I recommend the Sony HDR-XR500V ($1099.00) or the Canon VIXIA HF20 ($899).

You can find the Sony HDR-XR500V at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/597655-REG/Sony_HDRXR500V_HDR_XR500V_120GB_High_Definition.html

And you can find the Canon HF20 at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/597427-REG/Canon_3535B001_VIXIA_HF20_Dual_Flash.html

Thanks for checking out the place. I loved the story "Into The Wild".

i would like to start filming and i want to buy a camera

looking at the low budget market the only camera i can afford if gy-hm100 jvc

i want something tapeless with good quality and no transcoding

do you think that camera is ok? will it be possible to put a 35mm adaptor on it?

is there any other camera that will be easy to use in that price range?

i dont want to use tapes because it looks like its the end of the road for that technology

excuse my english i am from israel

by the way tom i loved your videos and everytime i look at them i am touched 

the movie  INTO THE WILD jumps into my head

the jag will fit on your small hd camera but just be aware of its limitations before you drop the $300 to $400.

so JAG $400 and the Letus $1800. big difference in price, big difference on quality. remember, you get what you pay for.

when talking 35mm lens adapters, zoom is usually out of the question. if you want a zoom film lens, make sure you have a back focus adjustment on the 35mm adapter so that focus follows the zoom.

if you want snappy zooms, you can do some of that in the camera when zooming into the Letus adapter's ground glass from z70 to z99.

i am not a big fan of JVC. i would buy the sony EX3 with the letus elite. spend more money on good film glass.

good luck, post more questions here in this forum.

tom

 Also, I'd like to get into pro level camcorder market but am unsure what to get being a layman. I need something that gives me that film look (letus orJAG35 adaptor?) , I perfer a tapeless system, something that can give a quick zoom in-and-out for action shots (is this possible with a letus?) along with being hand held - if possible, and working with a budget for $4K - $10k initially. Would the Sony Ex1 be the way to go or does the non-interchangable lens limit this camcorder?

What do you think about the JVC GY-HM100 for those needs above? Not possible?

Thank you.

i did not have this problem with my ex1. i must also say that i have only used the ex1 without the letus extreme for about ten minutes! that 35mm lens adaptor is literally glued on to the front of my camera!

did you try to send it into Sony? I sent mine to New Jersey to get the firmware upgraded so that I could have 24p HDSDI output and use the 32 GB cards/external 60GB drive. It took the camera about two weeks for Sony to turn it around.

Tom

Thanks,

Ludovic.

Now that you are cooking with fire, post some of your test videos on Vimeo. Send me a link when you do. Good night.

before i go confirm/deny the following:

• you are using a sony sxs memory card (like the 8gb)
• format is 720p 30 HQ
  
• S&Q motion is turned on, set to 60 FPS and screen darkens about two stops
• Hit record, you will see S&Q and 720p 30 in upper right of v/f, whip the camera around so you see lots of motion.
  
• you set the camera to “media” mode and playback the footage using thumbnails and see slowmotion footage.

if yes to the first two and no to the last two above, you have a serious problem. call sony on monday.

good luck. cya

Have everything on manual. Everything. Will set up again and try recording. Will post results asap.

d-