On Thu, 01 Feb 2001 06:21:02 GMT, "Paul Tauger" wrote:
>"Evan Mann" wrote in message
>news:eN5e6.49272$Tl3.9353037@typhoon.tampabay.rr.com...
>> The Sony D8's have a poor excuse for "wide angle" being 48mm at the wide
>> end. Anyone who is experienced with 35mm film knows 50mm is a general
>"all
>> around" prime lens you would use. Putting the x0.6 WA on the Sony D8
>brings
>> the wide angle down to 29mm, which is more respectable for a wide angle
>> range where you find 24mm to be a very common wide angle prime used.

>The problem with your analogy is that the CCD in consumer camcorders is not
>35mm and, in fact considerably smaller -- 1/4" or 1/3" on most 'corders.
>42mm on a camcorder is probably more equivalent to 35-38mm on a 35mm. This
>still isn't very wide, but it is hardly equivalent to a 50-55mm standard
>lens on a 35mm. You can't compare optics designed for 35mm photography with
>those intended for use on a camcorder. The Sony WA gives a field of view
>roughly comparable to a 24-28mm on a 35mm.

Actually, his analogy is correct, though the 35mm-lens
equivalent of the camcorder zoom "short" end is maybe
closer to around 45mm (43-48, generally...). But no
camcorder with a permanently attached zoom lens by itself
provides a wider view than this "normal-lens" range,
which is pretty disappointing to us WA-nuts. I have a large
collection of WA converters as a result, and recommendations
for the specific camcorders covered are given in the reviews
at: www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
The ONE WA I have found so far that works well with
virtually all camcorders, though, is the Sony VCL-ES06
.6X non-zoom-through - and it is small and light and
cheap ($60 list) and can be fitted with stepping rings
to fit lens threads from 30mm to 58mm (VX-2000, anyway,
without vignetting in the TV-safe area).