Do you know if any other companies plan on making a ressurection for 1/3" CCD camcoders with exchangable lenses, or that the new HD100 cam will use just those two lenses from Fujinon?

I guess that the mount on HD100 will be different on those that are found on Canon XL series?

I'm sure the mount will be different, but with enough consumer interest in the camera, someone will make an adapter. Then the only question is whether or not the XL series SD glass is good enough for HD

From what I've heard, JVC is supposed to have an adapter that will allow the use of 1/2" broadcast lenses.

Even if there were an Canon XL lens adapter for the HD100, it wouldn't be able to electronically communicate with the camera head. Nor would you have any way to control it, since XL lenses do not incorporate grip handles. I could see the black 16x manual XL lens being used, maybe, perhaps its resolution is high enough, but no grip handle on that lens means it will be very diffricult to use it effectively.

Chris-- I agree with you wholeheartedly, but I've seen stranger things when it comes to the XL series of cameras. Everything from arri and B4 mounts to adapters for all sorts of still SLR lenses. People in this particular price range seem to go bananas for removable lenses and will throw nearly any piece of glass onto their cameras it seems--despite limitations.

That is certainly true, Kevin, you're definitely right about that... I'm just saying it may not be practical... but practicality has never stopped do-it-yourselfers, and I mean that in the best possible way!

I guess that the 1/2" lens adapter for HD100 won't have any correction lenses, it will be just mechnically put betwen the 1/3" bajonet and 1/2" lens, not?

Well I don't use dSLR bodies because of this. I hate when the field-of-view of the lens is any how changed. Especially with ultrawide lenses.

Well, I guess we will see.

While at NAB I'm going over to the BandPro booth where Zeiss will be. My question is can they re-work a DigiPrime mount for 1/3in? As their glass runs around 10k$ does it make sense? Same question for the P+S guys.

Robert, I guess it hardly makes sense. Zeiss DigiPrime is different league, also with their preis.. my question was heading if there is going to be more ENG lenses for this camcoder probably from Fujinon or Canon. The 1/3" sensor could be ressurected if more companies would build new cameras with exchangable lenses and 1/3" CCD. The question is, is this possible?

I think a better question is will rental houses buy Zeiss digiprimes at 1/3 inch. At 10k+ apiece, renting will be a more favorable option.

I think if the JVC catches like the XL1 did, we will have a whole array of after market accessories including other lens adapters. So maybe there will be an adapter to use Zeiss primes and normal 2/3" HD lenses.

We never saw much of a "whole array" for the XL1, though...

It has 7 lens available to it plus adapters to basically any kind of lens mount you can think of, plus the mini35. Isn't this a whole array?

It's something, yes. I just wish the manufacturers would get around to making a cheap "prosumer"-priced 35mm sensor or built-in ground glass system. Thus, we could use the huge array of great quality 35mm photo lenses available for so little money

<<<-- Originally posted by Kenn Christenson : From what I've heard, JVC is supposed to have an adapter that will allow the use of 1/2" broadcast lenses. -->>>

One of my camera systems is a JVC GY-DV500U, which uses 1/2" lenses. I have a Fujinon 20 x 6.4 lens for the camera. When I heard about the new JVC GY-HD100, and noticed that the announcement included an adaptor for stepdown from 1/2" to 1/3" my first question was if my Fujinon 20 x 6.4 lens would work OK with the HD100. I shoot alot of sports and wildlife, so the longer the lens, the better. I did some research and made some calls and here's the results:

1) I found an article on the Broadcast Engineering web site that defines the differences between SD and HD lens technology. The bottom line I draw from that article is that using an SD lense on an HD camera will degrade the image that the camera is capable of producing. That there is a 1/2" to 1/3" stepdown attachment being made for the HD100, when there are no 1/2" HD lenses to place there, may simply indicate that JVC is planning ahead for use of future 1/2" HD lenses on the HD100 and it's 1/3" successors. Link to the article: http://broadcastengineering.com/mag/broadcasting_hdtv_lens_design/

2) I spoke with a lense repair firm in L.A. (Focus Optics) that has done excellent SD lens work for me in the past. They also repair HD and prime film lenses of every make for the L.A. market and beyond. When I posed concept of my Fujinon 1/2" SD lens downconverted to the 1/3" HD100 their response was that my 20x lens on the HD100 would be "wider and speedier", but that I would have a serious problem with flaring and that I would not be able to achieve the resolution the camera was capable of.

I have several Sony cameras (PD150, etc.), a Panasonic camera (DVX100a), and a JVC GY-DV500U. I've had great service from all of them. It looks like the concept of keeping the 20 x 6.4 lens for use on a HD100, should I buy one, is not a viable option. I believe a company with the reputation of Fujinon will make the new 1/3" HD lenses (16x & 13x) achieve the resolution the HD100 is designed for.

Steve
I woudn't trust like you any manufacturer.
I also bought a GY-DV500 5 years ago and the provided zoom lense (Fujinon 14X) was a piece of....
I had to buy an industrial U$3000 19X Fujinon (the 20X predecessor) to make the camera works decently.
That zoom also presented very strong saturation and contrast problems along the focal distances.

Best wishes
Ron

Hey Ron. Sounds like you've been down a similar path (DV500 + Fujinon 19x/20x). I've had real good luck with the 20x. No complaints on resolution or distortion with the lens. There are currently no other 1/3" HD or 1'2" HD lenses to upgrade to if the Fuji 16x and 13x for the HD100 are problem lenses. I'll be at NAB for four days checking out all the offerings from JVC, Panasonic, and Sony. I'll check out the HD100 closely, with the 16x and the 13x. I'll also visit the Fujinon and Canon booths to grill them on what they feel are the best lenses for the HD100, and to ask them what future 1/3" and 1/2" lenses are planned. With any luck both of them will have some solid plans for lenses that will work well on the HD100. After NAB I'll post on DV Info Net my hands-on impressions of the HD100, the lenses, and accessories. If you, or anyone else in the community that can't make it to NAB would like me to check out some specific equipment or features, e-mail me your wish list and I'll do my best to help you out. My experience includes 26 years of national television (700 programs for 12 networks), and multiple Emmy Awards as a producer, director, and cameraman. By now I'm a good judge of technology and what it's possible uses are...

My e-mail: steve@cut4.tv

Thank you Steve.
I'd really like that the standard DV recording in HD 100 would be good enough to make film out (and better than the XL2).
Have a good trip.
Ron

I'm hoping P+S Technik will have something soon after release. If I can't afford to buy, I could at least rent . I think the JVC and the Technik are going to be made for each other.

But the proof will be in the image quality. Not the specs.

A P&S Mini35 or equivalent would be very nice but would sell for the same price as the camera (or close). If someone could make a 1/3in to 2/3in or PL the I could use DigiPrimes or regular primes. Heck, it's only a third of an inch.

<<<-- Originally posted by Robert Shuster: If someone could make a 1/3in to 2/3in or PL the I could use DigiPrimes or regular primes. Heck, it's only a third of an inch. -->>>

The 2/3" adapter would allow to put digiprimes and other 2/3" lenses onto GY-HD100, but dont you think these adapters use just some center spot of the lens - they dont use whole area available by the lens? Make the lens more telephoto and less wide?

I honestly HATE this on my digital SLR still camera, thats why I still try to shoot on film.

It's about time for somebody to make a prosumer-priced ground glass or virtual image adapter that translates the image from 35mm lenses to smaller sensor sizes. This camera really screams for such an adapter, and because it has a lens mount, it's much simpler (read: less expensive) to make one for the HD100 than for the PD170, HDX200, Z1/FX1, DVX100, etc.

People are doing that already. I'm getting a beta-test unit of the Guerilla35 adapter tomorrow. I don't know anything about the quality of the unit, but there are some entrepreneurs out there trying to package and sell complete adapters like that.

Cool! Hope you have not signed an NDA and can tell us about it! Is it GG-based or does it use some other principle? Are you actually testing this on an HD100????

Today Fujinon just announced a new ENG 1/2" HD lens designed for the Sony HDC-X300. Perhaps it could be adapted with a JVC mount, and the new JVC 1'2" to 1/3" stepdown, for use on the HD100. It's 18x, so it would give extra length for nature and sports shooters over the stock Fujinon 16x.

Link: http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=31807