On Tue, 06 Nov 2001 16:22:50 GMT, frank@cytologyservices.com (Frank Ramage [CSMI] [WUGNet])
wrote:

>>> The Canon is good enough to leave on the camera permanently,
>>> since there is so little degradation of the image [...]

>Since I'm a "one-man/one-camera" operation at this point (documentary style
>recording of church ministry events), I need a lense that'll give me a wider
>setup-shot immediately before moving to medium and the close-ups (and perhaps
>back out again).
>
>I haven't used an external lense, so I don't know how the switch would impact
>my shot flow... perhaps I just have to make due with the built-in WA if I don't
>have time to pre-setup a shot? Or is it usually fast enough to get on and off
>during the shoot?
>
>So, would the Canon be your choice for this general purpose shooting?

If you can afford to shorten the maximum zoom by .7X,
and if the straight-line curvature is not a problem near the
short end of the zoom range, the Canon WD-58 can be left
on for all shooting; if you need a wider angle at the short end
and/or maximum tele length, and if a momentary interruption
of the picture is OK, the Sony VCL-ES06 (on a 58->52mm
step-down ring) has a quick-release system, allowing almost
instant removal (if you can locate the two squeeze-tabs on
the main body of the converter without disturbing the
camera...;-); if using only about 2/3rds of the zoom range
is OK, take the Raynox 6600-58 (with a suitable shade - one
that does not cause vignetting at the zoom short end [I use
a Nikkor shade made for their old 72mm-front 20mm f3.5, with
a blackened plastic lid fit on the front with a rectangle
cut in it to just shade the lens at the widest setting
without cutting into the image]), and leave it on; if price
is no object, the Sony HD .7X is reputed to be about as
good as the Canon, but *possibly* with lower linear
distortion (I have not tried it). The screw-in WA converters
are fairly easy to remove quickly (a two-handed operation,
to protect the camera lens front element), but are slow to
install (a two-handed operation, to protect the camera lens
front element and also to avoid cross-threading the plastic
mounting threads. I would try to leave the converter on for
all shooting, if possible...
BTW, running a second camera permits covering cut-away
needs, and provides an extra sound track for mixing better
sound - if you will edit...;-)