Excellent news just in from Cos a good friend of the site. He has confirmed that Sony’s new official clip on wide angle lens (the VCL-HGE07TB) does indeed fit the older TG1 / TG3 models.
Cos really took a gamble ordering this for his TG3 as Sony’s own website appears to indicate that this lens would only work with the new TG5 or TG7 models.
It was assumed at the time that there was some slight design difference on the camera body that meant that the lens would only attach to the newer model. Cos’ comments are reproduced below.
Hey Techmoan-it works!
it slides on fine, bit stiff 1st couple of times. Not magnetic, attaches to grooves on top of TG3 and stays on solid, can’t be accidently pulled off etc. Heres a side by side of footage with and without lens on plus me fitting it on camera on youtube:
Of course this now means two things.
1) I’m ordering one of these lenses as well.
2) All my previous posts about my DIY solution have now been superseded.
Thank goodness I can finally forget about non-sticky sticky back rings that permanently obscure the flash and vinyetting.
Many thanks Cos.
I should mention that the official price for the lens is £89.99 – but it looks like you get what you pay for.
Previous post about my original DIY solution here
Old post about the new TG5 / TG7 model release
P.S. This may not actually be a world exclusive (I’ve found some more pictures on a Japanese blog)- but it’s the first time its been reported in English – and with video to boot.
EDIT – I’ve finally got one of my own – see my video and opinion HERE
Let us know what you think when you get yours.
By: cosmic68 on June 17, 2009
at 2:12 pm
A BIG THANK YOU Techmoan, found your article via Google search.
After reading it, I went out earlier and bought one today.
Fits and works beautifully.
Here in Hong Kong it costs a mere, YES… a mere HK$500 (around UK£40) after discount at a reputable AV chain store named Broadway (original Sony price: HK$580). It’s by no means a fake, it’s a genuine official Sony accessory.
So you’d know what to ask of your friends when they make a trip out here next time.
By: Richard on June 23, 2009
at 3:08 pm
Wow I wish I could get one for £40 – you are very fortunate living in HK.
I import quite a bit of stuff from Hong Kong via Ebay due to the cost savings – but no one is selling this lens yet. I’m holding off buying mine until I can get a price closer to £60 delivered.
By: Techmoan on June 23, 2009
at 8:16 pm
Hi, very nice article, as I’m looking for wide angle for my TG3 right now. I was thinking about old solution you proposed, but now I’m considering the Sony one (as it probably have better sharpness, no vinetting and no out of focus on the edges). Just wanted to compare the view you have using both solutions and see if the Sony solution is worth much higher price. If it gives you similar field of view without distortions – than I think it’s worth the price. Using math – the difference in viewing field of both solutions is pretty big:
1) M-Power Wide Lens 0.45x are changing focal length from 43mm to 19mm (0,45*43mm, 43mm is standard focal length of TG3)
2) Sony VCL-HGE07TB 0.7x – only to 30mm (0,7*43mm)
so the difference in viewing angle (10m from object) is:
1) normal (43mm): 53deg diagonal, 45deg horizontal
2) Sony (30mm): 72deg diagonal, 62deg horizontal
3) M-Power (19mm): 96deg diagonal, 87deg horizontal
But than I have taken some printscreens from your movies (M-Power – the one on youtube, Sony – the one on this page) and compared horizontal sizes of some chosen elements on the picture with and without lenses, to see how much more you can see using lenses. The results:
M-Power: without lenses object had 642 pixels width, with lenses 441 pixels, which gives us 46% more horizontal view (642/441=1,4557)
Sony: without lenses 286 pixels, with lenses 199 pixels, which gives us 44% more horizontal view
The size in pixels can vary if you do the same exercise, but the results in % should be the same.
So the results are very similar for both lenses. Unfortunately there was no movie comparing both solutions (the same view without lenses, with M-Power and than with Sony), but it looks like they are giving very similar viewing field, with Sony not distorting the image so much… So for now I think Sony lenses are worth the money. If you’d have some time – could you make a short shot comparing all the solutions? The same view, from the same place, using tripod if possible, without any postprocessing (no cropping for MPower etc)
By: Pawel on July 5, 2009
at 8:46 am
That’s some pretty detailed research you’ve done.
Unfortunately I haven’t got my Sony lens yet, the demo was done by Cos, who hasn’t got the M-Power to compare against.
When I get my Sony lens (next couple of weeks) I’ll make sure I do some direct comparison shots that fit your requirements (I’ll use the Photo function). I have no doubt that the Sony version will be superior in every way – with the possible exception of the overall viewing angle.
If you are in a hurry, I can’t really recommend the M-Power because of all the compromises in fitment. Cos seems very Happy with his Sony, so this really looks like the best way to go.
By: Techmoan on July 5, 2009
at 9:49 am
I have found a Focusing problem when using this lens attachment to film an almost stationary subject:
the focusing keeps going in and out of focus even in daylight!
Anyone here concurs with the finding?
Please comment.
By: Richard on July 30, 2009
at 3:17 am
There is a german made step up adaptor especially made for TG1/3 sold on ebay wich lets you
put on different filters and lens.
it was a bit overpriced beside it was professionally made. I’ve lot the link to it— but I still have a picture of it saved on my desktop
By: Mirko on November 16, 2009
at 11:00 am
I’d be very interested to see that – it sounds interesting but can’t find it on Ebay myself – any chance of a link.
By: Techmoan on November 16, 2009
at 1:26 pm
@tech
lost 1 h searching then I’ve found the link on my computer
http://cgi.ebay.at/Sony-HDR-TG3-Weitwinkel-Adapter-opt-zum-Fallschirmspr_W0QQitemZ260474992247QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Elektronik_Computer_Foto_Camcorder_Foto_Camcorderzubehör_PM?hash=item3ca584f677&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
not longer listed…but you can ask
and it’s not that overpriced as I remembered
By: Mirko on November 16, 2009
at 8:10 pm
Many thanks for that – there is no way I’d have found it myself.
By: Techmoan on November 16, 2009
at 10:13 pm