Using non-Canon converters/lenses with Canon A710IS

Celestia

Celestia

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Having recently bought a Canon A710IS, I've been looking into the range of converters/lenses for it, and I've bought the Canon conversion lens adapter that's needed to anything with it, which has a 58mm thread at the front. Canon do a telephoto, wide angle and macro lens for the A710IS (using the adapter), but apart from the cost of Canon ones (I can get non-branded ones a lot cheaper), the other thing with the Canon ones is that they don't have a filter thread on the front of them, so I wouldn't be able to use any filters with them.

In theory I suppose it should be possible to use any 58mmm converter lens with the adapter, but I was looking in the advanced manual yesterday though, and it looks like there's a specific setting in the menu for the Canon ones. I'm sure if I asked Canon they'd say it has to be the Canon ones. Does anyone have any experience of using non-Canon converter lenses with the A710IS?

My other problem is that the Canon ones don't have a filter thread on the front of them, so I'd only be able to use filers without any other attachments. The majority of my filters I used on my old Olympus were 49mm ones, and though I could use them with the Canon with step-down rings, presumably I'd get a fair bit of vignetting. I think I've still got a few Cokin A ones around somewhere, but if I did go for the non-Canon ones (which do have a filter thread on the front) on the wide angle one we're looking at a threaded front of 67mm - too big for the Cokin A series, but I'm wondering if the P series would be too big for the camera.

Not sure what to do here. Any advice appreciated.
 
Just make sure you DON'T buy a really cheap converter. I got a 2x TC from ebay for like £20, and personally didn't think it was worth 20p!

I've heard good things about the canon ones though.

Hope this helps!

Ewan
 
Thanks Ewan. You must be psychic - ebay was exactly where I was planning on shopping! :lol:

After my ramblings last night though, and a bit of a rethink, I paid Jessops a visit this morning (not to actually buy anything - just to pick their brains) to try and get the whole filter thing straight in my head as well, and have come to the conclusion, as you advised, that probably going for the cheapest isn't going to get best quality.

New plan is therefore to get the Canon telephoto and close-up lens, and hold off on the wide angle. The A710 IS has a "stitch assist" mode, for joining overlapping images, so for the odd occasion I might actually potentially need wide-angle, I don't think the outlay would be worth it at the moment.

On filters, I can use Cokin ones with the conversion lens adapter, just with the built-in lens, and if I needed filters on telephoto or close up, go for the low-tech "hold it up infront of the lens" option, or the blu-tack option. I think I'm probably going to go for the Cokin P's rather than the now rather redundant screw-in type I used to use with the Olympus, to avoid any future compatibility issues.
 
I once bought a set of add on lenses for a kodak camera - from kodak. The tele was passable but not great, the wide was absolutely useless it was so bad, and the close up lenses were brilliant.

Completely different products but I'd say the new plan seems like a good one :)
 
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