Newbie -add -on Lens for S3 IS

[sid369]

I am new to this forum and to digital photography but I am facinated with good photographs and cameras. I am planning to buy the canon S3 IS as I think that is what fits my budget right now.

I saw some post from BowerR64 and he has an impressive line of add-on lenses, I would some day want to have those many lenses, so my question is to all of you specially bowerR64 about giving a detailed information about all the lenses that you have. which would you recommend, how much are they for and where (website) can I buy them from.

I really liked your 2n1 lens and saw the video on youtube as well. very convenient I must saw.

Also has anyone heard of the company called kaya optics check it here [URL="http://www.kaya-optics.com/products/overview.shtml"], I believe they have Infrared See-Through Filter PF. Is it true if that is has anyone used it and is it compatible with the S3 IS. I would like to have that filter if it can be used with the S3, don't get thoughts in your head. I would love to use it for Long-distance Photography in high altitude places with fog etc.

Any inputs/suggestions will be valuable.

apologis if these questions have been answered before or sound dumb or stupid.

Cheers

[BowerR64]

It depends on what your looking for really.

Get the best for your budget.

[sid369]

I was looking for shooting long distance with telephoto.

[BowerR64]

well some have front threads for filters or lens hoods, some are really big and block flash but i guess if your shooting long distances that wont matter. Some can be dark and block 1-2Fstops. Some have alot of vignetting when zoomed way out.

There are alot of good ones Raynox, canon, olympus, sony

[sid369]

Thanks BowerR64, but could you be more specific as I am very new in the digital camera world and the term are sometime difficult for me to understand.


Hey I saw these lenses on ebay.http://cgi.ebay.com/3-2x-HD-Telephoto-Lens-for-Canon-PowerShot-S3-S2-IS_W0QQitemZ280020679646QQihZ018QQcategoryZ116186Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Is it a good deal. Hey bowerR64 you have experience buying on ebay.would you recommend someone to buy lenses on ebay. Also you have some white canon add-on lenses are they for telephoto,what is the model number how much did you get it for.

I still have a for way to go to understand and learn I am hoping you guys will be able to help me in my quest in the world of digital photography.

Thanks

[Sintares]

Opteka - garbage

Tokina (for digicams not dslrs) - garbage

Ditto for any described as Hi-Def, Titanium, Pro etc

Have a look at http://www.lensmateonline.com/newsite/S2tele.html

The tests from the above page where done with the S2 but results are valid for the S3 as well since the lens is the same.

They seem to like the Olympus TCON17.

Generally anything over x1.7 is dubious, some people like the Raynox DCR 2020PRO x2.2, though Lensmateonline don't.

[BowerR64]

The only add on lens ive used are the canon and the lenses i have. I have a sony lens that is very high quality but its a really big lens.

[sid369]

Hey Sintares thank for that link. It was very helpful.

I don't understand the whole 52mm adapter or the 58mm adapter,what is a step ring. Also what are the size of adapters.
for eg if I buy the 58mm adapter what step ring would I need to buy and will the same 58mm adapter fit the raynox or the sony or the olympus add-on tele lenses.

[BowerR64]

Again thats your call, you can get the step ring to fit either tube adapter wether you chose 58mm or 52mm.

If you get the olympus then you need a 55mm step ring. if you get the 58mm tube (S2 adapter tube) then you need a 58-55 step ring, this allows the 55mm olympus lens to fit the 58mm adapter tube.

Im not sure what size the sony is so you will need to find that out first. You only get about 50-60% gain so remember that when you open your wallet.

Sorry im not being more of a help, i dont want to get banned from the forums. Its not a selling forum.

[sid369]

That was of help bowerR64. You have been a definite help along with the others and I am thankful to all of you for sharing your expertise.

[BowerR64]

Thy olympus is 1.7X so thats about a 70% gain in zoom. Im not sure if the oly has front threads on it or not.

The only thing that i see good about front threads is not just for filters, but for a hood. IMO they help keep the lens clean and keep it from being banged around. There is no threads on the canon lens so you need to be really careful with it. The canon lens is designed for these cameras and IMO canon builds good glass.

So look into that, if your gona spend some money on a lens.

[sid369]

Guys,

here are the things that I would love to get for my S3 IS, please tell me if Ithis list is correct and if some thing is not required. Also let me know if I am missing anything.

Hoya UV (double coated) Black 58mm $13.95

Linear Polarizer (Double Coated) 58mm $20.95

Infrared Filter 58mm $44.95

Micro-Fiber Cloth 7.75" x 7.75" in 18% photo gray $6.95

Raynox DCR 730 52mm $62.95

1 Canon S2/S3 52mm & 58mm
(S3 black adapter out of stock until 9/1) Color
Black S3 $44.90

Kenko Step Ring 58mm-55mm $6.95


T O T A L S $208.60

I got all these information from Lensmateonline. I am also considering the Olympus TCON17 1.7x 55mm telecoverter. Sony lenses that bowerR64 has is no longer manufactured and can not be found anywhere. I am considering the Olympus TCON17 becuase thats what got good remarks from lensmate.

I am also looking for a laptop/camera bag and found out about tamarac and lowepro.But I am not sure which one is better and I need something that can be used to carry both at one time or just the camera if I don't need to carry my laptop sometime or just the laptop if I don't need to carry my camera. Any suggestions about these.

[BowerR64]

Why are you getting the 52mm adapter? all your other parts are 58mm.

I think the infrared filter is not going to work to good. You need infrared lighting in order illuminate your subject.

I had a sony V1 that had infra red and it had a little infrared LED on the front to illuminate your subjects but you needed to be like 5' or less away in order for it to even work.

There are mods you can do with extra exsposed 35mm negatives (the film thats developed but no pictures are on it) you can tape these over the lens and the flash and get a similar effect. Then you can decide if you wana spend $45. on the filter or not.

This shot was about 5' away with the V1 (night shot)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/guitar/Nightberger.jpg

You need a tripod with it also. It uses a high ISO (notice the noise) a slow shutter and the infrared LED

[sid369]

BowerR64 thanks for the heads up on the 52mm adapter. I got confused when I was reading the FAQ's on lensmate. But when I read it again after I read your post it made sense.Here is what I read -
Which adapter should I buy?
If you're only using filters, a sun hood, a macro lens, or any of the wide converters tested here (except the Canon WC-DC58A .75x), get the 52mm adapter. If you're using the Canon converters or already have 58mm filters or accessories, get the 58mm adapter.

Apart from the 52mm adapter and the IR filter, do you think everything else looks ok.

[craigyc]

Hey, im going on holiday 2m and have been building up my accessory collection for my new S3 in preperation, so far have picked up the canon 58mm and hood (i know lensmate is better but could only get the canon in the UK on such short notice) and a 58mm Hoya Cir-Polarizer. Now im looking to get a converter, the wide angle or telephoto... I will eventually get both of them but i was wondering which one would be recommended to get first, as im going to Greece i know there is going to be some nice landscapes to look at so wideangle seems the obvious choice. Are wide-angle shots much better than normal 35mm shots that i get at the widest standard setting on my s3 already? looking forward to seeing what kinda shots i can get in greece as theres not many good photo opportunities here in sunny england :cool:

Thanks for any info,
Craig

[JTL]

Are wide-angle shots much better than normal 35mm shots that i get at the widest standard setting on my s3 already? looking forward to seeing what kinda shots i can get in greece as theres not many good photo opportunities here in sunny england :cool:

Thanks for any info,
CraigThere's a huge difference. If you went with something of reasonably good quality such as the Raynox 6600, you would have an effective 23mm at the wide end. Indispensable for shooting landscapes and monuments. The reason I went with Raynox over Canon was that the Canon wide-angle converter (WC-DC58A) does not have front threads...and, I find that I want to use a polarizer on many of my wide-angle landscape shots.

[Kenen]

looking forward to seeing what kinda shots i can get in greece as theres not many good photo opportunities here in sunny england :cool:

What do ya mean not many good photo opportunities here... It has been an awsome summer, June and July in particular. I'm not sure what part the country you're in, but here in Yorkshire there are plenty of cool landscapes... Sure it's not Greece, but who expects it to be. :D

Ok, maybe my point of view is a bit different, an American living over here. I know I never appriciated England until I went back to the States for Uni (my family moved here when I was 14), and then I realized how cool it was here.

[craigyc]

Im down in London just outside the city. Yeah it has been a good summer up till now down here, but recently its been dull and rainy everyday! and unfortunately i only just got my s3 so couldnt take advantage of the great weather which was a shame, would love to get some shots in London as its a brilliant city! Thanks for the info though and ill be buying the wide angle lense tomorrow probably! looking forward to shooting pics with it already!

Craig

[XaiLo]

Guys,

here are the things that I would love to get for my S3 IS, please tell me if Ithis list is correct and if some thing is not required. Also let me know if I am missing anything.

Hoya UV (double coated) Black 58mm $13.95

Linear Polarizer (Double Coated) 58mm $20.95

Infrared Filter 58mm $44.95

Micro-Fiber Cloth 7.75" x 7.75" in 18% photo gray $6.95

Raynox DCR 730 52mm $62.95

1 Canon S2/S3 52mm & 58mm
(S3 black adapter out of stock until 9/1) Color
Black S3 $44.90

Kenko Step Ring 58mm-55mm $6.95


T O T A L S $208.60

I got all these information from Lensmateonline. I am also considering the Olympus TCON17 1.7x 55mm telecoverter. Sony lenses that bowerR64 has is no longer manufactured and can not be found anywhere. I am considering the Olympus TCON17 becuase thats what got good remarks from lensmate.

I am also looking for a laptop/camera bag and found out about tamarac and lowepro.But I am not sure which one is better and I need something that can be used to carry both at one time or just the camera if I don't need to carry my laptop sometime or just the laptop if I don't need to carry my camera. Any suggestions about these.

You might want to add a 52mm clip-on lens cover and replace the Raynox DCR 730 with the Raynox 6600. One last thing you can get better Hoya filters for about the same money if you get 52mm filters from www.2filter.com

[sid369]

Hey Xailo, I am new to all this, so could you explian more about 52mm clip-on lens cover and what is the advantage of replacing the Raynox DCR 730 with the Raynox 6600. Which better Hoya filters ar eyou talking baout could you give me the model number or the name.

Also is there a way where I can learn more about these technical stuff about digital photography so I don't keep asking you guys what seems to be basic things for you guys but totally new and confusing to me.

Cheers

[XaiLo]

Hey Xailo, I am new to all this, so could you explian more about 52mm clip-on lens cover and what is the advantage of replacing the Raynox DCR 730 with the Raynox 6600. Which better Hoya filters ar eyou talking baout could you give me the model number or the name.

Also is there a way where I can learn more about these technical stuff about digital photography so I don't keep asking you guys what seems to be basic things for you guys but totally new and confusing to me.

Cheers

No worries man! The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

You can try this link for starters.

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php

------------------------------------------------

Please note on 2filter.com you have to select an item in order to view
the actual discounted price.

Hoya HMC 52mm UV Filter Geniune Hoya HMC52UV $15.11

Hoya SMC 52mm UV SMC52UV $20.61

I didn't notice that it was a linear polarizer you want instead of a circular
so no alternative there. Some have said here that a linear works just fine
I've never tried one so I can't say. But here is a CP option.

Hoya 52mm Circular Polarizer HOY52CPL $26.91


The Raynox 6600 at the wide end has significantly less barrel distortion.

Filters do not come with covers to protect them, lensmate sells a cover that clips on to the filter.

[sid369]

Thanks a bunch. You guys simply rock. I think I will recommend any enthusiast who want sto lear to come to this forum and get great tips and suggestions from you guys.