Evaluation of IQ Video CRX3010 2x Telephoto Lens (M46 Mount)

Evaluation of   IQ Video CRX3010 2x Telephoto Lens

I saw this lens, advertised on Ebay, and thought it might just be the answer to the elusive "handy" 2 X telephoto lens.... so I sent off for it, and it arrived after two days... even though it was Royal Mail 2nd class post ! ! !. On opening the box, I was very pleased with the physical size, and the "professional look" and construction.

As you can see from the photographs, it has an "integral" slide out lens hood, and when fitted on to the lens of the FZ28, it retracted into the main case of the camera, when it was switched off, without having to be removed... Exactly how my Sigma 1.4 X telephoto lens worked....

So far..... So good ! ! ... now to do some photo testing.... which I am sorry to say was very disappointing, after such a good start...

You will see from the test pics, that I first took one at 18 X Optical zoom, then added my 1.4 X Sigma lens, then removed that, and added the new IQ CRX3010 2X lens... ...

It is noticeable that the Sigma lens does "loose some light" , but this is easily rectified using software.... the important thing is that there is no significant loss of definition and sharpness.

Looking at the CRX3010 pics,  it is obvious that it does not "work" with the FZ28 lens system, and produces very blurry results.... What a shame... Ah well, back to the search engines ! ! .. will keep on trying.

Series of test pics to give evaluations 

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON EACH PICTURE TO GET A LARGER VERSION.....

Each pic has a description at the bottom to explain what lens is being used. The last pic of each group is a crop from the first one, to simulate how a 2 X telephoto pic should look, compared to the actual CRX3010.

In summary, after taking a pic at 18X Optical zoom, careful cropping to 2X simulated (as shown) can give just as good a pic, without the need for a telephoto lens ! ! ! .. (maybe I should be looking for a 3 X telephoto lens ! ! )

War on the line - A Watercress Line special weekend event

The Watercress Line, running from Alton to Alresford, also known as the "Mid Hants Railway", is preserved steam line of over 10 miles, with "probably" one of the steepest gradients on any UK line.... to the drivers and firemen of the steam loco`s, it is referred to as "going over the Alps"... At the Alton end, the line runs in to a seperate platform in a shared station with the "normal" rail network, which has the effect of extending the line from London, to Alresford.... Between Alton and Alresford are two small stations and an extensive workshop... the whole line is preserved and worked as though it still belonged to the Southern Railway, before it was "made redundant" by the infamous Doctor Beeching, who decided that non profit making sections of the railways should be shut down completely....

Fortunately some volunteers formed themselves into a Preservation Society, and now the line gives thousands of people a real experience of "how it used to be"... To make the railway pay, they have "Special Event" weekends, (including Thomas the tank !)... and last weekend it was the turn of "War on the Line"... where military preservation groups, come to re-enact a wartime scenario, outside Alresford station, and along the line ...

The event is "Free" to visit, but is intended to stimulate travel on the railway, and at £14 per adult, for all day riding on the trains, (usually at least 3 different classes of steam loco) is pretty good value.


Here are some pics taken at Alresford,..... No commentary on them, as they are pretty much explanatory.

See if you can spot the "refugee children" in the pics below ! ! !

If you click on the PIC it will E N L A R G E  ! ! ! ......

Sepia gives a flavour of the era, I think, but have added the colour versions too ....

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