I have set of Canon FD mount stills primes that I would like to mount onto my XL1 via Optex's mount converter (http://www.optexint.com/sales/lensmounts.html).
Has anyone used this adapter? I know the converter multiplies the effective focal length by about 7, so do the FD lenses intercut at all with the wider XL mount lenses or is it no comparison?
Has anyone seen it for less than $400 US?

I also noticed that XL1 Solutions makes a mechanical EOS to XL adapter (http://www.xl1solutions.com/canon_ef_to_xl.htm). They CLAIM that the focal length is mulitplied by only 2 to 4. Anyone used this or can confirm this? Seems wrong to me.

Hi Matt,

There are a couple of extensive threads here which discuss the XL1 Solutions products. A search on that name should turn them up for you fairly quickly.

Using the Optex adapter does not change focal length. Focal length never changes, it's a function of the lens. What changes is the field of view. Multiply the focal length by a factor of 7.2 and that will give you the equivalent 35mm field of view.

For instance, if you have a 50mm prime FD lens, putting it on the XL1 via the Optex adapter will yield a field of view equal to what you'd get from a 360mm lens in 35mm terms. In other words *all* 35mm lenses deliver extreme telephoto fields of view when used on an XL1. Hope this helps,

Chris, thanks for the distinction between focal length and field of view; I often interchange the terms and it gets confusing. In general use, is "angle of view" the same thing as "field of view"?

Hmmm. Well er, ahh... see http://www.photo.net/learn/fov/

Reader's comments near the bottom of that page debate this very topic.

Hey Matt - I know this thread is a little old, but I've got a FD/XL converter from Optex if you are interested.