The path to mod my Flip UltraHD continues. I picked up a 30mm to 28mm step down ring off ebay last week. It cost me a whopping $6 and that included free shipping. It arrived over the weekend but I was not sure about super gluing it to my Flip. I finally manned up and went for it late last night much to Terra’s dismay, “If you wreck the camera by dripping super glue on the lens…”.
I have to say I am more than pleased with the outcome. I think I am the first to mount a Nikon WC-E63 to a Flip. The other videos I have seen were done with cheap Sunpak lenses. The Flip UltraHD takes such great HD video for the price and size that I did not want to downgrade the quality by modding the Flip to take a $30 lens. I got real lucky when I found the left over Nikon wide angle lens in my basement. The lens today costs as much as the Flip UltraHD does, maybe more. Pretty funny!
I practiced putting the step-down ring on straight. I even debated taking out my contacts so I could see (near sighted) better. The basement doesn’t have the best light. I finally went up stairs and used Terra’s sewing lamp for ultimate bright (white) light. I practiced a few more times. The posts and videos I have seen from other modders said you have a few seconds to move the right around before it sets. That was not the case. As soon as I put the ring on the Flip was rock solid. Couldn’t adjust it at all. Ah, the wonders of super glue! Maybe because my ring was metal and not plastic but I am not sure. It freaked me out a little that it took so fast because I was worried about it being on straight. But in the end it went on just fine and was is not coming off. Practice makes perfect I guess.
Here are the photos. The step down ring looks like it belongs on the Flip don’t you think? I shot some video of our tree in the front yard this morning walking out the door to work. The tree is so orange and red it looks like it is on fire. As soon as I get a chance I will get that online. For now enjoy the photos.
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Twitter It!11 Responses to “Flip UltraHD Wide Angle Mod Complete”
Looks good. How does the weight feel?
It certainly changes the balance but it is so light already it is not like I am carrying around a brick by any means. Plus the Flip has a standard tripod mount on it so putting it on a Gorilla tripod or a normal full one is easy to do. But then again I can’t fit it in my pocket any more with the lens on it. Comes on and off easy enough.
They have an underwater case for the Flip. It is $35 on Amazon. I would love to see some footage from your dives from a Flip. Tell Santa to bring you one.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OT4NN0/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0012YSSRK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1BBE26PX3M02YRRTH1A5
Have you posted before and after shots? And if so, would you send me the link? Do your les pick up black corners in your shots when you are not zoomed out?
I want to attach my 73mm wide angle lens to my Flip, but am unsure of what size of a step ring to get as an adapter. My lens is 73mm, and most mod sites use a 30.5mm to 73mm step up ring.
I’m concerned about vignetting, and even considered ordering a 33mm to 73mm ring so that my wide angle will sit further down on the Flip lens, and thereby having the two lenses closer together- Do you think that would work?
Sarah, look at my link at the top to my Vimeo page. All those recent vids were taken with the wide angle on. I never shoot with out it now. No issue with black borders at all for me. Works better than the factory lens by far.
I plan to implement the same hack to a Kodak Zi8 that will arrive just after the holidays.
I wasn’t lucky enough to have a Nikon Wide Converter for Coolpix 950/990 WC-E63 sitting around, so I looked on eBay and found one for $25. I then picked up the same $6 converter, so I should be good in that department.
Because I’ll be doing interviews, I thought the mic input, DC electric input and 720/60 would work to my advantage. Hopefully, I have similar enhancements over the standard video from the camera!
I would love to see a mod like this on the Zi8. Please keep me posted. At $25 bucks I just have have to pick up another one for save keeping. The lens really is fantastic on these point and shoot HD cams.
What do you think about mounting this to a regular flip?
The lens are the same. I am pretty sure. Look on YouTube. i think the first video I say was on a non-HD Flip.
Hey, i have the underwater housing for the fli. im worried that if i put a step up ring on the camera, it may not fit in the case. i was wondering if you could tell me what kind of step up ring that is, and the height of it? i think you know what im saying.
thanks!
Hi
Love this mod that you’ve done – have friends that have a flipHD and looking to get mine in next few days!
Two questions:
a)What exact ‘mm’ wide angle lens have you used in this mod?
b) I have a Raynox.66mm wide angle lens do you think that would be sufficent
Thanks all the way from England.
I will look tonight to see the exact ring mm I used. You can tell if your lens will work good just bt holding it up to the Flip when you get it.
Update later tonight…