Shingoshi

Little off-topic, but most newer DSLRs (Canon 5D mkII, Rebel XSi 450D, as well as various Nikon offerings and some other less-visible brands) are now including video recording - 1080p and of course, full support for each manufacturer's full line of lenses. BTW, a lot existing semi-pro video gear has interchangeable lenses as well - even 6-7 years ago, the Canon XL-1 MiniDV cameras we were using at the digital-arts school had interchangeable lenses. If you really want modularity, take a look here: I'm not allowed to quote web links! The thing is that I don't have the thousands of dollars to buy any of the available interchangeable lens video systems on the market. I became frustrated with not being able to outbid anyone for the Canon L1 and XL1. This is precisely why I have chosen this route. By going to a smaller scale using the C-mount, I'm able to reduce my costs to where I can afford this system. So instead I'm building one from off-the-shelf components capable of doing what I need. And if I really had the money, I would want an Arriflex D-21! Xavian-Anderson Macpherson ShingoshiDao[/b]

I've found some cameras by Dalsa, Hitachi, Sony and others which have very high megapixel resolutions. The highest I've found was on the order of 16 megapixels. The best way to find them is to search for "cctv megapixel" on Google. I know that I've found others as well. But you will be looking at relatively high cost to obtain them. Especially as you move into the higher chip sizes. The largest I've found is 1.2", which is fairly close to a 4/3 digital camera chip. That has recently inspired me to search for the possibility of using a Foveon X3 chip in a C-mount camera. I need to investigate whether using a lower resolution setting, will increase the frame-rate the camera is capable of. My motivation for looking for these concepts has been motivated by the desire to build my own videography equipment. I've always wanted a video system with interchangeable lenses. That has always been my highest priority in considering what to do. I'm building a video system the way many build a component audio system. I'm buying the parts I want to deliver the features I desire. The result is I have greater options at lower cost. I recently purchased a Samsung SCC-131A, and am now purchasing an assortment of M39/M42 adapters and lenses to use on it. The Samsung has a resolution higher than most digital cameras when recording video. And since I've only paid $26 for the camera, I'm way ahead on price. And the big fact is that you can't buy video cameras with interchangeable lenses with less than a few to several thousand dollars. With my having chosen the C-mount, any lenses I buy for it, will be usable on any other camera I choose to upgrade to. And as far as resolutions go, you simply can't beat what's provided by photographic lenses. Even those of smaller format. EDIT: I doubt you could find any higher resolution than this!! Arriflex >> 35_mm_digital But I don't think it's exactly what you were asking for. Maybe it'll inspire your imagination. Xavian-Anderson Macpherson ShingoshiDao