Supplimental Lenses

[sk66]

I was always of the opinion that supplimental lenses were inferior and that using them would result in lower quality images....Things like closeup "filters" etc...

But at a recent shoot I (finally) noticed the TV videographers taking some shots using what appeared to be a close up attachement. It looked like a significant/quality piece of gear, but it just attached kind of like a filter.

So, am I wrong? Are there really good quality "add on lenses" for photography/film, or does it just "matter less" for video?

[candleman]

god question.. i dont know the answer.. but comparing to videography (good videography that is) is something i've been doing.
check out the lighting in many movies/tv programmes and theres almost always a hairlight and catchlight
its like you could click the shutter at any moment and get a well lit portrait.

anyway,
i hope you find the answer.. i've never used add on stuff (like macro filters) ...and i dont know how the professional video cameras operate either.

[Japaslavian]

From what I understand, things like wide-angle, telephoto, and macro attachments are hit and miss. Some work wonderfully, and some are just disappointing. I imagine that a lens meant to serve the purpose of the attachment would work better, as that's what it is designed for. Attachments are like a cheaper alternative.

Don't quote me though.

[inkista]

My guess? (and I do emphasize guess, I'm not very knowledgeable about video) is that the lower resolution of the format makes the quality of the glass less critical. If they're shooting 1080p HD, that's still only 2MP. If they're shooting an analog format, like NTSC or PAL, that's about 0.3MP. We're shooting at substantially higher resolutions with dSLRs.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by inkista

My guess? (and I do emphasize guess, I'm not very knowledgeable about video) is that the lower resolution of the format makes the quality of the glass less critical. If they're shooting 1080p HD, that's still only 2MP. If they're shooting an analog format, like NTSC or PAL, that's about 0.3MP. We're shooting at substantially higher resolutions with dSLRs.

Bingo.

At TV quality (640x480p), you could have a completely destroyed front element and barely notice. A dSLR shoots a single frame at 10 times the resolution: problems are thus 10 times more evident.

[sk66]

I kind of guessed it just didn't matter as much, but really, this was a SUBSTANTIAL piece of equipment....It looked much more impressive than any "screw on lens" we have for DSLRSs...I would bet it is quite feasible to make a very good 2x attachment for DSLRs...just doesn't seem that it is done...

[m.c.adams]

I had a set of lenses, WA and 2X, for my Kodak P850 P&S, they didn't work worth a darn. I have tried them on my 350d, and they don't work any better.
Mark