Bolex Aspheron arrived
 

Came at lunch today by Express Post from Montreal. It's in beautiful shape: clean and little-used. Soon as I find a shop to make up an adapter, I'll clap it onto my XL2 and see how the wide world looks ...

By my math, this will shorten the focal length of my 14x manual Canon zoom from 5.7mm to 2.964mm---with no barrel distortion! That's the rough equivalent of a 21mm rectilinear SLR lens. (Be still, my beating heart.)

John,
You must have a really good use for this unit. Do you mind if I ask you what kind of stuff you'll be filming with it? Dramatic work in small rooms or more wide panaramic stuff?

As much of both as I can manage; all dramatic stuff. As a matter of fact, I'm writing a short script which cuts back & forth a lot between overexposed suburban street exteriors and dim, cramped suburban household interiors. I think this lens will save my butt more than once.

Tom Hardwick's comments about how close this lens can focus (given what it's mounted to) are tantalizing. The deep-focus possibilities, esp. with the XL2's 16:9 image, have me imagining lots of shots ...

I'm also impatient to use this with my MagiqCam stabilizer. And I've just finished building an 8-foot jib ... hell, I may never take this Aspheron off the camera.

Got some calls out to machine shops about the requisite adapter but nobody's gotten back to me today.

Hey John can you fill us in on how the Aspheron is working out for you on your XL2?

Naturally I'm curious about how it looks in 16x9, and how well it works with the 20x lens. Also how much did your specially made adapter end up costing? (assuming you found someone to make one)...all I could find online was the one from barbertech for like $70....which is kinda high just for a step ring.

Found this the other day John:
http://www.lesbosher.co.uk

Just the sort of place to make you up a Bolex > Canon adapter.

Les is a really nice guy, and should be able to help make you what you need. Just give him a ring, or send an Email.