Today, I finally got all the parts I ordered to make a doubler for the x-sight 3x. I used a 43.5mm-52mm step-up ring, a 52mm-58mm step-up ring, and a 58mm 2.2x Vivitar Telephoto Converter. I know I only need a 52mm TC to do it. But I thought since I have Canon 58mm lens, if the experiment failed, I can try it on my camera.
It works! At beginning, I am worried about maybe I need some spacer for it to properly focus. But since the 3x has such a huge range of focus, it merely just increase the absurd 2 feet minimum focus distance to 2 yards. The other disappointment is that the TC is not truly 2.2x, it's only about 1.5x. So now my 3x is a 4.5x. The whole add-on is just about 5 oz. and under $30.
Next, I ordered a 52mm TC to see if it will make it even lighter.

Sounds like an interesting project. Pics?
Never used a doubler before. What is the advantage of a doubler over zooming? Resolution Due to mechanical magnification as opposed to digital zoom?

Uhhh ... why? There's a 5x-18 on the market.

Right, plus the X-sight has a great zoom as it is. It might be an interesting project, but just not terribly practical, not that it won't be fun to try.

One thing maybe the 3-12 with a 1.5 magnifier, really is a 4.5-18. I know my 5-18 is going back, because the FOV is way too tight for my use. It has been said many times that it is closer to a 7X instead of 5X. Unfortunately, I didn't find that tidbit of information until after my 5-18 had shipped.

Not to hijack the thread, and this may be a dumb question but ..............

Is there a way to make a power reducer to take the 5 down to a 3 to widen the field of view?

Mine shows way too much use to send back.

It hasn't been tested yet, wait for those results .

Digital zoom usually is just some gimmick as anyone into digital camera will tell you. Do you know the 3x can actually go up to 30x digitally? In my opinion, the x-sight 3x can go up to 6x, anything higher will give you very grainy and useless image.

Can your 5x go down to 3x which provide you with good FOV? Also, it's cheaper to use telephoto converter.

You can try 0.43x wide angle lens. But I assume you want to reduce the 5x which I don't have. So I can't tell you which size ring you need to use to attach the lens. Maybe someone with 5x can measure the thread diameter and pitch for you.

I'll show some images tomorrow.