DCX lens - what does it do?
 

I was just at this url
http://www.paddlefilms.com/agus35.htm

and noticed that he/she refers to the DCX lens. Is this the macro lens?
Also, I did a search and found that I can get around 50 for 3-4 buck! But I wonder if it needs to be high grade? Maybe the $3-4 are just cheap plastic? Not really sure. I have tried emailing the creator of the site, but haven't heard anything - I always try to do my DD first!

Anyone else have luck something like a DCX lens?

Thanks

It looks like a lens to even out a hotspot in the image, or it could
be used as a ground glass I think...

A DCX, or double convex lens (or concave) can be used for many applications. It converges all light parallel to it's principle axis (meaning the lens is symetrical about it's horizontal axis). It could be used as a condenser or could be integrated as an actual imaging lens.

What does the condenser lens actually do?

Condenses the image size which yields a brighter image per square area. It helps eleminate hot spots and pull in extra light that would otherwise end up in useless places.

Ok, so a macro is still need, it just deals with the hotspot and other problems. Thanks!

It is feasible that the DCX is being used as a macro. It certainly could be. All a macro does is shorten the focal length of the lens to allow closer focusing. These are normally some form of meniscus lens but you could possibly have one made as a DCX. In any case, you will need something that acts as a macro. Macro lens, custom lens etc.