Originally Posted by Joe Holt

Jay,
Keep the ideas coming. Here are my thoughts...

1). A medium format lens would work to increase the image size and hence would reduce the grain (static adapter) I agree with Brett about the magnifyer. I don't know of anyone who has made an adapter based on Medium format lenses though. My guess why is because these lenses are much more expensive and harder to come by than 35mm lenses. If you have one laying around, I'd love to see some images with a medium format rig.

2). Why use a two way mirror at all? Couldn't you use an optic quality surface coated mirror? The mirror would be mounted at an angle that would project the image directly onto the 3M reflective surface mounted just above the opening for the SLR lens. The video camera would be mounted on a higher plane than the SLR lens. The 3M surface could be mounted at a parallel angle with the mirror keeping everything in the same focal plane. The problem I see is the video camera's need to be perpendicular to the reflective surface for proper focus. This would probably require the video camera to be mounted at an angle perpendicular to the 3M surface. This would work with smaller video cameras but would be quite challenging with larger models like an XL1.



.......3M/.......[]Video Lens
SLR[ ]...../mirror

This might be a nice grainless option for the new prosumer HD cams just now hitting the market. Let me know what you think. Joe

Originally Posted by Joe Holt

Hey Jay, or anyone one else interested. I found this Med. Format lens on ebay. It might be ok for adapter making. It's currently at $12 and ends in 2 days. Just in case you wanted a lens for testing your design. Joe

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...EBWA%3AIT&rd=1

Description
This is a Mamiya No. 27972 lens 1:3.5 C series 645mount lens,it is being sold as a parts lens only, the iris is sluggish and is not guauanteed to work. The lens is being sold as is and buyer pays 5.00 shipping in the lower 48, please use paypal if you want the fastest shipment.

Originally Posted by Nicholi Brossia

I'd thought about this idea too, but don't know anything about medium format cameras other than the film being 6cm x 6cm. A 60mm frame would cover a lot more area (grain) than a 35mm without having to be magnified, therefore preserving the medium format's DOF. That would be pretty neat (granted I don't know the difference between 35mm and medium format DOF... from your description it sounds too shallow?).

Currently, with 35mm, a 4:3 frame requires a 50mm diameter focusing screen (ground glass) and 16:9 requires 42mm diameter. That's just about perfect for these prosumer camcorders. A 6x6 frame would require an 80mm diameter focusing screen at 4:3 and 70mm for 16:9. That would be great as far as overall grain coverage, but the adapter would end up huge. Although it may work out super well with the DVX100's 72mm threads, which would be awesome. Any ideas Brett?

Joe, I also like the prism block idea that you've drawn in your Idea 3 design. I'm not optical engineering inclined, but it sure looks like a good idea from my standpoint. The only thing I'd be worried about is splitting the colors up... like the "Dark Side of the Moon" album cover. Again, that may or may not apply.

Originally Posted by Jay Silver

Wow, Winston, you actually built one. Do you have any footage or stills of the images it produces?


-j

Originally Posted by Jay Silver

Thanks for the responses. I agree that the medium format lens idea isn't very cost-effective but it might not be a total dead-end - I think I didn't explain myself very well in that first post, so here's another go.

Click for a diagram:
Medium Format Idea


And in the meantime I've had another thought along the lines of my two-way mirror/3M tape idea.

Another handy diagram:
Idea 3


More for the pot.


-j