bit-tech Shopping: Canon WD-58H 58mm 0.7x Wide Angle Converter Lens with Lens Hood -

Rating: 10

Time with product: 3 Days

Strengths: Original company quality accessory

Weaknesses: none

Summary: I found it easy to use with little effort and it provides an appropriate amount of added coverage for filming wide shots for my videography business. I will likely purchase others for additional camcorders that I am using. Having this as original manufacturers equipment avoids any incompatibility problems with generic equipment.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Years

Strengths: Full zoom (focus) throughout lens, limited vignetting

Weaknesses: Makes GL camcorder front-heavy, lens cap doesn't latch like standard GL cap

Summary: A wide angle lens is an essential accessory for a Canon GL-series camcorder if you're shooting indoors or even outdoor scenery. The strength of the .7x lens is that you still can use the full range of your 20x zoom lens and keep focus. The downside is that you're adding a signficant piece of glass to the front of your camcorder, which will upset the nice balance of the GL camcorder and tire your arm sooner if you're shooting hand-held. A high-capacity batter on the back-end will help balance this out. The other downside is that you've got to be more mindful of where you put the lens cap for this lens because it does not come with a tether to your camera. You either have to buy one yourself, or you need to put the cap in your pocket. This is something to adapt to if you're used to having a tether. Also, with the lens hood, the cap doesn't seem to fit securely over the lens hood, which makes me worry that it might fall off. I guess a tether would solve this problem. Overall, its a good lens to have while you're shooting.