Kenko 0.5X Wide Angle Lens for 37mm Camcorders #SGW-05

I bought this lens specifically for the widest angle setting, as it is a LOW COST product option. If you do any shooting at all in HD format (16:9) you will have vignetting at the widest setting, therefore reducing the usable field of view. In fact, there is a slight vignetting even in 4:3 format. Again, the vignetting is only at the extreme wide angle. You can get around this by zooming in slightly. My best guess is that the ACTUAL factor is closer to a 0.6X than a 0.5X.I am not particularly concerned about lack of "zoom thru" focus. I bought it for using the wide angle in static shots. (I think most of you would agree that we amateurs overuse zooming anyway.)I think for the price the image sharpness is OK. Barrel distortion is minimal and certainly not objectionable.I might add that my camera is a Canon HF200. Users of other cameras may not be experiencing vigetting.

I own the Canon FS10 camcorder. I love the convenience and size, but the viewing angle is so bad, its barely usable. To my dismay, it doesn't even have threads for add-on lenses. I was almost to the point of buying a brand new camcorder, until I found a solution that some were doing on youtube where they glue a 34mm/37mm converter ring to the front. Sure enough, that worked perfectly! Used automotive adhesive/sealant for extra strength.After adding this lens, it makes a world of difference! I no longer have to stand further away, and lean backwards in closed spaces just to get the shot. Looks great in optical zoom (totally zero distortion), and I can get a much bigger viewing angle in digital zoom (slight distortion along edges, but not much).The only negative is the lens cap is terrible. Feels like it can fall off at any moment. But other than that, you can't beat the performance at such a low price!

i love the Kenko 0.5X Wide Angle Lens! i needed a cheap lens in a hurry (a lens that also wasn't a complete piece of garbage) and the Kenko lens came thru for me.i use the lens on a pv-gs120 camcorder (3ccd mini dv) and it's the perfect wide angle lens for that format. i'm not going to say it's the lens for you if you're all about the hd... but for a short video project (which was made specifically for mini dv) this was the wide angle lens solution for us. it worked great! you get MUCH more in the frame.CONCLUSION: if you need a good wide angle lens on the cheap... this one works. it's not junk. and it's great for mini dv stuff or other non-HD camcorders!

This lens is the biggest pile of do-do I have come across.I had VERY low expectations, but it fell massively short of these expectations. The bottom of a coke bottle would so a better job. It is hard to describe how pants this is. The centre could not resolve an elephant at 100ft, and the edge (where not vignette-ed out of existence) is even worse.OK- I am new to video- coming from a still photo (Canon L /Hassleblad/ Contax) background, but by no objective measures could this be regard as anything other than a paper weight.Never have I had such low expectations of a product and it fall so massively short of them - the feeling is like buying a Trabant for a laugh and not even be able to get it to start so you can give your friends for a spin.If you consider buying this - take $30, wipe your bottom with it, and flush it. You will get a better use of $30.A pitiful piece of glass.

Pros. Works as advertised gives you twice the field of view. You can now film and take pictures in small rooms. Very low price.looks good on the camera. Mic an flash not blocked by lens. Comes with covers for both parts of the lens. Along with a small bag for storage.Cons. With the lens on the camera it has problems focusing on maximum zoom.

I'm using this on an Panasonic HDC-SD9 camcorder. Projecting my footage on a 98" screen, I can see no reduction in resolution using this lens. However, there is some barrel distortion that may be distracting, and there is vignetting at my camera's widest setting, which limits this lens's usefulness.

I bought this lens for my Sony XR500 HD Camcorder. Although it seems sturdy enough, the lens seems to degrade the quality of the vid slightly. But of course, I'm not spending $150 to $200 for a higher quality one, so for the money, it's ok.

I bought this lens to improve the wide field ability of a Canon HF100. It works just as advertised and it is a good value relative to the low cost. The lens will not allow good usage of the auto focus in extreme zoom mode but you are not buying it for that anyway...Very little geometric distortion and no fish eye like appearance.