On Thu, 17 May 2001 00:23:52 GMT, Steve Hoffmann wrote:

>I'd like to do my own amateur level nature films. I've done quite a bit
>of 35mm telephoto and macro photography. For macro filming it seems that
>all of the DV cameras I've looked at will only focus close at their wide
>setting. This necessitates a very close approach to your subject. Are
>there any prosumer level DV cameras that have a close focus at their mid
>focal length range? I'd like to be able to fill the frame with a subject
>that is 1/2 long or so at an 8 to 12" subject to lens distance. I'd also
>like to have at least 15X optical zoom. Anybody got any suggestions? Are
>there lenses for the Canon XL that will fit these specs?

John Beale covers this well, above, but a few additions:
I've had excellent images using both single-element
"close-up lenses", as JB suggests (I like the no. 2 Nikon
for being able to shoot high-mag macro at max tele, but,
in the same shot, be able to zoom "wide" and get
infinity-focus for showing the location. Also, 2-element
"achromats" can be a little sharper (made by Nikon and
many others). If you need to use a moderate step-down ring
to fit the close-up attachment to the camera lens, this will
rarely cause vignetting, unlike with other lens attachments.
Macro in video is FUN! ;-) For long-lens work, the 20X zoom
of the GL-1 is hard to beat (though' for other reasons, this
is not a favorite camera of mine... [see my reviews at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm ]).
For nature video, a good circular polarizer can be useful
for saturating color in some situations. It can be
especially nice when shooting into small patches of water
with reflections (and fall leaves in the water...;-) - try
rotating the filter while shooting - the results can
be amazing...