55mm thread lens convertors and filters

Sparks

Bugger.
Well, I got my new Fuji S5000 and I love the little thing. Bought it on ebay from www.panwebi.com as a part of a bundle - camera, tripod, bag, 128Mb xD card, wide-angle and telephoto lens convertors and filters.

Thing is, while most of the bundle was fine, the filters and lens convertors are all 52mm thread while the Fuji is 55mm thread. An adaptor tube was part of the bundle, but as you can see, using it is simply not an option.

With UV filter on:


With wide-angle lens convertor:


So I've contacted panwebi and they don't actually have 55mm thread items so they'll refund me for those parts of the bundle (they're not that bad - price is good but you need to contact them and confirm everything ahead of time and seriously remember caveat emptor) but now I need to find a source for 55mm thread lens convertors and filters.

Anyone got any recommendations? Pretty please?

solaris

Hi Sparks,

I presume you only have this problem when you have the camera at a fairly wide zoom. Still, not an ideal lens combination. The fuji lenses are very good, although Olympus have a teleconverter which is slightly better quality (TCON-17) and is also a 55mm fitting.

Are you sure you need the lenses though ? Your camera already has quite a long lens at 370mm equivalent. If you add a teleconverter to that you will almost certainly have to use a tripod with it. Are you prepared to cart that around for the sake of the number of times you need more than 370mm ? It also adds considerable weight to the camera, and you will need a bigger bag for the camera. I'm not trying to put you off, just suggesting you try the camera out for a while to see if you really need the extra accessories.

Get a 55mm UV as soon as you can though, to protect the lens. You can pick them up at most of the camera shops, or for a fraction of the price from http://7dayshop.com . See the stickys above for online shops where you can get the fuji lenses (B&H for example). You might also want to join the discussion groups at http://www.fujigroup.net - you'll get lots of helpful advice there.

Enjoy the new camera

Sparks

Originally posted by solaris
I presume you only have this problem when you have the camera at a fairly wide zoom.
Well, yes, which isn't a problem with the telephoto convertor - but for the wideangle lens is a mite limiting

The fuji lenses are very good, although Olympus have a teleconverter which is slightly better quality (TCON-17) and is also a 55mm fitting.

Must look that one up, thanks solaris.

Are you sure you need the lenses though ? Your camera already has quite a long lens at 370mm equivalent. If you add a teleconverter to that you will almost certainly have to use a tripod with it. Are you prepared to cart that around for the sake of the number of times you need more than 370mm ? It also adds considerable weight to the camera, and you will need a bigger bag for the camera. I'm not trying to put you off, just suggesting you try the camera out for a while to see if you really need the extra accessories.

Well, the tripod actually isn't a problem - about 95% of the stuff I'd do would be target shooting competition photographs - and half of those are indoors, with low lighting and no flash allowed, so a tripod is already a necessity without the lens convertors.

Get a 55mm UV as soon as you can though, to protect the lens. You can pick them up at most of the camera shops, or for a fraction of the price from http://7dayshop.com .

I've got a skylight on order already
(I know it's not exactly the same thing, but given that a lot of my stuff is outdoors, and the indoors stuff could do with some warming anyway, the skylight seemed the better choice. It's a Hoya, so it ought to be reasonable, right?)

See the stickys above for online shops where you can get the fuji lenses (B&H for example). You might also want to join the discussion groups at http://www.fujigroup.net - you'll get lots of helpful advice there.

Yup, joined them soon after getting the camera.

Actually, I have a specific question - I came across the Koon filters yesterday - you know, the square optical resin filters?
Thing is, they seem, well, cheap. Has anyone used them? Are they worthwhile or are they just a waste of cash?

Krusty_Clown

Just got my S5000 last week. Pretty pleased with it so far..

In order to fit a 55mm UV, would I need to have the Lens adapter ring fitted - almost permanently? Just wondering, as this would make the camera alot less portable..

solaris

The camera doesn't have threads for the filter unless you add the filter adapter ring. It does increase the size, but protects the lens from knocks and scratches. Have a look at the Lowe Pro TLZ mini if you are looking for a compact case to carry the camera and fitted filter tube.

Sparks

I keep the adapter ring on my S5000 all the time. It's not that much weight and it does afford more protection for the lens. Plus, I usually have the polariser or UV filter on the camera anyway.
Besides, the S5000 is not what you'd buy for a compact camera.