Exactly. We both got tricked, me and my reseller, by JVC Italy (who appears to be just a sales office with 4-5 people, no expert, nobody to call, ....). The had this "special" deal: HM700 + SxS Recorder + 16x Fujinon Lenses for 5.700 € + VAT but I was always told something like "the Fujinon Lenses" and knowing that the HM700 was due to be sold with 17x I assumed that was what I was getting. Fooled. Shame on me. CA can be controlled a little but sometimes you just have to decide.. I do the shot (and then clean it) or I just forget it? I'll be buying new lenses later.. but surely this was not a nice surprise.

The only possibility for you is the newest Canon 14x4,4 or to buy via internet the Fujinon 17x5.

As comparision, many people think that the HPX301 from Panasonic will be better in CA
with their CA-Correction, but the HPX301-CAC only works in the horizontal and so only
the vertikal CAs will be corrected and so I can see on some footage a lot of CAs also
on the HPX301-Shots on horizontal- & diagonal-lines.

Too late. Can't affor another HD Camera ! :)

RE: 16x5.5 Fujinon.
As I'm sure you've already found out the long end of the zoom (past 45mm) has some pretty intense vignetting and CA. Try to stay in the stop range of F/2.8 to F/5.6 for the least CA, and try not to zoom too much further than 45mm. We've seen many great images created with the Fujinon 16x5.5 lens over the last 4 years. It is unfortunate you got that lens when you were expecting the Fujinon 17x5, but if exchange is not an option then there are ways to work with it.

I would add (having the 16x lens) that f4 to f5 from 60mm to 88mm is the WORST and is NO LONGER the sweet spot for the stock 16x lens. Try wide open or f11 to f16 at 88mm. At f4.5 at 88mm the center is in focus but the left and right thirds are out of focus. If you are at f11 or f16 at 88mm then the sides come into focus to match the center. Overall not as sharp as 40mm at f4.5, but it's more usable.

recap: As you move from 40mm towards 88mm move from f4 towards f11 or f16. I've gotten great shots at night wide open at that lengths as well. Bizare I know... I almost wonder if my lens is an oddball made friday afternoon or monday morning.

Thanks.. I'll try to get the best out of them. Sometimes it will be possibile (when I have time to shoot). Other times I have to end the dy with 1h30mins of footage... not easy to do all at the best! :)

Thanks Alex too. As above.. I'll try when it's possible. SOmetimes you just have to go for what you get.

Unable to view your files
 

Hi Tim,

I am unable to open your files I'm using WinXP. what codec do I need to open and view your files?

thanks,

-kaj

Windows XP users can download the Calibrated Software XD Decode quicktime component.
Calibrated{Q} XD Decode

The demo will "gray out" the middle third of the image so its usage is limited.

The german test-magazine video-aktiv Digital says that the max
resolution is only 700 lines with the 18x4,2-Fujinonoptic,
in this configuration the price will be arround
17.000 €. They say that the CAs will be a problem,
and the other great problem is the formfactor,
That a user must stabilize the Cam with
the other hand, but the Cam tilt to the
cameramans head.
Many in Germany say that the HPX301 will
the better oportunity.

But Video-Aktiv-Digital comes to the result
that the resolution is horizontal & vertical
the same between 700 & 800 lines.

So I think the HM700 with Canon-Lens
will be sharper than HPX301 with AVC-Intra,
the second opinion is the bad workflow
when you edit Avc-Intra with AppleProRes4:2:2.

ok I'll give it a try thanks.