Jim, thanks for the positive words. The people I've shown the last few clips to say it looks "nice" "incredible" and/or "beautiful". People are also starting to think I'm going mad, or being way too picky, and to just go with it for now.

I'm thinking more and more that the next real step (enabling medium/big budget project work) is Dan Diaconu's moving adapter (not for sale yet) or making/financing enough $$ for rental or purchase of the P+S. I'm very surprised I've gotten this far, and I've exceeded my original expectations. Expectations usually grow however.

It's time that I remember what my original intentions were - low budget, experimental projects, high impact, mindful and intensely creative music videos, short films, advertising proof of concepts/ability, and documentaries. I now believe the adapter, currently, is suitable for all of that.

very good!

Steve,

Thanks for updating your page. It is invaluable information. Here is some information that might help you streamline even further.

You could replace your multiple spacer rings with a spacer tube from camerafilters.com. They come in 1 and 1.5 inch lengths. Cut the cost of that segment by a factor of 10.

http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/spacerrings.aspx

I also have a parts list at home with three parts for $35 to go from M42 to 55mm. I'll dig that up and post it. Cut that in half.

Also, do you really need a retaining ring to hold the GG? Couldn't you grind it to a diamter that two empty 55mm filter rings together would hold in place?

Josh

What about this focus screen?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=37515&is=REG

Spacers Rings!! Nice!!

Regarding the 3 parts. The elusive part in my setup is the Retrostep adapter from M42 female to 49mm female. I haven't been able to find that anywhere but through SRB who gave me the 3 parts together that formed the M42 to 55mm adapter. Finding an easier cheaper source with internet ordering would be awesome.

I'd have to check whether you could just hold the Beattie in place by sandwiching between two 55mm filter rings, but my guess is that it wouldn't hold tight - the threads are meant to run short of going that deep into the filter ring. Otherwise it would hit the glass that are normally in them. No? The retainer ring (the one that comes with the 55m UV filter) is not much hassle especially since it's meant to be a semi-permanent element.

steev
www.holyzoo.com/zoo_updates.php

Regarding the "Nikon D Focusing Screen for F3 Series Cameras - Plain Matte", the question is, what are the dimensions of that screen? At $30, just buy and see?

The Beattie I'm using is the full width of the 55mm ring (ground to fit), and 40mm in height. Consequentially, It's necessary to align the screen horizontally (once all elements are screwed tight) when doing 16:9 on the Xl2.

I wouldn't want to go smaller than the focus screen I bought, unless.... someone figured out the almighty, mysterious, and undiscovered (except for the P+S geniuses) .... "Relay Lens" and do away with an XL lens.

steev
www.holyzoo.com/zoo_updates.php

I think I might have suggested this before so please ignore if it is a dead-end already proven. For a finer screen which might not be dense enough, maybe try two together face to face so that the gg finish is on a common focal plane but the density is greater.