Speaking of wide angles...Cavision has a small mattebox that will mount to a 72mm (or other) lens without the need for rods. They also have a "W" version, for 16:9. Since the A1's not out yet, I know nobody knows if that or any other matte box works OK without vignetting at the wide angle, but I was wondering if anybody had figured out which matte boxes might work at the wide angle of the A1's lens, since it's wider than the H1.

We struggled with the decision between the HVX and the H1. And we went with the H1 for a couple of reasons.

1) The 24F mode looked and performed like true 24P so we felt comfortable with it.

2) The resolution was superior to all cameras in its class.

3) We were already comfortable with the form factor (being XL2 shooters).

4) HD-SDI output options.

5) Picture quality and custom preset tuneability.

I saw a movie projected in a theater shot with the HVX and also saw the camera in person, and I really liked it. The footage looked great, and there are some things about the camera I really, really like--especially slomo capability. However, I had to decide against it because of the P2 workflow. For the type of stuff we do, the data handling and archiving would be way too time consuming and take extra personnel, not to mention the expense of getting enough media to make it work. So along with your list of H1 features, I'd add the fact that it records to DV tape as a plus.

Sorry if it sounded like I was ragging on the HVX200. I take back the foot shooting comment, it was more of a toe-shoot. I think the HVX is an awesome camera, the footage from its looks really good, and in some ways its way more advanced than the A1/G1 (P2 cards, variable frame rate etc.). But with the release of the A1/G1 being similiarly priced and in that same size/form factor as the HVX I just am curious that if Sony and Canon have access to higher res ccds for cameras at this price range, why a similiar technology wasnt available to a big hitter like Panasonic, especially on such an advanced camera? Whats up with that?