How to Make Your Digicam See Wider & Tighter

By Tim Thumb on 06-14-2010

We're big fans of pocket cameras simply because, unlike bulkier DSLRs, they're more likely to be handy when you need them. With the exception of newer point-and-shoot digicams and bridge cameras with10x-, 15x-, and 20x-plus zoom lenses, most pocket cams come up short when it comes to satisfying wider angle and/or longer telephoto needs. If your digicam features a threaded lens mount or accessory ring, Zeikos offers a selection of optical extenders that enables you to capture wider fields of view—including fisheye—as well as longer telephoto shots.

Zeikos wide angle and teleconverters are designed to fit most point-and-shoot digicams with threaded lens flanges designed to accept accessory lenses. If you're otherwise satisfied with your current digicam, but occasionally wish you had the option of going optically wider or longer, Zeikos lens extenders can greatly expand your creativity levels without compelling you to purchase a whole new camera system.

Zeikos optical extenders are available in 37mm (0.40x Fisheye, 3.5x Telephoto, and 0.45x Wide-angle), 52mm (0.15x Super Fisheye, 0.18x Super Fisheye, 0.34x Fisheye, 0.40x Fisheye, and 4.5x Telephoto), and 58mm thread sizes (0.18x Super Fisheye, 0.34x Fisheye, 0.40x Fisheye, 2x Telephoto, 2.5x Telephoto, 3.5x Telephoto, and 4.5x Telephoto). If the thread size of your camera's lens is a size other than 39, 52 or 58mm you can use step-down rings to bridge the gap without affecting the optical performance of the lens converters.

To figure out the conversion factor, you must first determine the focal range equivalent of the lens on your camera, i.e., 35-105mm, 28-140mm, 25-250mm, etc. By multiplying the millimeter range of the lens by the "x" factor of the extender, you can determine the new focal-range equivalent.

As an example, if the lens on your camera is a 35-105 equivalent and you attach a 2x teleconverter, the lens effectively becomes a 70-210mm zoom lens. A 3.5x teleconverter turns the same lens into the equivalent of a 122-367.5mm zoom.

For those seeking wider perspectives, the same 35-105mm lens used with a Zeikos wide-angle adapter (0.45x) effectively becomes a noticeably wider 15.75-47.25mm equivalent zoom lens. And for those needing (or wanting) extreme wide-angle imagery, you can go full-tilt fisheye using the Zeikos 0.40x, 0.18x, and 0.15x fisheye converters, which take the wide end of your zoom range to the extreme limits.

So if you find yourself stymied by the focal range of your digicam, take a browse through our selection of Zeikos wide-angle and teleconverters. You just might find an easy add-on solution to your current camera's optical limitations.