Lens options for my Canon A80 - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

09/20/2007 10:31:26 AM · #1

I'd like to expand the focal length of my Canon A80 point and shoot. It's a little more advanced than a point and shoot - I bought it for all of the manual options and the ability to attach lenses to it.

I've owned it almost 4 years and recently looked at the lens options from Canon:
- adaptor + wide angle
- adaptor + tele
However, the reviews on Amazon say using these lenses turns the camera into a fixed focal length. I wish I knew that when I bought it.

So here are my questions:
1) Is there a website where I can select my camera and view all available lenses for it? There must be 3rd party lens manufacturers for the A80 and not just Canon.

2) Are there variable length lenses for this camera or am I stuck with a fixed focal length when using an add-on lens.

3) If I'm stuck, I may research a new camera. Any suggestions between the A80 and a full-blown DSLR? There must be good mid-range cameras that have a decent array of lenses available, right?

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/20/2007 10:39:42 AM · #2

Well, you can do a lot of homework and hunting to spend money on add on lens that will get you a little more zoom while reducing the quality of the photos, or for about $250 you can get the Canon S3 which will do everything your A80 with add-ons would do (except for wide angle) with better quality.

09/24/2007 08:47:45 AM · #3

Thanks. That S3 is nice and so is the new S5. I see the S5 would get me 36-400mm range and then an add-on wide-angle would get me a fixed 0.75 multiplier.

So this means to get under ~30mm down to 12mm or so I'm talking DSLR?

From what I can tell, there are no digital cameras that have interchangeable lenses except DSLRs?? It's a huge $$$ jump from Canon A, G or S series to DSLR to get the freedom of interchangeable lenses.

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/24/2007 09:00:18 AM · #4

Yep thats about the jist of it. You cna get conversion things (like you mentioned) the the P&Ss but the range is quite limited. If you want ot get 12mm shots you could just stitch 2 or mroe shots together and make a panorama... or you could buy a DSLR.

09/24/2007 06:22:05 PM · #5

Hmm. Well DSLRs are out of my budget right now and while the S3 and S5 are nice, I'm more interested in the wide angle lenses.

I've been searching and found several nice .45 conversion lenses that would work for the A80 52mm adapter. Are any of these companies decent lens makers?

Opteka, Bower, Digital Optics, Tokina, Digital Innovations, Impact, Kenko, Raynox, Tiffen

Some are only $30-40 which concerns me. Others are $70-100.

Edit: Tokina seems to be good quality out of the bunch listed so I might buy this one.

Another question...does it matter if I get:
A) a 37mm-37mm adapter for a 37mm wide angle 0.45 lens
versus
B) a 37mm-52mm adapter for a 52mm wide angle 0.45 lens

Would one be more prone to distortion or vignetting?

Message edited by author 2007-09-24 23:53:06.

09/26/2007 08:22:11 AM · #6

I'm probably going with a Bower 0.38x or 0.45x wide-angle.

Last questions:
1) Will a lens like this always show distortion or do some do a good job at preventing it? I assume the 0.38x has more of a propensity for distortion compared to a 0.45x?

2) Canon uses a 37mm to 52mm adapter and a 52mm threaded wide angle but this partially blocks the flash. Might I have a problem buying a straight 37mm adapter and a 37mm wide angle? I'm concerned the optics might not work correctly and I should stick with the 52mm.

From what I've read, any combination of camera/lens/adapter will have different optical properties and it's best to try before buying.