On Thu, 10 Oct 2002 23:16:50 -0700 (PDT), bigrocketman3@webtv.net (Steve McDonald) wrote:

> The 58mm lens on this camera will give a wider field of view than
>those with smaller lenses, such as the 52mm, 46mm, 37mm and 30.5mm
>models, which have progressively narrower fields as the size diminishes.

??????????????
You are so "right-on" with so many things, how
do you miss so badly on some...???;-) The lens
front diameter or mounting thread size has little
to do with its angle of view... For instance, for
35mm film, I have a 12mm FL lens that covers about
120 degrees, and its front is about 43mm; my 85mm
lens has a front diameter of 72mm, though its
angle of view is FAR narrower than the first lens...

>However, you may want to have a wide-angle add-on lens, to increase your
>close-up capabilities.

???????
If you mean, "getting more in the frame at a
given distance", this is true; but if you mean
"for improving close-focus (macro) capabilities",
this is not true...

>The .7X Canon WD-58 is regarded as being a good
>performer, at about $180., or the WD-58H package is priced at about
>$200. with a special lens hood included. I'd try it out without the WA
>first, just to see if you really need it.

Good advice - though the "wide" end of all camcorders'
zoom lenses approximates about 42-48mm FLs in 35mm,
not very wide at all...