR filter, and LensMate had the best price I've seen, so I ordered one along with the adapter.

Jeff

 

[Micman]

Most of my filters are 58mm, and the canon convertors are also 58mm. Therefore I shall get the lensmate 58mm. I will put a UV filter for protection, this can affect the flash, but it can easily be removed with the "quick release" if I have to take any widea ngle flash shots. I think is is still worth while having it to protect the lens.

Does anyone know how to use the reverse lens technique for macro shots?

M

I previously purchased the Canon adapter, but am going to eBay it
and have already ordered the LensMate adapter. The small
collection of Filters I had gathered for my pre-G3 camera (a Nikon
N60) were all 58mm. So, for simplicity's sake I have ordered the
58mm adapter. I've been looking for a Hoya R72 IR filter, and
LensMate had the best price I've seen, so I ordered one along with
the adapter.

Jeff

 

[Chris Beney]

Does anyone know how to use the reverse lens technique for macro
shots?

Simply get a ring with the thread on one side to fit the front of your lens (eg 50mm wide aperture), that will be its normal filter thread. The other side of a size to fite your Lensmate or Canon adapter. Now if you can't get that you will have to use anothe step up or step dwn ring to match what you can get to adapter and lens.

I use 49 mm mostly and got a double ended male ring plus an adaptor up to the Canon (?59). I will get a different step up when my Lensmates come.
Then just use it.

See this recent thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=4174489
Chris Beney

 

[Gus Stangeland]

Susan, thanks for your response, and thanks also to the others. I ordered what I stated in the post and am looking forward to checking out the Tiffen 2x telephoto lens on my G3.

I'll order the "matching color" lens cap (49mm) and also the rear lens caps whenever Susan has them available.

At some point, I may also order the 58mm adapter and use it with the Canon wide converter. In my case, I don't see a lot of uses for it, but I remember a High School reunion where the whole class lined up for a class picture and everyone with a 50mm lens could not back up far enough to get the whole class in the picture (this was indoors). I had a 35mm camera with a variable lens that I could set to 28mm and was the only one that got a picture of the whole class.

So in situations like this, the 0.7x Canon wide converter would provide a 24.5mm equivalent focal length which would be handy for situations like this.

 

[blulegend]

I ordered 3 52mm lensmates plus an assortment of step-up/down rings for my stuff.

I have a WA and a TC each will have its own lensmate.

The 3rd lensmate will have a UV filter and will also see a close-up set once in a while.

-Jack

 

[Chris Beney]

At some point, I may also order the 58mm adapter and use it with
the Canon wide converter. In my case, I don't see a lot of uses for
it, but I remember a High School reunion where the whole class
lined up for a class picture and everyone with a 50mm lens could
not back up far enough to get the whole class in the picture (this
was indoors). I had a 35mm camera with a variable lens that I could
set to 28mm and was the only one that got a picture of the whole
class.

Yes, but don't forget that it is now very easy to stitch together two pictures. Groups are not the easiest to stitch seamlessly but I have done it successfully, even having one of them published in the press. It allows for greater than the 4Mpixels of course, which can be important in group pictures
Chris Beney

 

[Gus Stangeland]

Thanks, Chris, that is a very good suggestion! That way you can get almost twice the pixels, very important for group shots. Most group shots, digital or film, if you look closely at them, have VERY little detail on people's faces. To make matters worse, because of the camera industry's obsession with setting the field of view of optical viewfinders at about 80% or so, people back up much further than they need to and you end up with a group picture with a whole lot of dead space on each side with a group of people in the center that you can hardly identify.

I have tried many times - handing my camera to a person so I can get in the group shot - saying, "crop tight, don't leave space on the sides". It doesn't work, they still do.

Worst case scenario is a large group, all lined up in one row. You get this picture back with a row of unidentifiable people in the middle with wide space on each side, a huge view of the grass lawn and a huge view of the sky! But I digress - sorry.

At some point, I may also order the 58mm adapter and use it with
the Canon wide converter. In my case, I don't see a lot of uses for
it, but I remember a High School reunion where the whole class
lined up for a class picture and everyone with a 50mm lens could
not back up far enough to get the whole class in the picture (this
was indoors). I had a 35mm camera with a variable lens that I could
set to 28mm and was the only one that got a picture of the whole
class.

Yes, but don't forget that it is now very easy to stitch together
two pictures. Groups are not the easiest to stitch seamlessly but I
have done it successfully, even having one of them published in the
press. It allows for greater than the 4Mpixels of course, which can
be important in group pictures
Chris Beney

 

[Walter Bachus]

Now that the Lensmate adapters are available for the Canon G3, I
was wondering what people are planning to order.

Since I seem to be constanly changing my lenses, I need 5 lens
adapters to accomodate my usage.

2 x 58 mm LAs for use with converters with 58 mm thread,
3 x 52 mm LAs for use with UV filter and lens hood, diopters and
reverse 58 mm lens.

I have 2 Canon LAs and a homemade 52 mm LA so I've ordered two 52
mm Lensmates yesterday.

I am planning on ordering 2 each 52mm adapters plus a 52/49
step-down ring for the one adapter and the Tiffen coplanar 52/43mm
step-down ring for the other adapter. Then I will mount my U/V

If Susan also offered 55 mm step up/down rings and an assortment of
reversing rings all bases would be covered. ;-)

filter to one and my Tiffen Megaplus 2x telephoto lens to the
other, and change them at the bayonet mount on the camera.
The Tiffen 2x teleconverter comes with a lens cap so that is taken
care of. I don't like the lens caps they offer with the "glue-on"
string. It comes apart and you lose the lens cap. I'd like to have
one like the one that comes with the G3.

As long as my lens is protected from the elements when not in use,
any cap is fine by me.

But what about the "camera end" of the adapter that you are not
currently using. Tossing the adapter into your case without a cap
will allow dust to get it. I didn't see any cap offered by Lensmate
for this. Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

The Canon G3 TC DC58N comes with a friction fit cover that fits the
58 mm thread on the TC and also the bayonet end of their LA.
Unfortunately, the designer never used it outside his lab. It can
be dislodged easily.

I prefer to use plastic caps from bottles, spray cans and such. I
fit them with self-adhesive Velcro loop tape. Two inch plastic
covers that are used for protective ends on piping also work well.

So, I was just wondering if I am on the right track. At the moment,
I don't plan to use the Canon converters so I would not need the
58mm adapter. Your comments on how you plan to go with this would
be appreciated.

Cheers,
Paul

Question for you experts -- which route would you recommend: the 58 mm (cannon) route or the 52 mm (others) route? Walt

 

[Paul Turton]

Question for you experts -- which route would you recommend: the
58 mm (cannon) route or the 52 mm (others) route? Walt

Walter,

I'm not an expert, a pro or even good photographer. I'm just an avid hobbiest.

If you do not plan to expand your system to include Canon tele and wide converters the 52 mm len adapter will probably fit your needs.

As I've indicated before, a lens adapter to protect the zoom on the Gx camera is very important. And I feel that a lens adapter should be purchased for each lens combination that is used regularly if the most is to be gained from the bayonet mount.

My G3 has a 52 mm LA attached unless I'm using my tele converter.

The Canon adapter is plastic and the LensMate is aluminum. Threads in plastic won't last as long as those in aluminum if you are making many lens changes.

Cheers,
Paul