On Fri, 29 Dec 2000 12:14:28 GMT, "Bo" wrote:

>Any camera's out there that have a macro focus capability that would allow
>for extreme close up work? Specifically, I wish to video objects that are 4
>to 5 mm in size. If such a camera does not exist are there any macro lens
>attachments that can be used??

This one is easy - I do this often. Camcorders usually have
VERY long zoom lenses (in 35mm camera terms), and you can
take advantage of this for macro work by adding a simple
diopter to the front (a "close-up lens", usually sold in
sets of three - though I use the excellent-but-expensive
Nikkors [nos. 0, 1, and 2]), or a two-element "achromat"
(I like the Nikkor 3T and 4T versions, 52mm-thread,
adaptable to 30-58mm front lens-thread sizes). With these,
you can control reproduction-size by zooming, and even at
maximum magnification, there is still plenty of space
between the lens and subject. An added benefit: with the
right diopter power, you can move from extreme close-up
to infinity-focus in one shot, since camcorder zooms are
often able to reach infinity-focus at their short end
even with the diopter attached (for a neato
bee-occupies-the-whole-frame to see-the-whole-garden,
shot in one continuous take...).