Pro Optic 0.25x Fish-eye Lens and Sony DSC-F717


Shown with TCON-17 in the background for size comparison, for those of you that have one. The problem now is that it makes the Pro Optic larger than it really is. The Pro Optic is about 2/3rds the length and 3/4ths the dia. of the TCON-17 -- it being in the background in this wide-angle shot the TCON-17 looks smaller than it should. (Black is always slimming too. :-)

I obtained this lens from http://www.adorama.com for $79.95. This is not an endorsement for this company, it happens to be the only(?) place to buy it under this brand-name as far as I know. (If you can find it cheaper elsewhere, kudos to you! Let everyone know!) I strongly believe this lens is identical to another sold under the brand-name of "Phoenix" which sells for $99.95. To be fair, here's a link to one: http://www.pcaol.com/product.cfm?ProductID=375 The Phoenix lens comes in black, the Pro Optic in a matte-silver. (Personally, I think the silver Pro-Optic matches the Sony camera body better.) The Pro Optic comes with only one size-of-your-choice Series-7 adapter ring when purchased, the Phoenix comes with four Series-7 adapter rings (49, 52, 55, 58mm).There may be optical differences but I am not sure. I'm only making an educated guess that this lens is just being badged and marketed by two different names. Both lenses claim to have the same lens element groups and 180-degree field of view, or more -- the Phoenix specs claim over 192-degrees if used with a 28mm lens. (This is not true, it does not have a 180-degree field of view, at least not with the Sony F7x7 lens at its widest angle, more on this later.) [Before ordering one read the WARNING below!]


  
Pro Optic

  
Phoenix

Here's what you get (minus the one extra ring)

A nice leatherette pouch, a stiff-plastic front lens-cover, a softer rear element lens-cover, and one Series-7 adapter ring. (The other step-up ring in this photo is explained below.) Both lens-covers leave something to be desired. Due to the lens' ability to have such a deep depth-of-field, many times dust on the front lens element can be in focus in your photo, you will have to be meticulous about keeping it clean. I have since made some plastic clips for the front lens-cover (permanently glued in place) to insure it won't fall off until removed when needed.



(my modification, it doesn't come this way)

 

!!!!! WARNING !!!!!

First things first: If bought by owners of Sony DSC-F7x7 cameras, this lens is being marketed in a very dangerous configuration. You will find it listed for sale online (or even still sold by Adorama) with a Series-7 to 58mm adapter ring. DO NOT BUY IT THIS WAY -- YOU CAN END UP RUINING BOTH YOUR F7x7 LENS AND THIS LENS! (I've alerted Adorama to this problem, whether their salespeople will catch the error or not when you order it is anyone's guess.) When it first arrived I noticed something suspicious, the back lens of the Pro Optic is highly convex. Before even attaching it to the camera with the included S7-58mm ring I did some measurements. Because the S7-58mm adapter screws down so deep into the Sony lens, and the Sony lens itself is highly convex, the glass from each will smash into the other. If completely tightened down the lenses would grind through each other for a 2mm-4mm distance. I doubly-confirmed this by putting a small fold of tissue paper between the lenses and then watched through the fish-eye lens as the 2-ply fold of tissue was being smashed down. I stopped long before any pressure could harm either lens. To circumvent this problem I first made a thick, hard-plastic, spacer-ring, but that only allowed the lens to be held on by one turn of the threads. Instead I ordered an alternate Series-7 to 62mm adapter ring, and a 58mm to 62mm step-up ring. This was enough to give it plenty of safety room. You can see the problem in the photos below. This was also a convenient size so it could also be used with some 35mm lenses that I have for a 35mm camera -- as well as enough outside flange to get a good grip to unscrew it from the Sony lens (the original S7-58 ring would thread so deep into the Sony lens that it was even difficult to remove, nothing left to grab onto). You may want to order a different size so it is more adaptable to other lenses that you own too.


 
No Series-7 Adapter
(ignore the dust, I was hiking in the woods on a dry windy day)



 
Included 58mm Series-7 Adapter



 
Series-7 62mm Adapter to 58mm-62mm Step-up Ring


That being settled -- onto the IMAGE TESTS
 
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