Hi all,
I have spent quite a while looking through this forum and searching, but haven't quite found a suitable answer to my question;

I have access to (through my school) a Canon XL1 and XL1s, and wanted to make a 35mm adapter for it. Several questions;
-What would be the disadvantages/advantages to making one rather than buying one?
-How expensive would it be...
-Is it possible to make one directly for the interchangeable lens system on these Canons?
Thank you very much...please remember that I've never tried making one before, and would need some basic explanation on some things.
Best regards,
Anatole Sloan

The equation to balance is money vs. time...if you have more time, make it...if you have more money, buy it. Keep in mind that this project takes lots of tweaking time. :)

As I can work at school, I have a huge advantage that I have access to tons of machinery stuff, like all sorts of CAD equipment, etc. I have a fair amount of time...and not very much money:-)

Try here
http://www.jetsetmodels.info/tutorials.htm

Try here
http://www.jetsetmodels.info/tutorials.htm

Thanks, Igor. Do you know what the quality tradeoffs would be with a cheap DIY one, if any?

Am I right in saying that a DIY adapter will requre a 7 times wider lens to reach the appropriate lens length according to 35mm?

Tradeffs are maybe none, maybe alot, maybe resolution drop it depends on how much money and time you invest. Bigest problems are good ground glass and good achromat lens if you need it. Please try first to understand real purpose of this adapter. This is not only thread adapter from camcorder to SLR mount. With 35mm adapter that we are talking about here, you are actualy filming projected image from 35mm lens on the ground glass. So there is none or little difference in actal length of 35 mm lens. Try wikipedia for basic info, then search thru this forum. Here are tousands of posts from very good people, but you must have alot of time to catch up what is going on for last couple of years. Good luck.

Is there anyway that you can attach one of these directly to the Canon XL1, as there is an interchangeable lens system - rather than attaching it over the current lens?

Take a look at the LetusXL, this 35mm adapter connects directly to the XL body.

Here's a couple of adaptors whose insides have seen the light of day :-

AGUS35 DISMANTLED - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnweOEEqlRY

LETUS35 DISMANTLED - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yugfv4ZVXgg

I suggest you visit the Redrock M2 site where there is a home design available along with a groundglass and achromatic dioptre.

There's other ways of doing it using threaded tubes and Nikon Mounts on front.