I work as a videojournalist and have a A1 PAL version. I had problems with blurry faces shooting 4:3 SD just like Jan Luethje. Haven´t looked at HDV on a monitor yet.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=87214
My professional collegues, that shoot 2/3' P2 cameras thinks the camera has a backfocus problem, similar to the one of Sony PD150, after testing it.

Has anybody else noticed backfocus problems?

(Test it by for instance focusing manually close up on somebodys eyes, zoom ut while leaving the focus unchanged. For me, the focus ended up on the ears or shoulder after zooming out instead of the eyes. The picture was blurry too)

Thanks Erik

Back focus was the first thing I checked out, and mine is fine. It could be you have one with a problem. I would go back to where you bought it asap.

I thought the a1, had the type of lens that needs to be refocused after zooming?

No. You use it like any other lens--zoom in and get critical focus, then zoom back to where you want to be for the shot. If it doesn't stay sharp, there's a problem.

Mine definitely needs to be refocused after zooming... if i go from a wide shot to a closeup, the focus changes completely.

Mine definitely needs to be refocused after zooming... if i go from a wide shot to a closeup, the focus changes completely.

It is the other way around, zoom in first and then pull out, it should be in focus, if not then back focus is off, if you focus at wide and then zoom in, all camera will be out of focus.

I let you know what Canon says. /Erik

I had the same back focus problem with my G1 and returned it. I've had no problems with the new G1. You should send your camera back immediately.

Canon adjusted the focus, now it seems better. Only tested a few minutes the other day. But I'm not that impressed by the DV quality. Tricky too make it look good. I think I shoot HDV and downconvert only - takes some time to process though.

/Erik

can you upload a sample of said DV?

Mines displaying a back focus problem as well. I'm going to take it into Canon to see what they say about it. I guess for now I'll have to live with manual focus for this next gig I have coming up.

If you lose focus in auto focus but it stays shap in manual, that's not a back focus problem--that's shooting with auto focus on. Make sure it's off. Zoom in, get your critical focus, zoom back to wide and it should be in focus. If not, then you have a back focus problem and it should be sent in for adjustment. The only way you can shoot with auto focus on is if you compose with things centered in the frame.

As far as not looking good in DV...I've shot qite a bit of DV, 24F footage for a couple of people and it looks great.