HD Lens: Pull focus

Michael Escher · September 16th, 2005, 10:54 PM

Thanks for clearing that up. So how much better is the new lens as opposed to the previous iteration?

Guy Barwood · September 17th, 2005, 12:38 AM

I never owned the original lens that shipped stock with the DV500, I bought a slightly upgraded Canon 16x instead. I heard the Stock Fujinon on the DV500 was pretty poor.

This lens on the HD100 doesn't sound too bad, but there certainly seems to be room for improvement, hence the wide angle lens option which sounds like it will be priced at more than the XL H1 itself. Thats the price of quality HD glass though. Even if Canon have put more into the optical quality of this lens than Sony and JVC, for what you are paying, it still has to be a compromise. Luckily, like the HD100, you can swap lens, but thats only if there is a good enough lens to bother swapping too, and you can afford to buy it in the first place.

Greg Boston · September 17th, 2005, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Escher

I am assuming that the 16x manual lens will still work with this camera as well as the 3x wide angle zoom. Anyone have info on lens compatibility?

Although you can put the older lenses on this camera, Canon doesn't recommend it because the current XL lenses aren't sharp enough to resolve HD. I believe this was stated on their website.

=gb=

Chris Hurd · September 17th, 2005, 02:37 PM

The older XL lenses are usable on the XL H1 only when shooting standard definition DV.

Michael Escher · September 17th, 2005, 08:22 PM

Did they set it up so the camera will only shoot in DV resolution with the old lenses and not work if you try to use them in HD? I'm a bit dubious that these lenses won't have the resolution needed. It seems like a way to get us to fork out more money for new lenses.

I'd at least like to see some tests. Perhaps one of the members of this community who buys the XL H1 might try both 20x lenses in a side by side test.

Kevin Dooley · September 17th, 2005, 08:25 PM

I'd rather see a test with the 3x... 20x is 20x, but if the 3x could pull it off (though I doubt it, since it's always been known to have been a little soft...)

Chris Hurd · September 17th, 2005, 08:27 PM

Oh, you can run an H1 with an older XL lens attached... but the image will appear to be... err... a bit soft. The 3x wide especially, I mean I haven't seen this, but I'm willing to bet you a six-pack of Shiner Bock that it'll be noticeably softer. The next chance to find out will be at Canon's next trade show, which is... Govt. Video Expo? I think... in November.

What the XL H1 needs is a full manual wide angle lens, about 10x or 12x, and hopefully costing less than an arm and a leg.

Kevin Dooley · September 17th, 2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

Oh, you can run an H1 with an older XL lens attached... but the image will appear to be... err... a bit soft. The 3x wide especially, I mean I haven't seen this, but I'm willing to bet you a six-pack of Shiner Bock that it'll be noticeably softer. The next chance to find out will be at Canon's next trade show, which is... Govt. Video Expo? I think... in November.

What the XL H1 needs is a full manual wide angle lens, about 10x or 12x, and hopefully costing less than an arm and a leg.

I wish I could win that bet... It's been a while since I could even find Shiner Bock--last time was when I lived in Kansas City, and even then it was spotty.

Chris Hurd · September 17th, 2005, 08:33 PM

Apologies for the off-topic post, but surely you can find Shiner in Chicago if you dig deep enough Kevin! The next time I'm up there, let's meet up for a pub crawl. I'll bet we can locate the right bar, or at least have a good time trying.

Michael Escher · September 17th, 2005, 09:18 PM

http://www.shiner.com/dist_map/availabilityMap.html

Kevin Dooley · September 18th, 2005, 05:11 AM

Well, even though Shiner's site says it's a no go... I'm always up for a good pub crawl... Look me up when you next grace Chi-town Chris.

September 17th, 2005, 12:38 AM	#17
Guy Barwood Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 423	I never owned the original lens that shipped stock with the DV500, I bought a slightly upgraded Canon 16x instead. I heard the Stock Fujinon on the DV500 was pretty poor. This lens on the HD100 doesn't sound too bad, but there certainly seems to be room for improvement, hence the wide angle lens option which sounds like it will be priced at more than the XL H1 itself. Thats the price of quality HD glass though. Even if Canon have put more into the optical quality of this lens than Sony and JVC, for what you are paying, it still has to be a compromise. Luckily, like the HD100, you can swap lens, but thats only if there is a good enough lens to bother swapping too, and you can afford to buy it in the first place. Last edited by Guy Barwood; September 17th, 2005 at 12:39 AM. Reason: spelling

September 17th, 2005, 02:37 PM	#19
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	The older XL lenses are usable on the XL H1 only when shooting standard definition DV. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 17th, 2005, 08:25 PM	#21
Kevin Dooley Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 414	I'd rather see a test with the 3x... 20x is 20x, but if the 3x could pull it off (though I doubt it, since it's always been known to have been a little soft...) __________________ Kevin Dooley Media Director, Pantego Bible Church

September 17th, 2005, 08:27 PM	#22
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Oh, you can run an H1 with an older XL lens attached... but the image will appear to be... err... a bit soft. The 3x wide especially, I mean I haven't seen this, but I'm willing to bet you a six-pack of Shiner Bock that it'll be noticeably softer. The next chance to find out will be at Canon's next trade show, which is... Govt. Video Expo? I think... in November. What the XL H1 needs is a full manual wide angle lens, about 10x or 12x, and hopefully costing less than an arm and a leg. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 17th, 2005, 08:33 PM	#24
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Apologies for the off-topic post, but surely you can find Shiner in Chicago if you dig deep enough Kevin! The next time I'm up there, let's meet up for a pub crawl. I'll bet we can locate the right bar, or at least have a good time trying. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 16th, 2005, 10:54 PM	#16
Michael Escher New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 15	Thanks for clearing that up. So how much better is the new lens as opposed to the previous iteration?

September 17th, 2005, 08:22 PM	#20
Michael Escher New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 15	Did they set it up so the camera will only shoot in DV resolution with the old lenses and not work if you try to use them in HD? I'm a bit dubious that these lenses won't have the resolution needed. It seems like a way to get us to fork out more money for new lenses. I'd at least like to see some tests. Perhaps one of the members of this community who buys the XL H1 might try both 20x lenses in a side by side test.

September 17th, 2005, 09:18 PM	#25
Michael Escher New Boot Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 15	http://www.shiner.com/dist_map/availabilityMap.html

September 18th, 2005, 05:11 AM	#26
Kevin Dooley Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 414	Well, even though Shiner's site says it's a no go... I'm always up for a good pub crawl... Look me up when you next grace Chi-town Chris. __________________ Kevin Dooley Media Director, Pantego Bible Church