Opteka HD² 0.20X Professional Super AF Fisheye Lens for Canon Powershot G10 & G11 Digital Camera
- Included – .20x Fisheye Lens, Lens Adapter, 52mm Adapter, 55mm Adapter, 58mm Adapter, Lens Caps, Lens Pouch
- An essential tool for extreme sports and dramatic action shooters
- High-index / low-dispersion optical glass, Fully multi-coated, every element
- Designed to maximize day and night shots by providing maximum light and image
- Made and designed in Japan, Brand new, Lifetime warranty
Product Description
Nothing changes the way you see the world like High Definition², and no company does High Definition² like Opteka. In the professional setting, Opteka’s glass optics define High Definition. Change the way you view the world. Enjoy outstanding detail, enjoy enhanced clarity, enjoy Opteka.
The new Opteka High Definition² .20x Wide Angle Fisheye Converter Lens increases the versatility of your existing lens to provide breathtaking ultra wide angle views. And … More >>
Opteka HD² 0.20X Professional Super AF Fisheye Lens for Canon Powershot G10 & G11 Digital Camera
Tagged with: 0.20X • Camera • Canon • Digital • Fisheye • HD² • Lens • Opteka • Powershot • Professional • Super
Filed under: Canon Powershot SD
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The descriptions of this lens are sorely lacking, so the first part of my review is information the manufacturer should have provided:
What you get in the box:
* G10 flange-mount to 58mm threaded adapter
* 58mm to 52mm adapter ring (and a 55mm to 52mm adapter ring you won’t need with the G10)
* Fisheye add-on lens (52mm thread mount)
* Front and rear lens caps
In other words, you don’t have to buy anything else along with this lens. If you have a Canon G10, it comes with everything you need. I had to call 47th Street Photo to confirm that.
When set up and mounted, the entire lens projects about five inches from the front surface of the camera, making it look like a miniaturized SLR.
Now that I have the lens, I understand a bit better how it works. At the camera’s widest zoom angle, the fisheye circle takes up the center 1/4 of the frame, with black around it. At about mid-zoom, the majority of the frame is image, with black corners. At full zoom, you have roughly the equivalent of the camera by itself at its widest angle, and no barrel/fisheye distortion is evident. With the variable zoom, you can choose whether you have a rectangular or circular fisheye effect, although the barrel distortion becomes much less evident as you move toward rectangular.
The glass quality is pretty good. Images are clear, and the autofocus system works correctly. Opteka recommends setting the camera to a narrow aperture and focus at infinity, although shooting in low light with normal (large aperture) settings seems to work well with the G10. There is noticeable chromatic aberration at the edges of the fisheye circle, but we’re talking about a $60 lens here.
The mount is a little shaky feeling — the add-on barrel doesn’t snick solidly into place like an SLR lens does (which is a pity, it wouldn’t have been hard to make the mount that carefully; I don’t know if this is a limitation of the camera or the Opteka mount, though). It’s not going to come off, but it’s a bit mobile on the camera, which feels a bit cheesy. The extension barrel and lens themselves are nicely machined, and appear to be high quality. Although the Opteka copy says it’s “Made and Designed in Japan” (from their website), the lens I received is clearly marked CHINA. No shock for the price, but a bit off-putting to have expectations set incorrectly (the box says “Designed in Japan” on the side, and “Made in China” on the bottom). Until I saw the CHINA marking, I would have been willing to believe the lens was made in Japan as well, so this isn’t a ding on the quality, more a ding on Opteka’s marketing department.
Due to its size, this add-on lens takes the G10 from “barely pocketable” to requiring a bag of some variety. It nearly doubles the bulk of the camera if you want to carry both G10 and fisheye with you.
I’m very satisfied with the lens, and highly recommend it if you have occasional recreational use for a fisheye lens, and don’t want to drop $700+ on a decent fisheye for your SLR. I would not recommend it for regular or professional use except as an option of last resort, mostly due to the shaky mount and likely marginal durability.
UPDATE: February 17, 2010
I have upgraded to the G11, and am pleased to report that this add-on lens also works well with the G11. There have been no problems with the lens, although it hasn’t seen a whole lot of action. I have one new gripe, which is that with the supplied lens caps, the extension tube and fisheye lens must be separated in order to have a lens cap on the back of the fisheye. It’s not a huge deal, but I’d prefer to have a rear lens cap that fits on the extension tube instead of threading onto the back of the lens unit, so I don’t have to unscrew the two pieces every time the lens is put away.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a great product to have fun with! However, once you put a put a converter and then this lens, the g10 ends up flashing over the long lens creating a huge shadow. Best advise is to also buy a flash slave (hotshoe).
Rating: 4 / 5
Really great product tons of fun to use. It was hard figuring out how it went on the camera so directions would have been nice but besides that no complaints! Ive been getting alot of comliments on it and it looks great with my canon g10!
Rating: 5 / 5
This lens was easy to install. Has very good quality with little distortion.
Rating: 5 / 5
Strongly recommended–a very clear and sophisticated piece of optics for a low price. It does the work of a wide angle and can create special effects that are a lot of fun especially after some aggressive artistic processing.
A tremendous value for the money; you would pay more than 10x the amount for another camera’s version.
Buy an extension tube with this lens, it is necessary, but inexpensive.
Rating: 5 / 5