Letus Extreme or JVC HD110U? at DVinfo.net

J.J. Kim · April 10th, 2009, 02:59 PM

I know it seems a little awkward questions, but I have a good reason for it.
I have about $3000 budget to add extras to my XH-A1.
Letus Extreme has been my thoughts for shallow DOF for interviews and maybe weddings (details and whatnot).
Then when I visited B&H this afternoon, I saw JVC HD110U for $2999.99.
If stock lens on HD100U is good enough for me to have shallow DOF, why not?
I would not have to bother with rails and attaching/detaching lens & adopter from cameras and whatnot.
Then again, how smooth would workflow be with HD110U for the editing?
For the price, I could get a brand new HD110U with money that I could get Letus extreme plus lens.
HD110U's DOF would not even close to using Letus, but would it still a lot better than XH-A1? I am keeping all the extra stuff for HD110U to a minimum if that's where I am heading.
Any thoughts?
I would greatly appreciate your opinions on this.

JJ

Shaun Roemich · April 10th, 2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.J. Kim

If stock lens on HD100U is good enough for me to have shallow DOF, why not?
I would not have to bother with rails and attaching/detaching lens & adopter from cameras and whatnot.
Then again, how smooth would workflow be with HD110U for the editing?

DOF is a factor of several things, not one of them being "quality of lens". The HD110U has 1/3" chips, just like the XH-A1. No advantage there. Same DOF, all things considered with the noticeable difference being the Canon is probably a bit more light sensitive so you'd get a LITTLE shallower DOF on the JVC in the same light conditions SOLELY due to a wider aperture.

Workflow with JVC's depends greatly on what edit software you use - SPECIFICALLY what version of any given software.

And this is coming from someone who is VERY happy to own 2 HD200U's.

J.J. Kim · April 10th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Thanks, Shaun. Since their chip size is same, I thought wider aperture of JVC lens would make some difference, but I don't think that's the case here...

JJ

Shaun Roemich · April 10th, 2009, 03:38 PM

As part of a focal distance/focal length/aperture combo, I'm sure it will make a BIT of a difference, but nothing massive. I would suggest that imager size is probably the biggest single factor in DOF.

Dylan Couper · April 10th, 2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.J. Kim

Thanks, Shaun. Since their chip size is same, I thought wider aperture of JVC lens would make some difference, but I don't think that's the case here...

JJ

I bought a Brevis35 to use with my HD100 because the DOF was virtually the same as every other 1/3" miniDV, HDV camera out there. Stick with your XH and get the adapter if you want shallow DOF.

Heiko Saele · April 16th, 2009, 03:32 PM

In addition to the fact that the DOF is the same as with any 1/3" camcorder, the Fujinon stock lens on the JVC GY-type camcorders has a terrible "wide angle" of 5.5mm - you'd really have to consider a wider lens, the 5.5mm is really not fun to work with as your widest focal length.
Other than that I think the GY-types are the best to work with 1/3" camcorders because of their real manual lenses and the shoulder mount form.

April 10th, 2009, 02:59 PM	#1
J.J. Kim Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wheeling, IL Posts: 270	Letus Extreme or JVC HD110U? I know it seems a little awkward questions, but I have a good reason for it. I have about $3000 budget to add extras to my XH-A1. Letus Extreme has been my thoughts for shallow DOF for interviews and maybe weddings (details and whatnot). Then when I visited B&H this afternoon, I saw JVC HD110U for $2999.99. If stock lens on HD100U is good enough for me to have shallow DOF, why not? I would not have to bother with rails and attaching/detaching lens & adopter from cameras and whatnot. Then again, how smooth would workflow be with HD110U for the editing? For the price, I could get a brand new HD110U with money that I could get Letus extreme plus lens. HD110U's DOF would not even close to using Letus, but would it still a lot better than XH-A1? I am keeping all the extra stuff for HD110U to a minimum if that's where I am heading. Any thoughts? I would greatly appreciate your opinions on this. JJ

April 10th, 2009, 03:38 PM	#4
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	As part of a focal distance/focal length/aperture combo, I'm sure it will make a BIT of a difference, but nothing massive. I would suggest that imager size is probably the biggest single factor in DOF. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

April 10th, 2009, 03:15 PM	#3
J.J. Kim Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wheeling, IL Posts: 270	Thanks, Shaun. Since their chip size is same, I thought wider aperture of JVC lens would make some difference, but I don't think that's the case here... JJ

April 16th, 2009, 03:32 PM	#6
Heiko Saele Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wurzburg, Germany Posts: 316	In addition to the fact that the DOF is the same as with any 1/3" camcorder, the Fujinon stock lens on the JVC GY-type camcorders has a terrible "wide angle" of 5.5mm - you'd really have to consider a wider lens, the 5.5mm is really not fun to work with as your widest focal length. Other than that I think the GY-types are the best to work with 1/3" camcorders because of their real manual lenses and the shoulder mount form.