Hi all,

This is my first post and I would like to use it to discuss the aestetic image created by the Canon GL-2 camera. The difference between the XL-1 and the GL-2 has been among many things, lens size. The XL-1 has a 72 mm while the GL-2 has a 58mm. The wide angle lense for the GL-2 - WD-58H - converts the lense thread size from 58-72mm. Does this image resemble that of the XL-1? If so, does it match, better or worsen in comparison. The WD-58H is not threaded, so I can not use 72 mm filters like I can on the XL-1. I have to stick to the true image. I am trying to shoot action, drama and thriller.

Anyone with this experience here who can answer my querie?

Thanks,
Thinkingman

Adding a lens in front of your camera's existing one will never improve your image quality unless your using a 35mm adapter with prime lenses (More light needs to travel through the glass to get to the image sensor)

...So to answer your question, no, the image will not resemble the image of the XL-1. Also, why would you want to emulate the look of the XL-1? (It's inferior to the GL2...) It's been discussed time and time again that the image is more pleasing than that of the XL-1 and XL1-S
on the GL2 (Images on the XL's are too soft!).

Create your own style... But if you really want that adapter for your GL2 without the threads in front, don't fret, they sell matte boxes with rails to mount filters.

the 58 and 72 mm is only the size of the front of the lens. Aside from a general rule of thumb that larger number means more light going through, that number is irrelevant for a measure of quality. But you also gotta remember the xl series has 1/3" CCDs and the gl series has 1/4" ccds. Smaller chip means less light needs to reach it for a comparable ISO. The WD58 is a nice adapter. If you find yourself shooting on the wider side of life, get it!

Short and sweet joren...

Hope you don't mind if I take this public, if others may want to know.

quote:

Originally posted by Thinkingman:
It seems like you've seen the difference it makes yourself. Does this look resemble a fish eye lense or just a bigger overall view?

yes, I used to use this almost all the time on a gl1. It's great because you can zoom all the way in with this adapter connected and get a good picture. No, this isn't a fish-eye, but of course there will be image distortion when you're wide and objects are close to the lens. But that's not a defect. That's how any wide lens will be.

And I wanted to mention, you can very easily tape filters to the front of this adapter if you don't want to get a matte box setup. Or, you could look at the cookin-p filter system. Made for still cameras, but it's cheap and can accommodate the WD-58 (I used it sometimes).

Thank you! One final question? Where did you get yours from and is there one that allows you to move the camera with the filter system in place instead of the still camera set?

You could always consider something like this...


http://www.central-pro.fr/video/vocas/images/MATTEBOX%2...-lv-15mm-wakopie.jpg

...if you have a thousand dollars lying around.

EDIT: Woo! I'm a junior! Does that mean I can stay up later?

The wd58 I used probably came from http://www.bhphoto.com .

As for the filter system, how come no one wants to tape them to the camera or lens hood? I work on projects that go into the millions of dollars and I see camera assistants doing it all the time. Anyway, I don't think I was clear before, Thinkingman. The cookin-p system was designed for still, non-motion cameras. The system itself attaches to the lens and is very portable. That's why I liked it. You could use the system on handheld, car mount, thrown off a bridge, whatever you can dream of shots. It's plastic, but so is your camcorder.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Joren, great website. I should have read it before posting here. I am probably going to tape the filters, but I'm the constant pro-tech obsessor and I just want this thing to turn out 100 % beautiful. It is my last ticket to having my reel stand out and there are a close to 100 people with high expectations for the movie (A lot for me).