Wideangle lenses for Sony DSC-F707

By Jaap Voets

The standard wide angle on the F707 is really limited, equivalent to around 38mm. I have therefor bought several wide angle lenses to extend the capabilities. Most of these are for use above water, one is for underwater use. Below is an overview of the performance of these lenses.

All photos were taken at about 50cm distance between the front side of the lens and my VHS collection.

Without lenses

Photo 1, F707 without housing on widest position (38mm):

Photo 2, F707 in Ikelite housing on widest position:

Sony VCL-MHG07

This lens is made by Sony and is intended especially for their high-end cameras. The F707 has to be switched to a special mode to be able to work with it and and additional 52 -> 58mm step-up ring is required. The lens is 0.7x adapter.

Photo 3, using Sony VCL-MHG07, no housing:

Phoenix 0.25x Fish-eye

The Phoenix is an 0.25x circular Fish-Eye lens and is also attached through a step-up ring On the widest position, this lens will provide an almost angle of almost 180 degrees.

Photo 4, using Phoenix 0.25x fish-eye:

Zooming in until the black corners disappear yields the following.

Photo 5, using Phoenix zoomed in:

INON UWL-100 Wide Angle

The UWL-100 lens made by INON is intended for underwater use. On some camera's it should provide an angle of view of around 100 degrees when used underwater. Above water this could increase to as much as 155 degrees.

Using a step-up ring of 58 -> 67mm, the UWL-100 can be attached direclty to the camera. The angle of view turns out to be really big, but the edges are getting a bit fuzzy due to distortion.

Photo 6, using INON UWL-100, no housing:

When using this lens on the Ikelite housing, the distance between the UWL-100 and the cameralens is increased. This generates additional vignetting and deformation on the edges.

Photo 7, UWL-100 on Ikelite housing in widest postion:

Zooming does help a little bit, but this is ofcourse not the intended wide angle effect. And even then the distortion still is present.

Photo 8, UWL-100 on Ikelite housing, zoomed in:

Conclusion

There are several lenses available that increase the average 38mm of the Sony F707 to an extreme wide angle camera above water.

Regrettably there is currently no underwater wide angle solution for the DSC-F707 in combination with the Ikelite housing.

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