A bad CP-filter

[DonSchap]

I posted an image of the "push-on lens cap" ... mounted. See above ^

[dr4gon]

cool thanks. what would you consider wide angle on the FF and aps-c sensors?

10-18mm on FF?

[DonSchap]

I have not seen a 10mm on a FF. Usually the distortion is so bad, after 14mm ... it's not practical.

Maybe someone has some input on this, but it is definitely not common. When you put a 10mm lens on the SONY APS-C sensor ... it effectively becomes a 15mm lens.

[dr4gon]

Yeah due to the aps-c 1.5x crop factor.

But at what range would you consider to be an ultra wide angle to warrant a thinner lens filter?

[DonSchap]

Oh ... LOL ... sorry.

Okay, on the SIGMA 10-20mm f/4-5.6 UWA ... on the A700, 10mm and 11mm have visible vignetting with the Standard CPL on it. It shows nothing with the low profile CPL on it.

10mm f/4


11mm f/4


12mm f/4



What it will do on the A900, literally, remains to be seen. LOL

For what it is worth.

[dr4gon]

Alright, I don't have anything that wide, and don't plan to anytime soon. 17mm is wide enough for me for the time being.

I cannot wait to see the A900 and what is to come afterwards (A700 refresh). As far as naming, they should have increased the number further to allow more room for expansion.

[DonSchap]

Back in the original subject ... the KM 24-105mm f/3.5-4.5 "D" (<- click link for a rather fresh review) showed up, today .. and I placed the ø62mm SUNPACK CPL on it. Oh boy ... another upgrade CPL needs to be ordered or purchased. Man oh man ... the image degradation is just unacceptable.

I now have four ø62mm-filter lenses, (18-250, 70-300, 24-105 & 28-300), so springing for a single high-end CPL probably isn't that far out of reach. I knew I should have just bought it, when I was milling around at Calumet ... but, I resisted. Darn it all ... another trip to the camera store. Only this time, ALL the SUNPAK CPLs I have get replaced with CALUMETs (Hoya's in disguise), a couple of step-down filter rings and save some gas.

[Rhys]

Interesting. Until I saw this I had only the word on the street to go by regarding filter quality. Oh yes - and some experience of off-brand 1A filters versus a HMC UV filter which convinced me to go Hoya HMC for everything. No my opinion is confirmed. I don't touch filters unless they say "Hoya HMC" on them!

[DonSchap]

Well, as far as UVs go ... the only issue I had was with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. It actually distorted the autofocus. That was whacked.

Anyway, like you, Rhys, I took that up to a Hoya UV and was quite relieved when it began working properly.

SUNPAK CPL sales have seen the last of my money. I do not recommend using them ... beyond cheaper, low-end lenses.

Good luck.

[DonSchap]

Well, the step-down filter rings were unavailable and had to be ordered from the manufacturer, Tiffen. So when they will show up is anyone's guess. Not a big deal, I just wanted to use them to adapt the SONY RING LAMP (HVL-RLAM) and my more frugal RING FLASH to the front of the ø62mm (28-300, 18-250, 24-105, 70-300) and ø67mm (17-50, 28-75) lenses. As it stands, it will only mount on the ø55mm (90mm f/2.8 MACRO, 50mm f/1.4) and ø49mm (50mm f/1.4, 28mm f/2.8, 35-70mm f/4) lenses ...



The biggest disappointment is not being able to use it with the SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD MACRO (ø72mm) lens. But when those step-down rings arrive ... we shall see.

The RING LAMP is only good for subjects no more than a foot away. Any further and you'll be using LONG exposure. But then again, let's face it, any further and you could use an external flash and reflector to get the job done.