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HTS 1.5 or a Cambo

I've shot food commercially for 30 years. I started with 4x5 and 8X10 Cambos. When I made the shift to digital in 2006, I went with a Cambo Ultima 23 and a Leaf digital back mounted on a sliding back. For the record, I'm still using my old film lenses, Rodenstock and Schneider 100 and 150mm 5.6. I take full advantage of the camera movements for the pictures that I take and can't imagine making photographs without them. Not saying it can't be done...there's lots of great food pictures taken with something other than a view camera...they just don't fit well in with my work habits.





 

palermo

New member
I've shot food commercially for 30 years. I started with 4x5 and 8X10 Cambos. When I made the shift to digital in 2006, I went with a Cambo Ultima 23 and a Leaf digital back mounted on a sliding back. For the record, I'm still using my old film lenses, Rodenstock and Schneider 100 and 150mm 5.6. I take full advantage of the camera movements for the pictures that I take and can't imagine making photographs without them. Not saying it can't be done...there's lots of great food pictures taken with something other than a view camera...they just don't fit well in with my work habits.
Nice work! good stuff.
 
Thanks.
The only real time that the view camera is a hinderance to me is when I'm shooting ice cream, as the extra step/time involved in doing a focus check can be an issue. I don't shoot tons of ice cream, only on occasion. I used to put the Leaf on my Hasselblad when I needed the ability to focus quickly and then a few years went by where I didn't use it, so I foolishly sold the bodies and lenses.

As I type this, I'm bidding on a large ice cream project, wishing that I had the old Hasselblad available to me. I may need to buy something for the short term, or do a rental to accommodate this particular project.
 

Professional

Active member
I don't have a way to compare as I've never used a digital version. I can say though that I can't see any shortcomings of the analog lenses, at least with my older back.
Yes, i don't have digital versions yet, but as you said, those analog ones are no slouch as well, i even tested my family cheap Canon DSLR [500D] on my Shen Hao with Rodenstock lens and it was unbelievable sharp and details, i even confuse which is sharper, this or my Hasselblad H Macro lens, so that i was thinking how the digital LF compared to that.
 
Yes, i don't have digital versions yet, but as you said, those analog ones are no slouch as well, i even tested my family cheap Canon DSLR [500D] on my Shen Hao with Rodenstock lens and it was unbelievable sharp and details, i even confuse which is sharper, this or my Hasselblad H Macro lens, so that i was thinking how the digital LF compared to that.
I'm sure there are 'technical' reasons as to why the digital versions are better? But, from a practical standpoint....

When I went digital, my budget covered the back/camera/computers, etc., with not much left over for new digital lenses to replace the lenses that I already owned and had used for years. I put the old lenses on the new camera system and never looked back. My images are used commercially; packaging,advertising, etc. I typically get to see the finished results and so far, all of my expectations (and more importantly , those of my clients) have been met with this old glass.
 

Professional

Active member
I'm sure there are 'technical' reasons as to why the digital versions are better? But, from a practical standpoint....

When I went digital, my budget covered the back/camera/computers, etc., with not much left over for new digital lenses to replace the lenses that I already owned and had used for years. I put the old lenses on the new camera system and never looked back. My images are used commercially; packaging,advertising, etc. I typically get to see the finished results and so far, all of my expectations (and more importantly , those of my clients) have been met with this old glass.
Excellent, this is all what it is about then, getting the job done and become happy!!!

I am very new to those LF and even MF things and i just have 4 lenses analog for LF [2 for Graphics cameras], not going to give up them for digital any soon, and not have too if i can have the budget for digital separately one day, but i must get a tech cam first.
 
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