Is there a lens that can be attached to an XL lens that will turn your 16X9 image into a 2.35 image by optically expanding the horizontal view without expanding the vertical? Then take the 16X9 image and in post expand it. Just for clarification that would mean that you get a 480 pixel vertical image by essentially an 1128(?maybe?) pixel horizontal image. And am I correct in thinking this would be better for a theatrical release then extracting the middle area of 368 X 864?

You need a 16:9 anamorphic adapter for your 20x lens. I'm not sure who makes one. I thought Schneider (formerly Century) had one, but it's for 58mm lens fronts and your XL2 20x lens has a 72mm front.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/Ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?CID=1070&IID=881

I used that panasonic anamorph adapter on my xl2
the results were quite nice. you get a 2.66 super scope.

How does it look?

If you use a 1.33 anamorphic lens how many square pixels would that be? And is there a way to look at the image in actual 2.35 (or 2.66) with out it being stretched vertically, either with the cameras viewfinder or with an attached monitor? Thanx.