I now have a wide angle lens for my Canon S3, a Raynox DCR-6600PRO. This lens multiplies the focal length by 0.66 without affecting the aperture, allowing the 36 mm equivalent wide end of the S3 to become 24 mm. It has a 52 mm mount and screws into the Lensmate barrel that I already have. This is what it looks like attached to the camera:



In this photo, the start of the Raynox is indicated by the white writing. Also shown is the 72 mm lens cap. I have also posted a Wide Angle gallery which contains photos taken with this lens and some comparison photos of the same scene taken without it.

The lens advertises a usable zoom range with digital cameras of 3x. I was able to get it to focus at zooms out to 8x, but not beyond. At about 6x the quality of the image deteriorates, especially at the corners. It is handy to be able to use some of the zoom range because I can get less wide shots without removing the lens. I can see distortion with this lens, especially if I am close to something with straight lines. And I have to be very careful of lens flare. It flares easily and with an ugly line of circles. It is perfectly usable with the macro and super macro settings.

It is particularly good for chasing kids and pets around and shooting movies. The image quality does not matter so much for movies and the added field of view and exaggerated depth of movement allow me to capture their antics very easily. Indoors it is very useful as well. Even in a confined space I can get far enough back to capture what I want to record. One thing I cannot do is use the flash. A chunk of the image is completely black, caused by the shadow of the front of the lens.

I like it because I can now take pictures like this one that include the close foreground and the horizon:



And I can get some unusual perspectives:



It is great for putting close to the ground and angling up. The pop-out viewfinder of the S3 is essential for this kind of use. And the bayonet mounting to the camera body means that I can pop it on and off quickly. If I am out with this lens I wear a fanny pack so I can put it away quickly and find myself quickly attaching, snapping, and detaching the lens as I walk about.

See example photos with originals and EXIF in the Wide Angle gallery.

Tags: Photography, Canon, S3, Wide Angle