I'm thinking of getting the HPX500 with Canon or Fujinon wide-angle lens instead of the various std. kit lenses.
Has anyone seen pricing on the new Canon HDgc KJ13x6B KRS lens? This lens looks like excellent fit for my shooting applications. Has anyone had a chance to work with this lens, if so any impression of it's focus, zoom and iris control and build quality? Since it's an HD lens hopefully it will be pretty sharp and CA corrected.

I could be wrong but I don't think that lens has even shipped yet; it's not part of any distributors inventory that I've seen. It's hard to tell exactly how this lens is positioned in the Canon lineup since they're going after a market price-point that is *supposed* to be lower than the current HD-spec lineup. So unfortunately it may be months before someone picks up this lens and actually uses it.

Robert, your probably right. I'll just hold off getting the HPX500 until that new Canon 13x wide lens becomes available. I really want to get a wide angle this time around. I was always getting cramped trying to shoot interviews in SD with my YJ19x9BKRS for red carpet events, backstage fashion shows, small groups of people in nightclubs etc. Because the further back you get from the action the more smoke shows up between you and the subject. The other obvious problem is people keep stepping between you and your subject and light fall off from on camera Frezzi.