Steve - enjoying your reviews of the EX-F1, but I have some basic questions for:

1). Is this camera a real possibility as a replacement for a traditional HD video camera?

2). Or is this a high speed only, specialty camera?

3). Would you buy this camera again?

Thanks!

john

I've got a couple of questions for Casio. Will get them answered -- I hope -- at CES on Sunday.

Anyone volunteer a comparison of the HV20 vs EX-F1. Clearly the EX-F1 has more manual controls.
How is the actual video ? Low light ? Dynamic Range ?
And Steve, will eagerly await your answer for the previous question.

"Is this camera a real possibility as a replacement for a traditional HD video camera?"

After sampling all the new camcorders at CES yesterday, I've come to the conclusion the current crop of consumer camcorder are simply too small, too light, and too lacking in manual controls to be really useable.

They have no mass. They are all like kiddie kams. Your arm simply flies about.

The VF are either terribly tiny or have been hacked off.

The new Canon FS10 likely delivers a wonderful pix, but the tiny dial for exposure/focus/etc. takes many turns to make even a small adjustment. And, it's a 1/2-inch from the left mic!

There is a black-on-black button next to the dial that is really tiny. It turns on/off the dial. I couldn't see it or even feel it.

The F1 delivers a great pix and handles like a traditional 35mm camera. It feels like a camera. (The Canon 5D is too heavy for my tastes -- the opposite problem.)

Steve. One thing still confuses me. The F1 is advertised with 720P but only 1080i. Does it record 1080/30P ? or only 1080i ?

Steve. One thing still confuses me. The F1 is advertised with 720P but only 1080i. Does it record 1080/30P ? or only 1080i ?

It records 720p30 and 1080i60.

Thanks Steve for all your work on this...

Here's hoping we get that fat sensor into a camera we can use for film making...

john