millsart
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 p.1 #1 · Finally a Fuji X100 wide angle solution that works | |
Like many X100 owners, I really enjoy the camera, and also find the 35mm equiv focal length to be about ideal for my general photographic needs, or at least the type of shooting I do with a camera like the X100.
Still though, there are times where I'd wish for something a bit wider, ideally around 21-24mm, which is probably my second favorite general focal length.
I've bought a number of ultra wide conversion lens and have been doing a bit of experimenting, Nikon WC68, Panasonic LWA52 and the Sony ultra wide adapter for the NEX. There are a number of others out there but I highly doubted some of the cheap ones were worth my time. I mean come on, is a $20 .45x ultra wide/macro lens really going to have decent optics for the money ?
I figured the ones I got were the best of whats out there and got some adapters and set to trying them out. At first, results were acceptable, though pretty soft in the corners and frankly just not worth it. Then I got an idea, that perhaps my results were poor because these adapters, such as how they work on my LX5, required the back element of the adapter to be very close to the front of the lens. So I took off the Fuji adapter ring and started trying a shaved down 49/52mm step down ring as it would still give me the 49mm thread I need. Didn't really help matters, seemed that the combinations just weren't going to work.
I even went as far as taking apart the NEX adapter and removing some of its internal shims and spacers so that I could put a step up ring into it that would directly allow it to mount to the fuji threads. Looked pretty cool too as well with the brushed metal outer sleeve. Interesting how its really all plastic inside and that sleeve is just for show, but thats another story.
It worked pretty well, sharp in the center, and actually sharp edges too, but weird curvature of field and other focal issues. I could get sharp corners but not on the same place as what was in the center of the frame.
Thought that was my best hope going forward and it still wasn't really working so I was going to just write off any conversion lenses and accept the X100 as a 35mm equiv only until I got one last idea
I had a few 49mm cheap UV filters that came with various purchases I made such as len hoods etc. $1 filter is next to worthless optically but hmmm, what about moving the adapter further away ??
I was thinking closer was better, and the stock adapter ring. step ring and conversion lens wasn't great so further couldn't help things but why not give it a try.
Well I did and bingo, it actually works, and works pretty well if I do say so myself at this point.
Very good sharpness center of frame that continues up to the extreme edges and no focus issues. Do have to stop down to about f5.6 for improved results but honestly the edges are on par with some DSLR lenses I've owned, and honestly better than the NEX16mm lol and again, we are taking about pretty cheap adapters here, the Nikon only cost me $50
With the .68x Nikon I can get 23.5mm equiv and the Panny is .75x so its only 26.25. Panny might be a little better optically but they are very close. It also cost 3x what I paid for the Nikon and if your going to bother with this in the first place, I'd think getting as wide as possible would be the way to go, especially if you crop out the outer 5% or so. Its not like you'd really carry a 35mm and 28mm at the same time, or at least I wouldn't as they are pretty close. 24 and 35 though yes
I'm still experimenting a little bit with some different thicknesses of step up rings trying to find the best results but so far I'm quite pleased and being able to have a 24mm equiv X100, and for only $50 plus a few adapter rings I had laying around is pretty cool.
I'll post some 100% crops when I get home later tonight as I know the proof is in the pudding so to speak, but I can say that so far the results I'm getting are better than anything else I've seen posted on the web using these adapters.
Cheers
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