Adding on a zoom lens

[mikeyr]

Hi guys,

Am going on holiday to Thailand next year and have a Konica Minolta A200 which I like but I'd like to up its capabilities a bit...

Has anyone used the screw on style lenses with these types of cameras? My knowledge isn't great but I wondered how well these work as wouldn't the image get disorted as it would be going through the zoom lens AND the original lens?

I guess my other question would be - would I be getting a substantially longer zoom than I've currently got on the camera - as we are spending a lot of time in the jungle I'd like to make sure I can get the best shots of the wildlife there that I can.

Any thoughts/recommendations or are the type of lenses advertised here...
http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID...
..really not worth the cash?

[Simpo Two]

The advert says 'Wide Angle lens 0.5X with Macro and 2X Telephoto lens'. So the wide angle attachment will halve your focal length and the telephoto attachment will double it. And yes, it will reduce image quality, probably in edge/corner distortion and chromatic aberration. But as with all things photographic, 'YGWYPF' and you may decide it's a fair trade for the price.

[mikeyr]

Ahh, so would these image issues be lessened by a better quality add on lens? If so might check out the offical attachments - although I believe that Knoica Minlolta gave their name over to Sony?

Cheers for the advice.

[Simpo Two]

mikeyr said:

Ahh, so would these image issues be lessened by a better quality add on lens? If so might check out the offical attachments - although I believe that Knoica Minlolta gave their name over to Sony?

Well actually it was Konica Minolta but I managed to work it out

Simple thing to remember is that the more glass you add, and the more air/glass interfaces you have, the image quality (IQ) can only go one way - downwards.

Another thing is that the more expensive the glass, the better it's likely to be.

BTW you're not adding a zoom; these strap-on chappies are fixed lenses. I expect the existing zoom lens underneath can then work as usual but... don't expect miracles. I'd say give it a go, and if you don't like the results, stick it on eBay!

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 22 April 17:34

[Elderly]

It was a great little camera for its time but I wouldn't spend that kind of money now, adding to that camera.

Are you sure that the present 200mm eqiv. long end is not sufficient for your needs?

[CVP]

The other key issue you are going to have to cope with is the light levels in the jungle. Expect thes to be very low and for any decent shutter speed you will probably be up at ISO 400 equivalent. See what the noise levels coming out of your camera is like at that ISO.

For what it's worth, one of the ladies on our trip had a simialr type arrange ment for her video camera. In bright light it was great and enabled some terrific closeups but if the light was anything but brilliant it compromised the light capture too much. That piece worked in theway Simpo described, it screwed on the front of the normal zoom lens and was simply a magnifier, so if normal range was *2 to *4, with the add on fitted it was *4 to *8, to get back to *2 it would have to be unscrewed.

HTH

Chris