Canon WD-H43 0.7x Wide Angle Converter for HV20 & HV30 Camcorders Reviews

• Warning about the weight

  
  By AX9U68PDL4CTX on 2007-05-04
  If you have not held this wide angle converter in your hands, you need to be aware of the weight - it is VERY heavy, weighing roughly the same as the entire camcorder (including battery and tape). Putting this big hunk of glass at the front makes it an entirely different camcorder - twice as heavy and very unbalanced with all that weight hanging off the front. It is pretty big also, adding 3-4 inches at the front, but the weight and balance were the killers for me.
  
  I wanted to like it, as this camcorder really could use a wider field (I am tired of backing up so much). It also looks very high quality (and if glass weight = quality, it must be great) but I never even tested it out because to me the camcorder becomes a different (and unusable) device with this on it. If you don't mind the weight (perhaps you only use it on a tripod, where the size and weight don't matter), give it a try, but I wanted to warn you first - heavy and unbalanced make for bad handheld shooting.
  
  

• makes HV20 footage look even more amazing

  
  By A26KK6ZU5B3AFJ on 2008-01-18
  Amateur filmmakers who've puchased the Canon HV20 should seriously look into getting this lens as an accessory: once you start shooting with it you'll never want to take it off! Unlike cheaper wide-angle lenses, the WD-H43 doesn't cause blurry edges. Some complain you can't attach a lens hood to the WD-H43, which shows how little they know about their HV20 (its built-in CMOS sensor is designed to eliminate the need for a lens hood). Several reviews complain about the weight of the lens - I for one am happy about the added pounds as the HV20 is frighteningly light otherwise. I've found my shots are not only more cinematic-looking with the WD-H43 lens but the additional weight makes for smoother footage & handling. You feel like you've got a 'real' movie camera, it's very cool.
  
  

• The one accessory you need

  
  By A1LJXZC1RFW07C on 2007-10-06
  On my old video camera I had the wide angle lens, telephoto lens, and an external microphone. The one accessory I used the most was the wide angle lens. So I had to get one. The WD-H43 fits perfectly on the camera as it should since it is made by Canon. It looks great on the camera, but I was surprised at how heavy is was. It makes the camera a little front heavy. I bought a neck strap for it because it is just too heavy with this adapter to be trusted without one.
  
  

• Heavy . . . but nice results

  
  By A3ASVM6OMV1LNG on 2007-08-15
  It is a bit larger and heavier than other wide angle converters I have used. On the other hand, the results are better than other converters I have used. For me, the added bulk is a fair trade off.
  
  

• Canon WD-H43 Wide Angle Lens

  
  By A2UO5F4BY8TJYM on 2007-12-29
  A must-have accessory for your Canon HV20/HG10 camcorder. The lens really opens up the viewing field to show more. It is a heavy lens, but with a pistol grip you don't notice it. It lacks front threads for adding filters or a lens hood. But, my indoor videos are sharp as ever with this wide-angle lens. The pros far outweigh the cons.
  
  
• HD is now wiiiiide
  By A16QOVE9V3XQ37 on 2008-05-03
  The Canon HV20 HD Videocamera is really a great camera. But the normal "wide" angle of this camera is not very useful inside a house or close to something you want to tape. The original Canon WD-H43 0.7x Wide Angle converter seemed to be perfect. Cheaper converters always had bad reviews, so there must be a reason for this converter to be a little more expensive than the rest. After the part arrived I attached it to my camera and you see no blurry edges or so. Picture is still HD, crisp clear and when you zoom it stays very good.
  Only minus I have to add, just like many other reviewers, the weight is huge compared to the total weight of the camera itself. But I don't care. The pictures is the result I want to see, not a good looking, tiny video camera :-)
  
  
• Best converter lens I've ever used.
  By ASN36IA89EBD6 on 2008-04-17
  This wide angle converter lens is awesome. The build quality is first class, and the images are superb. Crystal clear shots and a lot more of the world fits into each shot as well. I bought this for my HG10 camcorder and it works beautifully with it. It would have to be the best screw mount I've used - the lens screws onto the front of the camcorder's lens like the mount was made of silk.
  
  Having said that, other reviewers weren't kidding about the weight of this lens; it weighs a ton! After all, quality this high comes at some expense, both in price and weight. Screwing it onto the front of the HG10 makes it even more top-heavy than the HV20 would be, as the HG10 is a lighter camcorder. I find, however, that if I use my free hand to support the lens, I get steadier shots with the added weight. One hand supports the camcorder body and one hand supports the lens. No problem with that, is there?
  
  If you feel your HG10 isn't giving you wide enough shots - especially if you shoot landscapes and architecture - then this converter lens will be a God-send. The huge price tag is definitely worth paying.
  
  
• great glass....
  By A2SI69GIMGVEJF on 2008-07-12
  I bought this converter knowing it would be heavy, understanding that a well made lens with good glass will always be heavy, so don't be scared by the reviews reading "the lens weighs more than the camera itself," which is true, but what would you expect to weight more,layers of glass or a cmos chip and minimotherboard? In the film industry, the nicer lenses can be so heavy it takes two people to lift them(zoom/telephoto), let's you know you are handling something expensive and precious. I had a hard time finding before and after shots, so here is a simple comparison: from 7 feet away, the camera could see to a car doors edges to the car frame, and with converter you see all the tires. You will never take it off once used.
  
  
• Great lens for medium wide angle
  By A1Q3C6J12AVGTC on 2008-06-12
  Optically this is a great lens. Working with this lens on the camera made the camera much more usable for me. I was not particularly happy with the relatively narrow field of view of the zoom lens that is built into the camera.
  
  This lens is as heavy as the camera itself, but the camera and lens together still seem to balance well in my hand.
  
  Coming from the still photography world, I think that it's a bit misleading to refer to this as a wide angle lens. It feels about the same as 35 mm lens on a 35 mm camera. Even with that somewhat negative comment, I would recommend this lens to anyone using the HV20 or HV30.
  
  
• Great wide angle converter
  By A1YCJVS1NTNH60 on 2008-08-10
  Good wide angle converter with the Canon quality built in. It makes the camera somewhat front heavy because it weighs about the same as the entire camera.
  
  
• HG10? Buy it, put it on, leave it on!
  By AJ88Z1U0SS1IY on 2008-08-15
  Canon quality. Great lens. If you have an HG10 or HV20 camcorder, I would highly recommend buying this for your camera, putting it on and leaving it on.
  
  Here's a video you can watch to see what it does:
  
  http://www.vimeo.com/854754
  
  As some reviewers have pointed out, yes, it makes the camera heavier, but it my mind, that's a good thing. Plus, I wouldn't recommend shooting video without a tripod anyway (unless you want to make your viewers sea sick!)
  
  If you buy a $1,000 camera, it only makes sense to add a wide-angle lens.
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  
• Perfecto
  By on 2008-09-03
  Simplemente este lente debería estar incluido en la cámara.
  Eso sí, el peso del lente hace que la camara e te vaya hacia delante.
  Pero sosteniendola bien no hay problema.
  
  
• It is what it is...
  By A2YMIOF4KYI5YF on 2008-07-17
  This is a nice chunk of glass... Slight barrel distortion, slight vignetting and a little soft, but all in all a great performer.
  
  Let's be honest, it's a sub 200 dollar lens, so don't expect miracles. But IMHO, it's worth every penny. Plus, it looks cool on the HV20 (see my pics above).
  
  Heavy? Yes, but so what.
  
  
• help please
  By A36OKVY1XCE9V9 on 2008-08-06
  i know its in the title but do these lens work on the hv30, if so has anyone tried them and would they recommend them?
  
  
• Don't use your camera without it!
  By A1587A5CMKRRQ6 on 2008-10-28
  Relating to this lens on my Canon HG10.
  Tired of standing 20 feet from people to get them in frame? This is the product for you. I was able to compensate without it but got tired of my external microphone not picking up the conversations very well. This lens allowed me to stand closer and have much better audio than ever before. There is very little to no distortion. People have commented on the added weight on the front of the camera, this is true, but it is real easy to find a good balance point using two hands. The quality is phenomenal, optical zoom through is clear as can be before you hit the digital zoom (obviously), there is no "soft" effect.
  
  

• Canon BP-2L14 Battery for Canon HG, HV, ZR, Optura, and Elura Camcorders
• Canon Directional Stereo Mic (DM 50) for Camcorders with the Advanced Access Shoe
• Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
• Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
• Canon CB-2LW Battery Charger for NB-2L and NB2LH Batteries