Bob: For close-ups with a long zoom of course you don't want the fuzzy grain, and at that long focus you often have the DOF you want anyway. But for the wider set-up shots, for shots of trees and plants you just can't get the viewers eye to stay where you want it with video without the DOF, and so that is why I'm considering M2, and having got M2 for the wide shots I may need match the stock shots. Now it may be when I see it that the clarity for the long shots may look right as is. I'm just thinking ahead.

Michael, I've not used the M2 so can only go by the images on the M2 website, but those images look grain free. However the images are very small. My requirement of the M2, if I were to use it, would be that the images be sharp and noise free. Shallow DOF doesn't equate to soft. If the M2 does show grain (the rotating screen is designed to prevent that) it might cause problems for the mpeg encoder. You need input from Spot (or other M2 user) on this (and/or rent one and try).

The rough surface of the spinning glass screen does soften the picture as a whole (like as in no need to use edge softening in Vegas) and Redrock/Indie people sees this as a plus, just as I have the FX1 sharpness knocked down now. I just wondered if matching M2 to no M2 was a problem because the "look" was different. In a previous post you (Serena that is ) said " perhaps I need a different camera". I didn't take much notice of this at the time but what did you mean by that? There is no digital HD comparable to the FX1 that has more DOF is there?

3 of the shots here were not shot with the adapter:

http://www.patrykrebisz.com/nelson/nelson_movie_fla.htm

Can you tell which ones?

>>>digital HD comparable to the FX1 that has more DOF<<<

I was thinking of cameras with interchangable lenses (such as the Canon XL H1) and the Sony HDR-V1U has a built-in 20x zoom. When you say 'more DOF' do you mean greater DOF (more in focus at one time) or narrower field of view (bigger images of distant object)?
Generally you seem to be happy with the FX as a camera but are frustrated by the limitations of the built-in lens. The various options you're considering aren't cheap, so my suggestion is to consider also the cost of trading the FX for another camera which is a better match to your needs. The XL H1 (and others) have flexibility to match the lens to the job, but are more expensive. Farss suggested an SD camera (with interchangeable lenses) could be economically worth considering (see other thread) for your purpose. If keeping with HDV, Spot rates the V1 highly, so if the 20x will do what you want the trade up may be the cheapest way to go. There are other http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/HDV/index.shtml?&WT.mc_id=C123833Canon cameras[/link] with built-in 20x zooms.

At that size how can anyone tell what anything was shot on?

The whole point of shooting HDV is for big screens and that might be the trap with these adaptors. It might not too, but until you're able to see the limitations of naked HDV to compare with impact the 35mm adaptor has it's pure guesswork.

Let's not forget we're talking wildlife, not narative drama.

Bob.

I thought the newer cameras you described there Serena also had the DOF limitations of video. I take a lot of shots a flowering cactus, and desert shrubs and desert rock formations and I can not train my viewers eye to the subject because of the pretty full detailed and in focus mountains all around. I need get narrow DOF to focus attention to the subject. That was the attraction of the M2. I don't think any of the cameras you suggested will help me here - that is why the M2 is becoming such a big item with Indie guys.

So you really mean less DOF, not more. Unfortunately many people use technical terms rather loosely and it tends to be confusing when "limited" DOF is intended to mean deep DOF. Tele lenses have limited DOF, wide angle have deep DOF. Since your first query there has been a large drift in specification of needs, (as you'll see in my summary in the previous thread). No, any small sensor camera has a larger DOF than one with a bigger sensor, and even the 2/3 inch cameras (usual professional cameras) don't match 35mm film cameras in that regard. Anyway, good that you've decided what you need. If you want shallow DOF, then the M2 will deliver. If you want to stick a 1000mm lens on it, sure you can do that too; but if you want to do that then you should be looking for another camera.