Zoom based on 35mm vs. 36mm ?

[kompik]

I'm new to photography and I'm wondering why some super-zoom digicams use a 35-420mm 12 lens and others use a 36-432mm lens. I'm specifically concerned about macro photography, so how would each of these lenses perform differently in that respect?

[Photo-John]

The difference will be negligible. I don't think it will have any effect on macro photography. For macro, the most important spec is the minimum focus distance.

[Sushigaijin]

I second that - close focus distance is the most important thing for macros (except for telemacros, but that's a whole different can of worms.)

The multiplication of zoom is based on the wide angle focal length - so 35 X 12 = 420 and 36 X 12 = 432. Make sense?