EX3 and 35mm Adapters
 

I totally understand the advantage of 35mm Adapters. I have been looking at test shots of the EX3/EX1 from FreshDV, and it has awesome DOF without any help. Do you really need a 35mm Adapters on cameras such as the EX3. And if so wouldn’t it be faster/easier to just get the Sony ACM-21 2/3″ Lens Adapter and use your own 2/3″ lenses you may already have(or buy one)? Or maybe use a Fujinon lense. Why am i seeing people using 35mm Adapters on the EX3. Is it because they already have the 35mm Adapters from previous cameras, or are the 35mm Adapters cheaper and better than video lenses from Fujinon. Long story short EX3 with a 35mm Adapter or the EX3 with the ACM-21 2/3″ Lens Adapter in between with a Fujinon or Canon lense.

It's a matter of taste. I think 1/2" gives adequately shallow dof. But some people obsess over it -- people put 35mm adapters on 2/3" cameras as well. Here's the EX with no adapter. Winter Thaw -- A Film Shot on Sony XDCam EX on Vimeo

If your specifically after shallow depth of field, even a 2/3" can't come near a 35mm lens in a practical way. A 1/2" sensor is roughly 8mm diagonal, 2/3" 11mm, and a 35mm frame is 28mm. Large difference.

I 1/2" chip works pretty well for a shallow depth of field if you're shooting outdoors (distances are great). But if you're shooting indoors, especially in smaller rooms, a VERY shallow depth of field because more important. (it also makes getting a correct focus more critical)

The EX3 can get nice shallow DOF with a longer lens but it doesn't compare anywhere near what you get with a 35mm adaptor. But don't get obsessed with shallow DOF. 35mm adaptors give superb organic film look to harsh HD video even when going for a deep dof...