On Mon, 24 Feb 2003 18:33:19 GMT, "Greg" <greg_68@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I'm new to the camera world and am looking to shoot video in the distance

>using my Sony CCD-TRV318 camcorder. It has a 20x optical zoom that really

>doesn't seem to go very far so I'm thinking about buying a telephoto zoom

>lens.

>

>I have 2 questions:

>

>1. Does a 35mm lens fit my camcorder? The manual says it's 37mm.

>

>2. How do I determin the distance I'll be able to reach with the lens? For

>example, how far would a Vivitar 75-300mm reach?

Prime lenses will not fit on the camcorder

lens, but lens converters will. While still

photographers will laugh at you for complaining

about the 35mm-equivalent of close to 1000mm at

f2.8 or so (!), combined with an effective stabilizer,

you can add 1.4X-3X lens converters to get longer,

though these are often poor optically, and must be

used only near the long end of the zoom range,

unlike many wide angle converters which can be

used over the whole zoom range. Sony, Canon, and

Raynox make some (relatively) good converters - buy

in 37mm or larger thread mount, and use step-up

rings to fit larger ones to your lens...

BTW, there are several rec.video NGs that video

questions can be asked in...