My cousin is probably going to make the switch from DVCAM to XDCAM HD and is offered some packages from our dealer. He will get a PDW-F335 with a Fujinon XS17x5.5BRM or a Canon KH20x6.4 KRS lens. What do you guys think is the best lens for general shooting ans which one would you buy? Our dealer told us that Fujinon HD lenses are sharper then the Canon's. And how about CA on both lenses? Which is worse? Price of both packages is about the same.

For myself I have bitten the bullet and would like to get the Fujinon HS16x4.6BERM, on a new PDW-F355 instead of going for the brand new PDW-700. The PDW-700 is an incredible versatille camera, but too expensive for my needs right now. We saw the Fujinon XS13x3.3BRM super wide angle at our dealers shop last week, and I was very impressed with that fantastic piece of glass, knowing that I am a Canon man for many years. Killer lens on the wide side, but to me personally it has not enough on the tele end. I hoped that Canon came out with a 2x extender version of their KH13x4.5 KRS on NAB this year. Therefore I would like to buy this Fujinon combination that has both; wide angle and tele with the extender. Has or is somebody using this HS16x4.6BERM? Does this lens also suffer from CA like the lower end models? How about distortion at full wide angle? I can not find much about it on the internet and my dealer did not have this beauty in his shop.

Thanks in advanced guys!

Not a complete answer, but I think you really do get more or less what you pay for. If you buy a £10,000 lens it'll be better than a £4,000 lens etc. As for Fuji and Canon, I think they're about the same given the same price range.
Steve

HI Ivan,

I used the XS 17x5.5 quite a lot - its versatile for general shooting.

YES, a WIDE angle + Extender lens is a good option, but the 17x5.5 is more affordable. At least I am not going THAT far into tele so I am happy with the wide and tele numbers.

Regards

ULI

It's stating the obvious perhaps but the Fuji 17x5.5 is a LOT wider than the canon KH20, but then the KH20 is a LOT longer than the Fuji. If you work mainly at the wide end go for the Fuji, but if you need a long lens go with the Canon. Optically they are very similar, neither is perfect but in real world use both perform adequately.