"WEBPA" <webpa@aol.com> wrote in message

news:20040405211147.05177.00000676@mb-m05.aol.com...

> >my macro lens from my olympus dl 620 screws onto earlier sony

> >camcorders. That as far as I got today. But furture experimenting is

> >needed and no possible negative things could happen either.

> Just curious. Most Sony camcorders will autofocus down to the glass on the

> front element of the lens. How much closer do you need? If you want high

> magnification, then I think the term is "microscope adaptor"

> webpa

While most camcorder lenses will focus VERY closely at the "WA"

end of the zoom range (which makes maintaining useful distance,

for allowance for subject physical depth and lighting between

subject and lens, difficult at what may also be inadequate

magnifications), zooming long will greatly extend the lens

minimum-focus distance, and magnification will actually decrease

when proper focus is achieved. Fortunately, there is an easy and

cheap solution for both obtaining high magnifications and maintaining

adequate subect-lens spacing: a close-up lens attachment that screws

into the camcorder lens front threads. These come in single and double

element forms (the double is generally sharper, but good singles, like

the Nikkors, can also be excellent ), in different thread sizes (these

can be mounted with appropriate stepping-rings, if not already of

the correct size), and in different "powers" (higher number provides

higher magnification, but possibly lower image quality). When using,

you must adjust zoom position and physical camera-subject

distance to get proper magnification and focus within the

range permitted by the choice of gear. Surprisingly high

magnifications and image quality for "ordinary" gear can be

had this way. And great fun, viewing the macro results...

--

David Ruether

d_ruether@hotmail.com

http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com