On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 14:02:13 GMT, Rick.Jones@remove.Sage.com.invalid (Rick Jones) wrote:

>I'm looking for recommendations for a wide-angle adaptor for a Sony D8
>camcorder (37 mm thread). Options are:
>
>Sony VCL-R0637 a fairly chunky screw-on adaptor
>Sony VCL-ES06 small thin quick-fit adaptor
>A 3rd-party, e.g. Hama adaptor
>
>I only need around .6 or .7, enough to get it down to about 30 mm FL at
>35mm-equivalent (why camcorder makers can't get the wide end of a 25x
>optical zoom usefully wide beats me, but that's another story). What I
>would like is minimum impact on image quality, and preferably fully
>zoomable.
>
>I've just moved from a Canon Hi8, and I got the official Canon WA item
>which is excellent. It's fairly big, but takes the full 20x zoom with no
>problems, and I keep it fitted all the time. I tried some 3rd-party
>ones, even quite expensive, but they wouldn't handle the zoom. If I can
>get as good again for the D8 I'll be happy.
>
>The ES06 is compact, and it's nice to have a twist-off fit, but is it
>much good? The R0637 looks more like my Canon WA, but does it really
>match the D8 camcorder optics properly?
>
>Experiences and suggestions welcome.

The ES06 is not zoom-through, but is the one most likely
to work well; why not try the Canon on the Sony?; matching
is what is critical - buy from dealers who take returns...
The mfgr's. own WA converter is likely to work well, but
isn't always the best performer - if you can select from
a bunch, do that...