35mm equivalent of camcorder zoom lens

Hi,

I'd like to be able to compare my camcorder zoom settings to what I'm

used to from 35mm "still" photography. The camcorder lens

reads "f=2.9-58.0mm 1:1.6". What does this compare to in normal

photography? Also, is this truly a f/1.6 lens even at the long end?

The camcorder is a Panasonic NV-DS150 (probably other name outside

Europe as I can't find it on the web). The manual says it has a 1/4

inch CCD.

The lens you have on the NV DS150 2.9mm to 58mm f 1:6 is a 20X lens.The factor of 11.4 for a 1/4 in CCD will give you the 35mm lens conversion.(got factor from a Canon site) 2.9 X 11.4 =33....58 X 11.4 = 661, so it is a 33mm to 661mm lens in term of 35mm format, this sounds big but you are going to a 1/4inch CCD.When a lens says it is a 20x it means that you multilply the widest part of the lens by the 20, you have a 33mm at wide so 33 X 20 = 660, that is what you have at the tall end of the lens.A 10x lens on a 10mm wide is a 10mm to 100mm lens etc... Most manufactors give you way too much telephoto on the Video camera lens, it is cheaper to make, you can NOT hold a camera steady with that much telephoto ,it will look like you are standing in a row boat... .You really need more wide angle on the lens.You will most likely lose a stop or so at the longer part of the lens, look at the f stop read out while you zoom from wide to full telephoto and see where it drops.Below is a link to the NV DS150

http://www.camcordercentre.com/acatalog/Our_Product_Range_NV_DS150_78.html