Lens choice-surgery

[87Heel]

OK,
Hope all you experts can help me figure out the best lens. Camera is a Rebel XT.
DH is a surgeon and would like to take the camera to work from time to time to take some specific shots (to be used in later presentations, reports, study). As he describes it to me, he'd like to have a sharp closeup of items that might be 1-3 inches in size. He can't get the camera very close to the subject because it has to stay out of the field (not contaminate the patient). So the camera might be 12-18 inches away. Obviously it's in an operating room, so although indoors, the lighting is pretty strong.

Any ideas of what lens might work for this (and/or a workaround --extender tubes)?

Thanks.

[starrock77]

You are certainly going to want a macro lense. You are also going to want to incase the camera in a plastic bag or something that you can keep somewhat sterile.
Canon makes a few different macro lenses. I would check that out.

[87Heel]

He's taken other cameras into surgery before, so that's not an issue as long as he stays out of the field. He wants the macro but has to stay farther away than some macros allow. Don't want to go with the $$$ macro lens if at all possible if the extender on a less expensive macro would work.

[Kelly Grannell]

unfortunately you can't have the cake and eat it too.

Get a true macro lens that's at least 135mm, or get less quality with macro tubes.

If the picture quality is that important, spend the money. He can use it as tax deduction too. (just a reminder)