Have you heard of Razor Optics lenses?

[Fardringle]

I've been thinking about getting some wide angle and telephoto adapter lenses to play with on my Fuji S6000fd. I know I can get some really good ones from Tokina but I don't want to spend that much, particularly since I hope to replace the Fuji with a DSL later this year.

I came across this listing on eBay for a set of adapters and filters that looks interesting but I've never heard of Razor Optics before. Google searches for the name only point to a couple of auctions for this same kit, or gives results that are completely unrelated.

I know I'm not going to get pro quality equipment for that price, but I'd like to make sure it's not complete garbage or my wife won't let me buy any toys the next time I find something fun so I'd like to get an opinion or two first. I don't necessarily need opinions on this specific kit, I'm just curious about Razor Optics in general. The various listings I found for this kit all claim that Razor Optics are the choice of pros in Japan but they are new to the U.S. (In case you are wondering, I have "veto power" on stuff she wants to buy, so she gets the same option with things that I want. It helps avoid arguments about money. )

Expanding my camera's focal range from 28-200 to 17-660 sounds pretty cool, but if the lenses are garbage then it will just be a waste of money.

The filters are a nice addition, but I already have a polarizing filter and don't really have a use for the other two. If they are decent quality I can probably sell them to someone else for a few bucks, though...

 

[Jawo]

I got a similar kit (that used the same pictures, IIRC) for when I went to Italy in 2006. I found that it was nice to have the 0.5x, but as with any lens that is a single element, there is massive Chromatic Aborations, and it tends to soften pictures to a small degree. The filters are nice, but they are cheap...alloy construction, not coatings. I was able to get some pictures that I wouldn't have been able to otherwise, but it made my P&S camera really big, so I had to take it off everytime I put the camera away.

Bottom line: its nice to have, but in the end you get what you pay for. To do 17-660 properly get a budget dSLR!

 

[Fardringle]

Originally posted by: Jawo
To do 17-660 properly get a budget dSLR!

I intend to, I just won't be able to do that for a while. I was hoping this kit would at least be decent enough that even if the pictures aren't great, the extra long telephoto and wide angles would be fun to play with.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Jawo
I got a similar kit (that used the same pictures, IIRC) for when I went to Italy in 2006. I found that it was nice to have the 0.5x, but as with any lens that is a single element, there is massive Chromatic Aborations, and it tends to soften pictures to a small degree. The filters are nice, but they are cheap...alloy construction, not coatings. I was able to get some pictures that I wouldn't have been able to otherwise, but it made my P&S camera really big, so I had to take it off everytime I put the camera away.

Bottom line: its nice to have, but in the end you get what you pay for. To do 17-660 properly get a budget dSLR!

I've had similar experience with WA converters for my A85. CA and blurry galore at edges

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: Fardringle

Originally posted by: Jawo
To do 17-660 properly get a budget dSLR!

I intend to, I just won't be able to do that for a while. I was hoping this kit would at least be decent enough that even if the pictures aren't great, the extra long telephoto and wide angles would be fun to play with.

I had fun playing with mine while I was in Italy, but haven't used it since. You'll have fun playing with it no doubt, but don't expect crystal clear, sharp images.