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Cambo Actus prototype - first hands on look

Lorenz(X)

New member
I got one more question: Is the front standard moveable on the rail,I would like to be able to move it further back so I don´t need any extension of some kind to be able to put the camera on the tripod head in a way that makes it possible to rotate around the entrance pupil of the lens. Especially with say a 210mm lens I would have to use something like that. If that is possible,it would be very easy to do cylindrical panoramics with tilt involved,and the use of the rise and fall would make it unnecessary to do multiple rows! That would be very cool indeed!
And Guy,I am looking forward to your review,information about this little gem is very scarce so far! I will be able to get an impression of this little thing during the photokina,for wich (lucky me) I won a ticket by filling out a form on the ALPA website,and since I am living in Germany,I gotta go there. Will take some pictures and report my first impressions!
 

synn

New member
I had read somewhere about a version of this that can take a medium format back. Is that still on the cards?
 

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
Hmm, I'm thinking that outside of the dealers I've probably got the embarrassment of having all of the Actus versions in my possession at the moment! Actus DB, Actus DB+ and an Actus Mini right now (temporarily at least, the Actus DB has to go back as part of a trade).

Btw, if I weren't still in lust with my Alpas and was starting again then my only technical camera would be a Cambo Actus, although that is completely predicated on having a CMOS back with great live view. I was going to get another Alpa Max but the Actus DB made that unnecessary.
 

vjbelle

Well-known member
Hmm, I'm thinking that outside of the dealers I've probably got the embarrassment of having all of the Actus versions in my possession at the moment! Actus DB, Actus DB+ and an Actus Mini right now (temporarily at least, the Actus DB has to go back as part of a trade).

Btw, if I weren't still in lust with my Alpas and was starting again then my only technical camera would be a Cambo Actus, although that is completely predicated on having a CMOS back with great live view. I was going to get another Alpa Max but the Actus DB made that unnecessary.
Agree...... if I didn't have my Alpa investment then it would be one of the small units. Are you happy with the fineness of the movements? There have been some reports regarding a sloppy swing movement and since I have not been able to use one am curious regarding your impressions.

Victor
 

T.Dascalos

Not Available
There is a similar conversation, although related to all "mini" view camera & mirrorless market but only the Actus, that I created and is currently running on LuLa... http://forum.luminous-landscape.com/index.php?topic=105069.40 Rod.Klukas of Arca Swiss was kind enough to participate on it.
The discussion is currently around lens control interfaces, but there were earlier thoughts on the usefulness of the systems for pro work instead of view camera & MFDB combinations and what is generally examined is the future of the systems and their ability to provide a modernized platform that should offer lens interface communication and the ability of the user (if he so wishes) to upgrade step by step into larger sensors, yet retaining the same interface...
 

GrahamWelland

Subscriber & Workshop Member
Agree...... if I didn't have my Alpa investment then it would be one of the small units. Are you happy with the fineness of the movements? There have been some reports regarding a sloppy swing movement and since I have not been able to use one am curious regarding your impressions.

Victor
I do know what you mean about the swing controls. I wouldn't really class it as 'sloppy' at all but it is easy to accidentally dial in swing by mistake and it isn't set with the same level of centre detent as some of the other controls like rise & shift. This means that if you dial in swing then you have to manually dial it back to zero. I found that I can do it by feel by feeling when the side of the front mount lines up with it's base (you can also see the shift on the dial on the side too but you'll have to make the effort to look at that vs feel). I think that it would be tough to add but I'd rather have a lock since I rarely use swing vs tilts.

The controls are nicely damped and a world of difference to perhaps a large format camera (other than perhaps some of the fancier studio cameras - Sinar for example) where typically 'sloppy' would be an improvement over completely lacking in any friction.
 

vjbelle

Well-known member
Very much appreciate the reply, Graham. I was very close to pulling the trigger on one from C1 when I decided to check on lens availability from Schneider. As is widely known they are out of the LF lens business but still have some stock. The lenses I really wanted are out of stock with only the 120mm Digitar being available. That lens can be bought from B&H for $2100.00 vs the same lens, same shutter from Alpa for around $4800.00 US. That's a big difference and would normally cement the deal. Rodenstock lenses, OTOH, are priced unmounted at almost the same price as Alpa charges. That makes no sense to me...... Schneider unmounted at almost half price of Alpa and Rody unmounted at almost the same price.... This is what makes me pause.

Victor
 

vjbelle

Well-known member
Actually, the prices at MMF for unmounted Rody lenses are substantially less than US prices at either Adorama or B&H. I don't get it.

Victor
 

daf

Member
Actually, the prices at MMF for unmounted Rody lenses are substantially less than US prices at either Adorama or B&H. I don't get it.

Victor
We (in EU) are used to pay much more money for same product than what you pay in the US ... for example official price sony A7RII is 3500€=3800$ ... i remenber when i bought my surface pro 3, it was something like 800$ more than what it cost in US.
You probably have some kind of "import taxes"....or BH just try to make a lot of money.
In any case you can order from MMF (serious guys) .
 

f8orbust

Active member
B&H is pricey for this gear - Badger Graphic less so (e.g. R/S 40mm is ~$600 cheaper) - but still dearer than EU dealers (typically ~$800 cheaper again). I'd advise using a LF specialist like Linhof and Studio in the UK and saving a ton of money.

Sad news about Schneider - but on a positive note they can service their gear for years to come, so no one should be concerned about investing in new / used lenses etc. Still prefer the overall IQ of symmetrical designs compared to retrofocus equivalents.
 

vjbelle

Well-known member
Thanks much for the info..... Sure is a shame about Schneider but that's the way it goes. I have four of their lenses which pretty much covers anything I shoot ( 35mm, 60mm, 100mm, 150mm ). All in Alpa mount, so the only way an Actus makes sense is if a couple of lenses I don't currently own could be purchased reasonably - which means Schneider if purchased from B&H. I wanted the 72mm and 180mm but Schneider is out which leaves only the 120mm, which also is of interest. Those could have been purchased at half the cost of the same lens in Alpa mount. Alpa knows how to make a buck.....

Victor
 

daf

Member
Thanks much for the info..... Sure is a shame about Schneider but that's the way it goes. I have four of their lenses which pretty much covers anything I shoot ( 35mm, 60mm, 100mm, 150mm ). All in Alpa mount, so the only way an Actus makes sense is if a couple of lenses I don't currently own could be purchased reasonably - which means Schneider if purchased from B&H. I wanted the 72mm and 180mm but Schneider is out which leaves only the 120mm, which also is of interest. Those could have been purchased at half the cost of the same lens in Alpa mount. Alpa knows how to make a buck.....

Victor
F8orbust is right ... take a look at linohf studio in uk they maybe have some stock : http://www.linhofstudio.com/products/Schneider-Digital-Lens
 
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