[Johnny Clark]

Hey Dan,
m2t is a file format like QT is a file format. you can choose on the DRHD100 which format you want to record to. Since QT wrecks the audio you’re kind of stuck with the m2t option as it does not.
My QT audio experience with the DRHD100 was pitiful at best. There are lots of threads coving this here on the COW and elsewhere so be sure to know what you may be getting into before thinking its the be all end all solution.
I sent the drive to Focus 3 times thinking it was a flaw and they ended up pretty much telling me to deal with it… I bought it with intentions similar to yours and sold it never wanting another Focus product.

Then when the firewire port blew on the JVC camera I had no way to get the footage from the tapes so I had to send the camera to JVC and they took many weeks to even get back to me.

Like I said, others may have wonderful praises for this setup (hd200 and drhd100), I do not!

[Johnny Clark]

If those are your only contenders than get the hm700. The HD200 isn\’t aging well as you probably have seen throughout these threads.
The form factor rocks on both models.
The focus enhancements hard drive ruins the audio and adds a sick hiss when recording to QT format so m2t is manditory so in the end there is no native format from the hd200. Maybe others have had different experiences but things like blown FireWire ports and limited support from jvc really stink.
I vote hm700 from the two choices you gave.

[Johnny Clark]

I would say if you want a nice DoF buy a Canon 7D and a fast prime.It’s the cheapest, high quality solution there is. The DoF adaptor market is currently dying because of DSLR’s that shoot HD video and their great low light capabilities and the opportunity to utilize all aspects of the lens (aperture, shutter speed). Every camera has limitations but so do adaptors.

If you want shallow DoF at great quality, I feel the 7D will fit the bill for many users. Of course you’ll still have the JVC for run and gun, shoulder mount situations, but the right tool for the job can really make things easier, and in some case cheaper.

This is just my 2 cents before you make a purchase like this. People will continue to use DoF adaptors for a long time to come and I’m not bashing them, I just feel there are newer products that do a great job and offer better picture quality at a smaller more manageable size.

[Johnny Clark]

I talked with Dennis at Cinevate a while back and he said they were looking into a 1/3 relay.
In my opinion the rig you suggest is totally huge and not easy for one man to operate.

Going through the stock lens is mediocre at best. Yes you obtain shallow DoF but it’s a pain. The problem is, once you use the rig fully tricked out, you’ll love the picture quality but you’ll find you need many other accessories to really make it work like you want it to. For example, you’ll need: Portable HD monitor to focus from, preferably mounted on the camera, since you probably won’t be able to reach the 35mm lens on the very front you may need a follow focus, hefty tripod, cases, more lighting (since you’ll lose with the stock lens zoomed and the adaptor 3-5 stops of light), and good 35mm glass.

By the time you get all of this you’ll have spent way more than you want to. I’ll be the first to admit that adding DoF to your image is priceless, getting it to work the way you want it to is costly and burdensome.
If you were mounting to say an HVX/HMC or smaller camera, it’s way more manageable, but with the HD110 it’ll be a huge rocket launcher. I don’t mean to rain down on adaptors with the JVC cameras but I’ve tried it and this is how I feel about it.

[Johnny Clark]

With mics like the ntg2 a battery is always required, even if it\’s dead. It’s best to have a battery that\’s at least 75% charged at all times when using phantom pwr or not. Hope this helps. Always a have a battery in the chamber.

[Johnny Clark]

Sounds like you have a blown FireWire port, common in these jvc models.
I know that can’t be what you want to hear but better to hear it sooner than later. Big problem with these cams is the support from jvc. If you have no other cams or decks to capture from then you’ll have to capture via hdsdi, component, composite. Good luck.

[Johnny Clark]

You should be able to drag the files directly into FCP and start working with no log and transfer necessary. That’s the beauty of the camera, being to edit straight from the memory if needed.

[Johnny Clark]

The relay will allow you to use 35mm adaptors without the fujinon or canon 1/3 lens.
The outcome is a smaller rig and more resolution.
JVC’s PL Mount adaptor is cool but you only get 16mm DoF. They cost about the same.

[Johnny Clark]

The form factor of the JVC is unbeatable! The Sony EX3 will be better in in low light and has the obvious resolution win.

With the new 1/2′ Letus Relay coming soon, the EX3 will be a serious contender. I spoke with Dennis Wood at Cinevate and he said it’s almost 100% that 1/3′ Relays are coming very soon. These relays allow these cameras to use 35mm lenses without the crappy stock lens as the relay, awesome.

As the early reviews state, the new HM700 is a little sharper than the HD200 series was, and maybe a tad bit better in low light, but with a drastically better workflow.

Both cameras appear to be winners but true testing will be the final judge.

[Johnny Clark]

Shoot the hvx200 in DV and use the Anamporhic setting and not letterbox. If 24p is out of the question then use 30p. Remember, DV uses only a 60i stream, there is no native 30p or 24p outside of 60i. Use the JVC in HDV mode because it looks great. Covert the footage later if need be or convert the HVX footage to HDV later. I would use Tim Dashwood\’s Dsc Align setting for best color reproduction on the JVC and use cine-v on the hvx.