Wide end conversion lens

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Hopefully someone will be able to answer a query I have. I am relatively new to DSLR photography and have a Sony A350. I recently found in a old box of business bits & bobs, which was due to be thrown out, a Sony VCL-MHG07 Wide end conversion lens x0.7. The lens would be about 8 years old and have been fitted to a larger (and old) Sony Compact that was used by our graphic artist who did all our website and brochure advertising for our power catamarans(boats), hence the need for a wide lens(small cabins and heads).

I thought I might as well see if it worked OK on my Sony rather than it get thrown out. I bought a cheap adapter ring 52mm-62mm and it attaches well to my camera. I'm aware that with this size lens there can be vignetting of the photo. Unfortunately it doesn't work! My camera just won't focus on auto or manual, it tries in and out in and out but no luck. Can anybody throw any light on why not? Is it just a case of old and new not being compatible or is there something I'm not allowing for.

Thanks for any answers.

[OsmosisStudios]

You're adding another optical system into the camera. it simply may not be able to.

You say that it was originally designed for a large compact: that could be the issue. Compacts use a much smaller sensor, so it could be designed for those sensors.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Thanks Osmosis, you've probably hit the nail on the head. Oh well it was worth a try. Now what to do with a perfectly good lens that would have cost a few hundred dollars and a old camera that's still in good nick......TradeMe(our version of EBay) Thanks for responding.