I'm considering buying the HV20 and just saw this stunning test footage (albeit with ridiculous amount of diffusion added in post): http://www.fonike.info/MEDIA/HV20tryout.mov

What I find amazing is that there's serious depth of field without an adapter. Can anyone tell me how easy it is to do great cinematic shots with DOF like that? Also, would rack focusing be easy to do?

Thanks

Descent DoF in right conditions. Rack focus is not easy IMHO since you're using a "dial" instead of a focus ring. Great little camera though.

A rack focus effect is easy to achieve using instant auto focus (AIF), if you make yourself aware of area in the image where the instant auto focus works from.

Works something like this:

a. image in the rack focus would be foreground--to the right or left. Set the focus on it by point the camera directly at it, centering. Once the AIF has focus, push focus button to put it in manual. Focus will be locked at that point. Now set up your scene with the a image right or left in screen, and not protruding into center.

b. Your b target would be in background initially, center. Start you camera running. At appropriate moment, push focus button again, and AIF will snap focus to the rear image....

Once you've gotten used to positions for focus, you can do this regularly with subtle camera movements...

As far as depth of field capability, remember that DOF is a function of many factors. A larger imager has shallower depth of field. Shooting with a wide open aperature give a shallower depth of field. So open the lens wide for maximum depth of field. With this camera, that means shooting in AV mode, selecting widest aperature, and living with the shutter speed you get.