In message , SjT writes
As subject, i really want a cam that will give me a nice soft
background as you see in the movies.

Done, I believe, by opening up the aperture giving smaller depth of
field.

I'm guessing with the characteristics of miniDV there's going to be no
viable options.. but hey, someone out there may know otherwise, or
have some great tips for me.

One possibility is to use a neutral density filter (or a polarising
filter that does (as well as other things) the same thing). Less light,
larger aperture, smaller depth of field. The other possibility is to use
the AE "sports" function which has the same result.

You can demonstrate these effects to yourself.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info