Are there any MiniDV camcorders that can add optical lenses?

[MachineMan]

Are there any consumer MiniDV cammcorders that can accept different optical lenses? Wide-angle, > 2x Zoom lenses, filters....... Many MiniDV cam only have 10x optical zoom which isn't enough. Sony has a telephoto 2x zoom lense which isn't very impressive and its mounting looks like an after thought. Something similar to changing lenses on a convential 35mm camera.

[vhelp]

hi MachineMan,

I too am sort of stuck in this area - Sony TRV-22 cam.

But, all these cams are thread-based. You have to really search out far to
find any attachments.
.
.
I bought a wide-angle lens at CC because the guy said it would fit. I was
happy till I got it and to my surprised did not come anywhere's near/close
to fitting my TRV22. I ended up keeping the lens though, cause it was kind
of cheap for me at the time, and I still needed to do some experimenting
and testing (can't do that w/out a WA lens) and nobody really had an in
expensive lens then.

What I'm doing is this..
I'm rigging up my CAM to a board and piggy-backing the lens onto a foam.
And, what I do is sort of slide it along-side the board, clamp it down (easy)
and vualla.. instant WA.
.
.
I'm currently testing this out w/ some ideas on my 2.35:1 aspect ratio scenarios.
Actually, it's comming out quite nicely
.
.
Still, would be nice if they had a Cinema 2.35:1 lens attachment for the TRV22.

-vhelp

[MachineMan]

Here are the accessories I found on the SonyStyle web site:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_AccessoryCate...var_3=DCRPC330

The lense doesn't look to have threads and neither do the the MiniDV cams.

Does your auto focus and zoom work well with your set-up?

Im looking to buy a new MiniDV camcorder next year that has >3MP stills but want more the 10x optical zoom. I have my eye on the Sony DCR-PC330 which currently overpriced. I want MiniDV for the smaller size so I can easily keep it in a backpack or large pocket.

[hootie29]

Vhelp,

I have the Sony trv-33. I purchased the Sima wide angle lense from Best Buy and it came with 3 aluminun step down rings, a 30-37mm ( this one fits the trv-33) , a 30.5-37mm and a 28-37mm ring. I think they whole outfit was around $30.00.

hootie29

[vhelp]

On my Sony TRV-22 . . .

Does your auto focus and zoom work well with your set-up?

I don't really like the auto focus. I'ts my opinion that cam equiped w/ an
audo focus on results in impage artifacts, due to the constant lens movements.

Final Conclusions: I stopped using it
** I get an average weighted (by eye, and experience) and use that
as my final focus. If I have to adjust the focus, I'll quickly do it via the on
board touch-screen. Takes a bit of pratice and feel, but once arrived, there's
no stopping the applications..

As for the zooming.. its ok, though I'm not sure what issues you are having
w/ your zooming ??

I have found that if you zoom at all, you do so w/ some kind of contraption
or gizmo. I have a motorized Panning toy I found. Really works well. No
sudden jerks, hence smoother bitrate.
.
.
I'm still working w/ this toy. I want to rig it to adjust the panning speed
for up/down/left/right movments - or till I find something better.
.
.
Otherwise, leave zooming alone, except for when you are at a given scene
where you can afford to zoom (if cam is not moving, and not in one's hands)

-vhelp

[vhelp]

@ hootie29,

I didn't know about these rings (steps downs) at the time I bought the lens
(but that's prob why the salesman said it fit, cuse it thought it came w/ those
rings) But, the lens I bought did not come w/ any.

I wonder if they carry them separately

-vhelp

[hootie29]

vhelp,

I did a search for just the ring and the only place that had it was on Ebay. I don't know if local camera stores would have them or not.

hootie29

[saspgmr]

First, the Canon VR series has a relatively wide optical zoom range (18x for the 60 and up to 22x for the 70). Second, they have add-on wide-angle and tele lenses available (in 2 quality levels). I use a VR70 with the wide adaptor lens. It gives a significant increased field of view but results in some curvature of the field (which can be very noticeable if you have a straight line object in the picture). I've had good success with over 15 hours of tape shot in about 6 months.

[MAXIMUS01CAN]

I bought a Sony DCRPC9 DV camcorder, Wide angle, Zoom lens and filters all off Ebay separately. The adaptor ring fit both lenses no problem along with 3 different filters. Have had no problems at all. The only thing with the adaptor ring is when you zoom back all the way with the Wide angle you can see the ring, but just a touch of zoom it's gone. Still working on that. Anyways all I did was make sure that the Wide angle and Zoom/adaptor ring matched the camera and had no worries.