d-sr wrote: Quote:
Nice shots! I just boughtthe FZ5 and have not received it yet. I did not think I could add lenses because it has no manual focus. Does the AF work this well on Tele Conversion and Macro lenses also, and which ones are best?
The entire fz series auto focus works wonderfully with all variety ofadd-on lens (or with manual focus where it is available). Theonlyshortcomingwith the fz5 and add-ons is the poorly designed plastic lens adapter and its connection to thefz5 body, which has nothing to do with the camera lens system.
In general, connections using plastic threads are suspect. They wear out easily and cannot handle alot of weight -particularly with the center of gravityconcentratedaway from the cameraas with the bigger teleconverters. Theother fz series cameras were designed such that third party aluminum adapters could be economically produced and sold for those cameras. Not so with the fz5. Smaller filters and lens do ok. Teles and wide angle convertersmay need some help. Better quality teles tend to be too heavy for the stock adapter. Wide angle converters tend to vignett because the stock adapter places them too far away from the extended fz5 lens.
There is an easyfix. TheRaynox rt5264p aluminum tube adapter miraculously slide-fits perfectly over the fz5 lens adapterfor avery secure fit. The tolerances areamazingly close. (~$20at
bugeyedigital.) That will give you 52mm metal threads (independent of the fz5 plastic 55mm threads) toaccept add-ons. It works.
With wide angle lens such as the dcr6600vignetting will still occur. The dcr6600 works wonderfully with the fz5 if you can get itvery close to the fz5 extended lens. To do this, some plastic needs to be removed from the stock adapter. See
http://www.ishots.net/fz5/modified_fz5_adapter.htm I've had the fz5 for 5 months and have used the modified version since day 2.
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[align=left]UV filter: 52mm Hoya multicoated recommended for lens and extension housing protection. ~$15[/align]
[align=left]Macro lens: 52mm Nikon 4t +3 diopter dual element. ~$40[/align]
[align=left]Tele converter: Olympus tcon17 1.7x. ~$100. 55mm;will need 52-55mm step up ring.[/align]
[align=left]Wide angle: Raynox dcr6600 .66x but only if you do the full modification.[/align]