We edit with Avid, we have a two of Express Pro HD Licenses which work on a laptop and two Avid Adrenaline Media Composer HD systems which required the Avid Adrenaline box. Right now we are doing HDSDI capture into the Adrenaline box.

Once Avid provides XDCAM HD support we expect to be able to just move the MXF files (firewire) to a laptop and then import into Express Pro HD, so we don't have to carry an Adrenaline with us all the time. We generally convert everything to Avid's internal form (DNxHD) for editing.

Once in Avid we can do pretty much anything we need to.

I would say the F350 is just about ideal for documentary work. If you have a good monitor for focusing it helps, although the "quick zoom" feature on the Fujinon lens works pretty well (Canon HD lenses have something similar

I\'m considering one of the two cameras and a deck for our next purchase, which probably wouldn\'t be till the end of next year, after they come out with the first upgrade. I did that with the DSR500--Sony had the first minor upgrade within about a year and that\'s when we got it and some DVCAM decks.

I had no desire to go tapeless, however it seems to me the XDCAM format is about the same thing as shooting on tape, but it allows a better workflow. One thing I like a lot is the proxy file thing, so both editing systems could store proxy files of every original disc. This beats spending half a day scrounging through boxes trying to find the sunset over the river shot I did 4 years ago, etc.

Only problem is from the brochure pdf I downloaded, the software is not Mac-compatible. That would eliminate the whole idea of XDCAM for us. However, I\'ve also heard a rumor about something between Sony and Apple at NAB, presumably it would involve compatibility, but who knows. If they get that worked out and its backwards compatible to our new dual 2.7 gig G5s, then we might be able to move to XDCAM HD soon.

Thanks for the info---I\'m running down to Abel Cine next week to take a look--I\'m interested to look at some 2/3" lenses on the camera---They haven\'t set that up yet but I will report back when I see them in action.

At the Texas HD Shootout last night we did have time to put a 2/3" Fujinon HA18x7.6BERM lens on with adaptor. I was suprised at how good it looked. Fujinon had warned me that we might lose a bit of resolution and sensitivity with a 2/3" lens and adaptor. We did not really see any of that. It looked as good as the 1/2" Fujinon lens. Adam Wilt made some comments about the artifacts indicating that we were getting more high frequency information from the 2/3" lens, which sounded like a good thing. I am sure Adam will explain it all in his write-up.