I know it seems a little awkward questions, but I have a good reason for it.
I have about $3000 budget to add extras to my XH-A1.
Letus Extreme has been my thoughts for shallow DOF for interviews and maybe weddings (details and whatnot).
Then when I visited B&H this afternoon, I saw JVC HD110U for $2999.99.
If stock lens on HD100U is good enough for me to have shallow DOF, why not?
I would not have to bother with rails and attaching/detaching lens & adopter from cameras and whatnot.
Then again, how smooth would workflow be with HD110U for the editing?
For the price, I could get a brand new HD110U with money that I could get Letus extreme plus lens.
HD110U's DOF would not even close to using Letus, but would it still a lot better than XH-A1? I am keeping all the extra stuff for HD110U to a minimum if that's where I am heading.
Any thoughts?
I would greatly appreciate your opinions on this.

JJ

If stock lens on HD100U is good enough for me to have shallow DOF, why not?
I would not have to bother with rails and attaching/detaching lens & adopter from cameras and whatnot.
Then again, how smooth would workflow be with HD110U for the editing?


DOF is a factor of several things, not one of them being "quality of lens". The HD110U has 1/3" chips, just like the XH-A1. No advantage there. Same DOF, all things considered with the noticeable difference being the Canon is probably a bit more light sensitive so you'd get a LITTLE shallower DOF on the JVC in the same light conditions SOLELY due to a wider aperture.

Workflow with JVC's depends greatly on what edit software you use - SPECIFICALLY what version of any given software.

And this is coming from someone who is VERY happy to own 2 HD200U's.

Thanks, Shaun. Since their chip size is same, I thought wider aperture of JVC lens would make some difference, but I don't think that's the case here...

JJ

As part of a focal distance/focal length/aperture combo, I'm sure it will make a BIT of a difference, but nothing massive. I would suggest that imager size is probably the biggest single factor in DOF.

Thanks, Shaun. Since their chip size is same, I thought wider aperture of JVC lens would make some difference, but I don't think that's the case here...

JJ


I bought a Brevis35 to use with my HD100 because the DOF was virtually the same as every other 1/3" miniDV, HDV camera out there. Stick with your XH and get the adapter if you want shallow DOF.

In addition to the fact that the DOF is the same as with any 1/3" camcorder, the Fujinon stock lens on the JVC GY-type camcorders has a terrible "wide angle" of 5.5mm - you'd really have to consider a wider lens, the 5.5mm is really not fun to work with as your widest focal length.
Other than that I think the GY-types are the best to work with 1/3" camcorders because of their real manual lenses and the shoulder mount form.