Cambo Aptus DB: Any Landscape Photographer?

[subrata1965]

Just interested to know whether any landscape photographer is using Cambo Actus DB or not.

If so, what's your experience?

I'm seriously considering this relatively new toy.

[I apologies for incorrect heading... should be Actus, not Aptus]

 

[gazwas]

Me too seems like an excellent camera and have been drooling over one all week poised on the buy button - great price for such a specialised camera.

What confuses me is lenses? So I understand if I use the Actus with a RS 32HRW and FF MFD back its equivalent to 21mm on FF 35mm. What happen if I also use the Actus with a A7r, is the lens only a 32mm or is there some conversion involved. Seems an expensive way to get a 32mm lens with movements.

 

[jlm]

using a 32mm lens on a 35mm camera is just a 32mm lens on a 35mm camera.

using a 32mm lens on a mfdb will capture more field of view, as much as a 21mm lens would on your 35 camera.

going backwards, if you want what a 21 will do on a 35 camera, but are using a mfdb, you would need a 32mm lens on that mfdb.

confusing, eh?

 

[GrahamWelland]

Well actually a 32mm lens is always a 32mm lens ... But yes the FoV will change for equivalences based on the film/sensor size.

In Subrata & John's cases the 32hr with a 44x33 is equivalent to the FOV of 25mm lens on a 35mm sensor. However, it's still got the characteristics of a 32mm lens.

 

[Paul2660]

Me too seems like an excellent camera and have been drooling over one all week poised on the buy button - great price for such a specialised camera.

What confuses me is lenses? So I understand if I use the Actus with a RS 32HRW and FF MFD back its equivalent to 21mm on FF 35mm. What happen if I also use the Actus with a A7r, is the lens only a 32mm or is there some conversion involved. Seems an expensive way to get a 32mm lens with movements.

As Jim said, the 32mm on a 35mm is 32mm. No gain or loss. and you are right, a very expensive way to get movements unless you are lucky enough to already own a 32mm Rodie.

I don't know of the Actus will allow the SK35 to be used in a normal lens 0 board or not. But it's wider than the 32mm and will not give you hardly any movement, about 7mm or less due to the color cast issues from the A7r and A7.

The Rodie 28 would not get to infinity with the Acra DSLR2, again not sure what it would do on the Cambo solution. And if the 28mm won't work, I doubt a 23mm Rodie will either.

Where this solution will really work well is with medium range, 60mm SK or 70mm Rodie and the telephotos. 90mm, to 180mm. The Sony Live View with focus peaking is hard to beat from my experience with the DSLR2. But on the wide side, you are looking at either a very expensive 32mm Rodie, which is not that wide, or the 40mm Rodie which is even less.

Paul

 

[gazwas]

This is what I suspected.

I'd like one for studio work which it could easily do with longer lenses but I'd like it to double act as an architectural camera with an A7/A9/5Ds (and for fun landscapes) and was unsure about the wide lenses. I take it there is no control options for electronic lenses available?

So its still a better platform for MFD than it is for 35mm when needing WA lenses...... shame.

 

[jlm]

i was able to focus the 28rodie (WRS mount) at infinity using the actus and my custom lens board.

 

[subrata1965]

On wide side, Jim has already tested with 28 HR.

However, per CI Blog by Steve Hendrix:

"The good news is that in the same way we have seen with technical cameras like the Cambo Wide family, there are amazing optics available from Schneider Kreuznach and Rodenstock that are as wide as 23mm (which is – unshifted – equivalent to a 15mm lens on a full frame 35mm camera). So this turns the Cambo Actus DB into a true studio/landscape hybrid product. It’s a great studio view camera option for a digital back to mount to for product photography, but also, due to the ability for compressed distance between the rear optic and imaging plane, becomes a very capable landscape view camera for digital back owners."

Not sure whether Steve tested with 23mm or not, though I should be able to manage with 40mm / 43mm on wide side. Max 28mm.

In the picture, I didn't notice any scale for vertical rise & fall though. Also wondering how well bellow will survive in light rain, snow or will it vibrate in the windy condition.

Bottom line is, can it be replacement of my Arca Swiss RM3di?

 

[Don Libby]

Thinking off the top of my head, I'd have to say the bellows is the least of my concerns when shooting outdoors and base that on what used to be used (and in some cases still being used) in large format film days. If anything I'd suspect the material that's used now for the bellows is much better than what was being used 50-years ago.

I really like the concept of this camera for landscape work and had put it behind me until John got the idea to manufacture his own Cambo lensboards. The reason I didn't like this before was that I'd have to invest in yet another set of lenses, at least now it looks like all I'd need is the body and Johns board.

Looking forward to seeing this in Tahoe next month but afraid for my wallet!

 

[kdphotography]

....nothing that "Kenna and Donna" and a roll of duct tape can't solve. :wtf:

 

[Don Libby]

Anyone know of a reliable bail bondsman in the Reno/Tahoe area?

 

[subrata1965]

I really like the concept of this camera for landscape work and had put it behind me until John got the idea to manufacture his own Cambo lensboards. The reason I didn't like this before was that I'd have to invest in yet another set of lenses, at least now it looks like all I'd need is the body and Johns board.

If you need Actus DB as an additional toy, then yes, you need Johns board.

However, if it is a complete replacement, then I guess you can un-mount from Cambo lensboard and mount on std. lensboard, which is $159 each only.

If John is going to make boards for Arca "R" lens mount, then that will be nice too for my existing lenses, so I can keep the option open for future Arca use.

I just don't want to add Actus DB in my bag as an additional item. Rather I'm trying to reduce the weight and size of my camera bag and over all cost.

 

[jlm]

bit by bit:

as soon as i can get my hands on a lens with arca mount i'll figure out an Actus board for it.

no, the actus does not have a vertical shift scale; i'm working on that, don't want to just put on a paper sticker though.

the bellows is fairly thick leather and quite substantial. my only gripe is that it is larger than it needs to be, partially due to the construction method so it can close down to 3/8" (9mm): it will extend 6" (150mm). the camera only extends about 4-1/2" (115mm). a traditional accordion bellows would work but not compress as much. i found the alpa 72mm lens with extension in the front needs the bellows to compress all the way to get to inf focus and in fact had to make my lensboard thinner to get it to work. the cambo 28 was not so fussy.

main advantages over any other tech camera: full movements with any mounted lens, cost is low, construction quality is high, lenses will be cheaper (no fussy shimming or helicoids)

note: you will need live view on your back; there is no other way to focus
recessed lensboards are a pia, as the lens controls, including the sync cable are considerably harder to reach.

the imaging process is: fit lens and back (quick and easy), connect sync cord, open shutter and aperture, put back in live view, rough focus with slide, then fine focus using magnify (i use a shaded 6cm x 6 cm 3x power loupe as well) (rail precision is fine enough); movements, etc. close shutter, set aperture, take back out of live view, cock and fire. at least you don't have to remember to remove the dark slide (and reverse it, remember that?)

at the tahoe gig we can try all sorts of standard mount alpa and cambo lenses

 

[Pemihan]

note: you will need live view on your back; there is no other way to focus
recessed lensboards are a pia, as the lens controls, including the sync cable are considerably harder to reach.

Another option would be to go old school and use ground glass..

 

[subrata1965]

Another option would be to go old school and use ground glass..

I never used ground glass, as I'm relatively very new in tech cam camp. However, I'm under the impression that it is hard to use GG with wide angle lenses. That's what I was told.

Subrata

 

[kdphotography]

Subrata, you don't need to make up any more excuses to buy the IQ150/Credo 50 that you want for live view on the Cambo Actus DB.

Buy it already.

 

[subrata1965]

Subrata, you don't need to make up any more excuses to buy the IQ150/Credo 50 that you want for live view on the Cambo Actus DB.

Buy it already.

Ken, my excuse is not really for Credo 50. As of this morning, it is awaiting in custom clearance.

I'm just trying to justify Actus DB over RM3di.

RM3di is a great camera with precision focusing, but I'm also first generation immigrant, so every penny counts!

Subrata

 

[Digitalcameraman]

Live View on the Credo/IQ150 works quite well on the Cambo Actus DB. Very precise and smooth. I was using it with the Schneider 120 ASPH yesterday. We found out the hard way that the standard rial would not focus a 120mm ASPH lens, so we had to get the AC330 Long Rail and AC DB-254 bellows. That worked well and gave us plenty of room on the rail to focus at infinity and close up.

I have to say that is a very sweet setup.

Ken, my excuse is not really for Credo 50. As of this morning, it is awaiting in custom clearance.

I'm just trying to justify Actus DB over RM3di.

RM3di is a great camera with precision focusing, but I'm also first generation immigrant, so every penny counts!

Subrata

 

[subrata1965]

Live View on the Credo/IQ150 works quite well on the Cambo Actus DB. Very precise and smooth. I was using it with the Schneider 120 ASPH yesterday. We found out the hard way that the standard rial would not focus a 120mm ASPH lens, so we had to get the AC330 Long Rail and AC DB-254 bellows. That worked well and gave us plenty of room on the rail to focus at infinity and close up.

I have to say that is a very sweet setup.

Chris, please send this setup to Tahoe next month, so we can test drive.

 

[Chris Valites]

Chris, please send this setup to Tahoe next month, so we can test drive.

I'm checking to see if this is a possibility; I'll get back to you when I get word.