Cheapest 35mm solution?
 

I have a Canon XH-A1 and I'm looking for the cheapest 35mm solution available. I am strapped for cash and simply cannot afford a Letus or Redrock setup right now, but want to start working on my own shorts and I really want that 35mm look.

I know going for something cheap will mean sacrificing some quality, but I'll just upgrade when I'm able to afford it.

You could build your own. It will save you some money and you'll lean alot about how they work.

How much would a DIY setup typically cost to build?

it varies depending upon what you have laying around the house and what you need to buy. Not counting cost of the 35mm lens and the achromat lens, mine cost about $60 in materials. A lot of time was involved especially in testing and tweaking so depending upon how much your time is worth, the price is acutally much higher.

You can read about my trials and successes and even see test video as I progressed through different stages of build:

Mid-Format DOF Adapter - DVXuser.com -- The online community for filmmaking

There are a few guys that make decent DIY adapters and sell them. Go over to the dvxuser.com site and search the 35 mm adapter forum. They are going for $350- $500. This is a better bet than trying to start from scratch. I've seen some nice footage with these adapters.

Another approach--a Nikon d90. Bodies are going for around $850. Quality is very good, but not great. Depending on what you are looking for in your final deliverable it may be the most reasonable solution (especially if you have any Nikon lenses--but you will have to buy lenses for any 35mm adapter anyway). The d90 has a grain/sharpness structure of 16mm, with a DOF/optical look of 35mm film.

Just a thought.