On Sun, 31 Dec 2000 02:05:53 GMT, ultimindstudios@my-deja.com wrote:

> I'm looking to get a fairly wide angle lens for my TRV120 Digital8
>Camera for shooting skateboarding videos. I was originally going to try
>to get a .3X Ultra Fisheye from Century Optics (which i beleve to be
>the same lens that the folks over at Jackass use in their cameras, but
>using the 55mm thread for a VX1000 camera) until i found out that it
>costs $350 more than i paid for my camera! I was wondering if anyone
>knew of a less expencive fisheye lens or a wide angle lens (atleast
>.5X).
> I saw a .45X for $70 @ http://www.freedomphoto.com/widemain.htm#.45X
>, but i wasn't sure of the quality of the lens, although it does offer
>a 10year warrenty. I'm looking to spend around $100 for a lens (doesn't
>have to be top-of-the-line optics, just something half decent) that'll
>mount on a 37mm thread. Any help is greatly appricated.

The Sony VCL-ES06 is light and flat, and easily adapted to
37mm with step-up rings, is under $100, and is surprisingly
good on a wide range of video cameras. Rated .6X, it
actually is wider if you can put a little extra spacing
between it and the lens (I use empty 52mm filter
rims - stopping just before vignetting at the zoom short
end).