Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

About the G3/G5 Adapter

  1. How do the LensMate G3/G5 adapters affect the viewfinder, flash, and AF assist lamp?

  2. Is there any vignetting at any focal length with either the 52mm or 58mm LensMate attached to the G3/G5?

  3. I want to buy a camera bag for the Canon G3/G5 with your LensMate attached. Is it the same size as the G1/G2 adapter?

  4. If I want to use my 49mm UV filter I already have with a 52-49 step down ring on the G3/G5, will there be any compatibility issues?

  5. Can I use my 49mm macro set with a 52-49 step ring on the G3/G5?

  6. Are there vignetting issues with the 58mm LensMate and the new Canon G3/G5 converters (WC-DC58N .7X wide and 1.75X tele)?

  7. Can I use the new Canon G3/G5 converters (WC-DC58N .7X wide and 1.75X tele) on the 52mm LensMate with a 52-58 step ring?

  8. Can I use the G1/G2 Canon converters (WC-DC58 .8X wide and 1.5X tele) with the G3/G5?

  9. My Canon converter doesn't have front threads, can I place a polarizer between the adapter and converter?

 

General Questions

  1. Do I need a step-ring to use any of the filters on your price page?

  2. Do I put the rubber hood on after or before I attach the UV filter, and will the lens cap snap on with the rubber hood in place and collapsed?

  3. How does the camera know that I have the macro filters on and therefore focus properly?

  4. What's the difference between the linear and circular polarizer you sell?

  5. Can I see the polarizer working on my LCD?

  6. What do I need to use the Tiffen MegaPlus wide angle and telephoto conversion lenses with the LensMate adapter?

  7. Does the G1/G2/G3/G5 take good infrared pictures?

  8. Will my Canon lens cap fit on the end of the LensMate Adapter?

  9. I had heard that customs fees on the Canadian border for UPS was very expensive; how do you ship international orders?

  10. I've never heard of you guys. Are you for real?

 

About the G1/ G2 Adapter

  1. Does the G1/G2 LensMate 49mm adapter block the flash? And how does it compare to the 43mm Tiffen adapter and the Canon 58mm adapter?

  2. Does the G1/G2 LensMate adapter block the viewfinder?

  3. Which conversion lenses can be used with the G1/G2?

  4. Will the champagne colored adapter cause any problems when I use my flash?

  5. What is the difference between the G1 and G2 adapters? Will they fit either camera?

Question still not answered? E-mail us.

 

Answers: About the G3/G5 Adapter

  1. How do the LensMate adapters affect the viewfinder, flash, and AF assist lamp?

    See sample photos on our G3/G5 sample page. Remember, with the bayonet mount, it only takes 2 seconds to remove the adapter in situations where any blockage is untenable.

  2. Is there any vignetting at any focal length with either the 52mm or 58mm LensMate adapter attached to the G3/G5?

    No.

to the top ^

  1. I want to buy a camera bag for the Canon G3/G5 with your LensMate attached. Is it the same size as the G1/G2 adapter?

    No, both the 52mm and 58mm G3/G5 adapters are about 2" long, the G1/G2 adapters are about 1 3/8". The dimensions of the G3/G5 with an adapter attached are: front to rear, 3 3/4", 5" wide, and 3" high.

  2. If I want to use my 49mm UV filter I already have with a 52-49 step down ring on the G3/G5, will there be any compatibility issues?

    No, that will work fine. You can stack either 2 normal 49mm filters, or a 49mm rubber lens hood by itself without vignetting at any focal length. If you want to use a lens hood and filter combination, you need to use the 52mm size because of the extra depth of the lens hood ring.

  3. Can I use my 49mm macro set with a 52-49 step ring on the G3/G5?

    Yes, you can. There will be a small amount of vignetting at the wide setting, but normally you would use the full tele zoom setting for macros anyway. The advantages of setting the lens to full tele zoom for macros are: 1. less distortion 2. more magnification 3. Increasing the lens to subject distance which makes lighting your subject without shadows easier.

to the top ^

  1. Are there vignetting issues with the 58mm LensMate and the new Canon G3/G5 converters (WC-DC58N .7X wide and 1.75X tele)?

    No, the LensMate 58mm adapter is exactly the same length as the Canon 58mm adapter.

  2. Can I use the new Canon G3/G5 converters (WC-DC58N .7X wide and 1.75X tele) on the 52mm LensMate with a 52-58 step ring?

    You can, but there will be a slight vignetting with the WC-DC58N .7X wide angle converter at the full wide setting. There is no vignetting with the WC-DC58N 1.75X teleconverter at full zoom. See our G3/G5 sample page with photos with these combinations.

To the top ^

  1. Can I use the G1/G2 Canon converters (WC-DC58 .8X wide and 1.5X tele) with the G3/G5?

    Yes, the G1/G2 converters work just fine without vignetting on the G3/G5 using either the LensMate 52mm adapter and 52-58 step ring, or with the LensMate 58mm adapter. Again see our G3/G5 sample page with photos with these combinations.

  2. My Canon converter doesn't have front threads, can I place a polarizer between the adapter and converter?

    It's not recommended, but if you do be sure and support the converters weight with one hand - polarizers were not designed to bear the weight of a converter.

 

Answers: General Questions

  1. Do I need a step-ring to use any of the filters on your price page?

    Step-up and step-down rings are used for attaching filters or lenses to a lens or adapter of a different size. The first number of a step-ring size is the side closest to the camera (the adapter size in most cases) and the second number is the size of the filter, hood, converter, etc. We sell 49mm, 52mm and 58mm filters so that you can purchase the size that match your adapter. We also sell many sizes of rings to enable the use of accessories that you may already own or only come in other sizes.

To the top ^

  1. Do I put the rubber hood on after or before I attach the UV filter, and will the lens cap snap on with the rubber hood in place and collapsed?

    Yes, to prevent vignetting at full wide, always place the rubber hood on the adapter first. The lens hood has a female thread on the outside like a filter, allowing you to attach additional filters or a lens cap. To attach or remove a filter/cap from the hood, simply collapse it.

  2. How does the camera know that I have the macro filters on and therefore be able to focus properly?

    The auto-focus does work in macro mode with the close-up filters attached. It does not change the focus point.

To the top ^

  1. What's the difference between the linear and circular polarizer you sell?

    Without getting too technical, the linear polarizer will work with most cameras, including the G1/G2/G3/G5. The circular polarizer will work with any camera. The reason we sell the Hoya HMC circular polarizer is because it's the least expensive polarizer Hoya makes with the HMC multiple coatings. These have six anti-reflective coatings on each side which increases light transmission and diminishes lens flares.

  2. Can I see the polarizer working on my LCD?

    It's fairly easy to observe the degree of polarization on the LCD by half pressing the shutter to lock the exposure and then turning the polarizer. If you don't lock the exposure, the camera will try to compensate for changes in brightness and you won't see any change.

    Remember that the polarizers' greatest effect on a blue sky occurs at 90 degrees to the direction of the sun, so if the sun is behind or in front of you, there may be no observable change in the darkness of the sky. Look for other visual clues to the polarizers' effectiveness in reflective surfaces such as leaves, grasses, glass, etc. - they become darker and the colors more saturated.
  1. What do I need to use the Tiffen MegaPlus wide angle and telephoto conversion lenses with the LensMate adapter?

    For use on the G3/G5, see the above question in the G3/G5 question section. For the G1/G2,Tiffen makes a special step ring which has both male and female threads on the same plane. This positions the Tiffen conversion lens as close as possible to the G1/G2's lens, reducing vignetting. A conventional step ring would place the converter 2-3 mm farther outward which would work but would be more likely to vignette.

To the top ^

  1. Does the G1/G2/G3/G5 take good infrared pictures?

    The G1 has been recognized as one of the better prosumer digicams for infrared photography. The G1 is very sensitive to IR wavelengths, typical exposures being around 1/8 to 1/20 sec, allowing for handheld work even at iso 50 resulting in clean and crisp images.

    With the G2 and G3/G5, Canon has apparently installed a more aggressive hot mirror making them less suitable for IR photography - exposures are 1 sec or more. If you do a search for G2/G3/G5 IR, you will find several galleries and sample photos.

    We sell the popular Hoya R72 Infrared filter. It was used to shoot the panorama at the bottom of our front page. Here are some sites with samples and information about G1/G2/G3/G5 and infrared photography:
G1
G2
G3
General IR
  1. Will my Canon lens cap fit on the end of the LensMate Adapter?

    No. For the G1/G2, the Canon lens cap is a nonstandard size designed to fit the trim ring (that you remove when attaching any adapter) at the base of the lens only. With the LensMate adapter on, any standard 49mm snap-in, screw-on or slide-on lens cap will fit.

    For the G3/G5, you may choose from many standard 52mm or 58mm caps (depending on which size G3/G5 adapter you are using) including the "clip-in" type we sell.

  1. I had heard that customs fees on the Canadian border for UPS was very expensive; how do you ship international orders?

    We ship via USPS (US Postal Service) rather than a private company such as UPS or Fed-Ex. It costs a third less and usually beats them in delivery time, airmail usually taking 7 to 12 days depending on customs. Also USPS packages are charged a small customs fee on the Canadian border unlike UPS. USPS airmail does not include a tracking number outside the US, so we do offer USPS Global Express at a slightly higher price. Global Express does include a tracking number with usual shipping times taking 3 to 6 business days.

  2. I've never heard of you guys. Are you for real?

    While we are a small company, we have tried to earn and maintain the trust and support of our customers by making a very good product and providing exemplary customer service. Please read our testimonials page. If you have a bit more time, visit the Canon Talk forum on dpreview and do a search for "LensMate" to learn more about us.

To the top ^

 

Answers: About the G1/ G2 Adapter

  1. Does the G1/G2 LensMate 49mm adapter block the flash? And how does it compare to the 43mm Tiffen adapter and the Canon 58mm adapter?

    Here are 3 flash comparison shots taken with the Canon G2 at full wide zoom, the focal length that would be most affected by the adapter, shot at blank wall from 4 feet. Though the shadow is apparent in the shot of the blank wall, it often goes unnoticed depending on your subject matter. Of course for those full wide shots where it does matter, you can just remove the adapter.
Built-in Flash
click image to see larger version
LensMate with 58mm ring to simulate Canon adapter
LensMate adapter
Actual Tiffen adapter

to the top ^

  1. Does the G1/G2 LensMate adapter block the viewfinder?

    It does not block the viewfinder except at the wide angle end of the zoom. These are actual views through the viewfinder at full wide zoom. Of course, the recorded image and the LCD view are unaffected by the adapter.
Optical Viewfinder
click image to see larger version
LensMate with 58mm ring to simulate Canon adapter
LensMate adapter
Actual Tiffen adapter
  1. Which conversion lenses can be used with the G1/G2?

    Here is a fairly comprehensive page that compares most of the conversion lenses currently available. Please note the site is not affiliated with any particular retailer. http://tedfelix.com/CanonG1/Lenses.html

To the top ^

  1. Will the champagne colored adapter cause any problems when I use my flash?

    No. We have tested the champagne colored adapter against the original black one using the onboard flash at all focal lengths and found no discernible differences.

  2. What is the difference between the G1 and G2 adapters? Will they fit either camera?

    Yes, they will fit either; they are dimensionally identical. The most noticeable difference is the color but also, the G2 adapter has a slight convex curve or "bulge" along it's length. It is very subtle but better matches the curves of the G2.

While some had thought a silver adapter on the G1 would look good, the G1 and G2 are very different colors and the adapter color really only matches the G2. The pics below show the mismatched adapters and cameras.

Mismatched Colors
click image to see larger version
side by side
G1 w/ champagne adapter
G2 w/ black adapter

to the top ^