Hi Denny.
I've just posed some questions in another thread on this subject. As a long time video camera user with a eye on DSLRs.
Do you carry around a fleet of cameras each with one of those different lenses on to be able to grab the shot you want, or do you work in a team?
I do like the look that can be achieved from these cameras but I find it difficult to get my head around how I'd work spontaneously at a wedding if I had to be changing cameras when I saw a different shot that I wanted.I know that you can use zoom lenses but do they not somewhat loose the benefit that these cameras provide of wide aperture and shallow depth of field. I am use to my Fujinon x20 1.4f that gets me from 30 - 600 (35mm equivalent) on tap.
I notice that many of the lovely atmospheric shots in low light (e.g. a church interior) are only achieved with a 50mm 1.4f prime lens. I haven't use one so I'm happy to stand to be corrected.

I will also add my audio would change very little if I switched, here is why.
Ceremony
I use 2 wireless lavs, and a shotgun being mixed with a sd 302 mixer going into both the ex1r and Sony PCM-D50, and have the Zoom H4N recording ambient, full auto, set it and forget it. I have yet to use the Sony recorder, but its there if I need it and would become the main audio if I went all out DSLR

Reception
wireless handheld and zoom H4 on a mic stand at DJ speaker, shotgun on the EX1r, handheld and shotgun mixed and recorded to both ex1 and Sony recorder, Zoom full auto again.

I know the full auto is not a great idea, but its only been used as back up to back up. I listen to it once in a while and its quite good. I have it set up that way so I can have it up and recording in seconds.

Going all out dslr may have me adding a second zoom recorder but I have always been one to have backups.

In my case with my main photography cameras being 2 1D IV's when it came down to the vows, would probably have 3 cameras recording video, one taking the stills I need and sacrificing video capture at that second while the still is being recorded. This way for the most critical part of the ceremony would have 2 2/3 cameras recording video.

George, I am not afraid to use zooms to be able to do exactly what your saying, and also L glass looks great wide open, but does not have to be used that way.

My 50 1.2 was never used at 1.2, I often went up to 2.8 giving me a nice shallow dof and still some room if the couple moved not to loose focus.

While the zooms will not give you as much range as yours do, its a lighter rig so often your feet can help with the zoom.

Thanks Denny.

No problem but remember I am still on the fence and not like the pros on this forum, they know a lot more about it than I do.

My situation is a little different in that I do very little video but wanted it to be great, thats why I got the ex1r, did have 2.

I know technology is changing fast, and although the ex1r will always have a place in the market, I do not want to hold on to it so long its not worth much. I believe there is like 17 hrs on it so if I am going to make the switch its probably a good time to sell it.

Pity your in the states Denny as I know someone here who is looking to buy one.

Hi Denny,

Just to put that into perspective: Drop that to f1.4 (and lower iso/grain) and you're down to just under 5 ft DOF. Put that 35 1.4 on a crop-sensor camera and you're down to 3 ft. Put an 85 1.4 on that crop-sensor camera and you have exactly 6 inches of DOF - 3 inches in front and 3 inches in back.

Online Depth of Field Calculator

Joel that is the beauty of the DSLR, if your subject is not moving you have that option.

I really want to do some testing and get a 5D as wide as the ex1r using my 16-35 2.8 and see which is cleaner while still not have too thin a dof for say dancing at the reception.

I am scared to just jump in with both feet to DSLR, but the footage is so stupid sharp its hard not too.

Thanks Joel...... way cool find there !!!!