I know I can spend $8000 for a professional unit, but I want something in the $300 to $500 range.

Is there anything out there? I even looked at CCTV cameras but the video quality is lousy to say the least, they are all meant for low light and other special stuff that doesn't translate into great looking pictures.

I'd even buy a kit.. all I want is a 1/3" or similar CCD that outputs a good looking signal. I have the lens I want to use. If it were in HD that would be a bonus, but NTSC/PAL is good for now.

Am I out of luck?

You know people are going to say use a DSLR or Panny GH1. Would be more than the $ you are talking, but it's the cheapest thing that does video with interchangable lenses.

Yeah, I tried out one of the new Cannon DSLR's that does HD video.

The problem is you can't use them as a video source because you can't trmove all the GUI elements on th elive view mode. So you can record and playback, but can't use it as a camera to record using other equipment.

I wonder if there is a list of camcorders that shows their CCD size. I could buy one with a cracked or broken lens for cheap and hack it.

The Pentax K-x is another SLR camera you should look into. It cost only $650 with a standard stock lens.

Interesting.. but it looks like the new Pentax can only do 24fps video.

I haven't seen any DSLR that comes close to a camcorder in terms of video recording.

Any lists of camcorders and their sensor sizes? I could always just rip the lens out and MAKE it an interchangable lens camera. :-)

Interesting.. but it looks like the new Pentax can only do 24fps video.

I haven't seen any DSLR that comes close to a camcorder in terms of video recording.

Any lists of camcorders and their sensor sizes? I could always just rip the lens out and MAKE it an interchangable lens camera. :-)

Perhaps you should read up on Optics and how the fundamental laws of optics influences the relationship between a sensor size and lens.

I do understand, thats why I wanted to know the sensor size.

The lens I have is designed for a 1/3" sensor so I would need as close to that as I could get. Most camcorders and digital cameras (not DSLRs) have tiny tiny tiny sensors, which makes it hard to find a match.

Sadly, the new Canon EOS 7D also only does 1080/24-25-30p...fluid motion is available at 720/60p only...but picture can be fantastic in video shooting mode...

and it's $1800...out of your price range...

The lens I have is designed for a 1/3" sensor so I would need as close to that as I could get. Most camcorders and digital cameras (not DSLRs) have tiny tiny tiny sensors, which makes it hard to find a match.

Most of the better single chip consumer camcorders these days have sensors, usually CMOS, in the 1/3" to 1/2.5" range. If you're into taking things apart and essentially building your own thing, you could buy a Sanyo VPC-FH1 for around $400 and use that in your Frankenstein rig... it offers a 1/2.5" sensor, and you can get full video out over HDMI when you're not in recording mode. There's very likely some other thing in the way. And nothing you adapt this way is going to autofocus anymore, it may not even do autoexposure correctly (since those algorithms count on the iris stil being there).

Sounds like what you really ought to do is find a camcorder designed to use that lens... or it is something weird. There are slightly insane lens rigs people have come up with, to use 35mm lenses on cheap, not-interchangeable-lens camcorders. Check out this:
http://www.multimediashooter.com/wp/gear/mount-your-35mm-lens-on-your-video-camera/
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/15/daniel-schweinerts-3.html
http://www.twoneil.com/

The main point of this is to get that sweet, sweet shallow depth of field from the 35mm world, rather than the practically-always-zero-to-infinity reality of most camcorders.

in fact i am exactly in that case.
I purchased recently 2 sanyo VPC-FH1 to shoot stereoscopic video.
i do not want DOF, i want sharp focus everywhere.
but i would need to rip off the standard lens to add a better one and if possible a set of lens i can control manually (or electronically) but at the same time.
Eventually taking the lens comand signal from one cam to feed the other one, so i would be sure that focus and zoom are always in sync.

in fact i am exactly in that case.
I purchased recently 2 sanyo VPC-FH1 to shoot stereoscopic video.
i do not want DOF, i want sharp focus everywhere.
but i would need to rip off the standard lens to add a better one and if possible a set of lens i can control manually (or electronically) but at the same time.
Eventually taking the lens command signal from one cam to feed the other one, so i would be sure that focus and zoom are always in sync.
Just bought the k-x and pleasantly surpassed, my expectations. would highly recommend it here. if anyone can chime in would be good.