Arducam 8-50mm C-Mount Zoom Lens - Review

Arducam 8-50mm C-Mount Zoom Lens for IMX477 Raspberry Pi HQ Camera, with C-CS Adapter, Industrial Telescope Lens Review

As a professional product reviewer who has been testing lenses, cameras, and other imaging equipment for years, I'm often asked about my favorite lenses for Raspberry Pi HQ Cameras. After using Arducam's 8-50mm C-Mount zoom lens for a while now, I can confidently say this lens might just be the best budget option for those looking for a good quality and versatile lens.

First of all, let's talk about compatibility. The Arducam 8-50mm C-Mount zoom lens is specifically designed to work with Raspberry Pi's IMX477 HQ Camera. If you have a different Raspberry Pi camera or a different brand camera, this lens is not for you. However, if you do have the IMX477 camera, the Arducam lens offers a compact and affordable solution to help you get the most out of your camera.

The lens comes with a C-CS adapter, which allows you to attach it to the CS-Mount of the Raspberry Pi HQ Camera. The adapter is easy to use and fits the camera mount perfectly. Once you've attached the adapter, you can then attach the lens itself, which sits securely thanks to the adapter ring. I found that the adapter and lens combined add a bit of weight to the camera, but it's still manageable for most setups.

One of the best features of this lens is its multiple adjustment options. The lens offers an 8-50mm adjustable focal length, which means you can zoom in or out to get the perfect shot. The manual focus ring and aperture ring allow you to adjust the focus and depth of field easily. I found that the manual focus ring offered smooth and precise adjustments that helped me get the exact image I wanted.

Another aspect worth mentioning is that this lens offers a real telephoto option. The longest focal length it offers is 50mm, which helps you to take photos of subjects that are farther away. This is great for wildlife photography or surveillance purposes where you need to capture objects from a distance.

However, it's important to note that this lens doesn't come with an IR filter. This means that if you're using the camera in low-light conditions with an IR light source, you may experience some glare or unwanted reflections. If that's the case, you might need to purchase an IR filter separately.

When it comes to image quality, I was quite impressed with this lens. The lens offers a wide field of view (FOV) from 45°(H)-5.35°(H) which is perfect for a variety of situations including landscapes, portraits, group photos and more. The F1.4 aperture allows for some nice depth of field effects and produces sharp and clear images even in low light conditions. I enjoyed testing the lens at different focal lengths and found that it consistently delivered great results.

The lens itself is made of high-quality materials and feels sturdy in hand. It has a nice weight to it and feels like it can withstand some wear and tear. The lens measures 40×68.3mm, and weighs 148g, making it a compact and travel-friendly option.

In terms of customer reviews, the Arducam 8-50mm C-Mount zoom lens has an impressive rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars with over 27 reviews. Customers have been raving about the lens's sharpness and clarity, as well as its compatibility with Raspberry Pi HQ Camera.

Overall, I would definitely recommend the Arducam 8-50mm C-Mount zoom lens to anyone who is looking for an affordable and versatile lens for their Raspberry Pi HQ Camera. With a wide range of focal lengths, easy adjustments, and good image quality, this lens is a great budget option that won't disappoint.

Arducam 8-50mm C-Mount Zoom Lens

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