On Mon, 18 Mar 2002 18:03:13 GMT, John Smith wrote:

>I would like to shoot closeups of small two inch flowers so as to fill
>the screen using the appropriate lens. The flowers would be slowly
>rotating. Note - these are not stills but normal continuous footage.
>
>I would also be filming the whole plant (outdoors) using a standard
>lens.
>
>The following issues come to mind - resolution, color correctness,
>availability of closeup lens and ability to handle outdoor light levels.
>
>I would appreciate feedback on the VX2000 & XL-1s for this purpose. Of
>course, the XL-1s has removeable lenses. The VX2000 has some attachments
>for closeups. Supposedly, the VX2000 has slightly clearer resolution. I
>have not seen any feedback about color correctness especially for red.
>Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks

Well, you hit on one of video's weak areas with the
"red" issue...;-) Very few Mini-DV camcorders can show
good detail and color variation within bright red areas.
Cameras that seemed particularly good at this that
I have tried were the Sony VX1000 and the Panasonic
EZ30U - but these also showed other color problems
less evident with the VX2000. For more, see:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
With the VX2000, careful selection of "custom control"
settings can get you very good red imaging-quality.
For best overall color accuracy, freedom from "tints"
and color biases, and ability to show subtle colors well
(and best resolution, highlight and shadow detail
retention, ease of adapting the camera for macro, and
ease of operation of the camera for macro [and for the
outstanding AF ability, particularly handy with hand-held
macro work...]), I would choose the VX2000 (and I do a
lot of flower macro work with it - for examples, see:
http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/premiere.htm). With a
58mm->52mm step down ring added, several common
inexpensive good 52mm close-up lenses and achromats
can be used. I recommend the Nikkor no.2 close-up lens
(VERY high image quality, and infinity-focus is
possible at the zoom short end, high-magnification
macro at the tele end - all in one shot), the Nikkor
3T and 4T achromats, and the Sigma achromat intended
for their 90mm macro lens. These cover everything from
infinity-focus to objects about a 1/4" across, all
with high image quality. The VX2000 has two ND filters
built-in, and can handle a VERY wide range of light
levels without additional accessories.