Canon PowerShot S5/S3 IS Wide Angle Samples

Some may find the 36mm wide end of the S3 / S5 IS limiting, but with the quick-change bayonet mount, adding a wide converter only takes seconds. With a wide conversion lens you can easily change the existing 36mm to as wide as 23.75mm. (To calculate the effect a wide converter will have on the S3 / S5 IS, multiply the power of the conversion lens by the focal length of the lens - i.e. the Raynox 6600 is .66x, multiply .66 x 36mm = 23.76mm.)

The wide-angle samples below were taken using the Lensmate 52mm and 58mm lens adapters and a variety of wide converters. The first image shows the full wide setting, and the second shows the lens at the full telephoto end of the zoom to show how the conversion lens performs as a zoom lens.

S2 Lensmate 52mm adapter with Raynox DCR-6600

We used architecture for the sample shots to show barrel distortion clearly. This is a worst case scenario for wide angle converters. In a natural landscape setting, even the worst barrel distortion may go unnoticed. Additionally, this type of barrel distortion can be usually be corrected via software. We will be adding another series of samples shot in a natural setting to show how they perform when architecture is not the prime focus.

Please evaluate these samples carefully if you plan on buying a conversion lens. Your intended use will determine whether the shortcomings of a given conversion lens will be acceptable - for instance, if you don't print larger than 4x6, or 5x7, or only use your images on the web, all of the lenses here would probably be acceptable. Only you can make that determination. Printing the full size sample images here at the size you prefer is the best way to make an evaluation.

*The focal length shown in S2 EXIF is actual, ranging from 6.0mm to 72.0mm. The 35mm film equivalent would be 36mm - 432mm, therefore the multiplier is 6 when converting one to the other.

 

 

S3/S5 IS Native Wide (no conversion lens)

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native wide
focal length 36mm (exif says 6.mm)

  

 

S3/S5 IS and Raynox DCR-720 52mm
More barrel distortion than most, but easily corrected in post processing. 
Best of the group at full telephoto setting, discontinued by Raynox.

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Raynox 720 .72X
(26mm focal length)

Raynox 720 .72X
(311mm focal length)

 

S3/S5 IS and Tiffen .75X 43mm
(52mm-43mm Step Ring required)
Good overall sharpness, low barrel distortion, discontinued by Tiffen.

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Tiffen .75X
(27mm focal length)

Tiffen .75X
(324mm focal length)

 

S3/S5 IS and Canon WC-DC58A .7X 58mm
Good overall sharpness, moderate barrel distortion.

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Canon .7X
(25.2mm focal length)

Canon .7X
(302mm focal length)

 

S3/S5 IS and Raynox DCR-730 52mm
Some corner softness, higher than average barrel distortion. Good tele performance and most compact of the group. (replaces Raynox DCR-720)

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Raynox DCR-730
(26.3mm focal length)
Click here to see Raynox 730
software corrected image.

Raynox DCR-730
(315mm focal length)

 

S3/S5 IS and Canon WC-DC58N .7X 58mm
 Though this lens is designed for the G3/5/6, we thought we'd include it for those who might already own it. Image quality at least as good as the Canon WC-DC58A. A small amount of vignetting, but it's wider than most of the others to start with. Largest lens of the group.

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Canon WC-DC58N .7X
(25.2mm focal length)

Canon WC-DC58N .7X
(302mm focal length)

 

S3/S5 IS and Raynox 6600 .66x 52mm
 Some corner/edge softness, but the most rectilinear of the group straight out of the camera. The 52mm version of this lens works best on the S2. The 52mm and 58mm versions of this lens are optically identical, but the 58mm version has a slightly shorter body. However, if used with a 52-58 step ring which makes up the difference in length, the 58mm version of the 6600 works as well as the 52mm version (on a 52mm adapter). It won't work nearly as well on a 58mm adapter, which is shorter than the 52mm adapter and step ring combined. 

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Raynox 6600 .66X
(23.8mm focal length)
The camera was tilted upward slightly which is why the building on the left isn't parallel to the side of the frame. To avoid converging lines when shooting architecture, try to keep the camera level when possible.

Raynox 6600 .66X
(285mm focal length)