Arca-Swiss F-Universalis working review

[rdeloe]

August 1, 2023: Updated review and usage notes moved to new site: https://www.robdeloephotography.com/Pages/Arca-Swiss-F-Universalis-Review

I posted this information at DPReview, but there might be more folks here who use this system, or would view it as an option, so I'm posting here as well.
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There don't seem to be a lot of users of the Arca-Swiss F-Universalis relative to the more popular Cambo Actus, so information about this excellent tool is sparse.

I've recently joined the small group of people who are using an F-Universalis with a GFX camera. To my knowledge, it's a two person group. The other user I know about (David) posted about his setup on DPReview in July, 2021.

It was David's post that put the F-Universalis on my radar seriously. I'd known about it for years, but I didn't see it as an option because I was happy enough with my Toyo VX23D and its replacement, a much smaller digital view camera I built in May of this year, and then used extensively for work.

Thanks to the temporary collapse in the price of the GBP relative to the CAD this fall, and a small new budget for gear at work, I was able to get an F-Universalis as my new main camera.

Arca-Swiss F-Universalis DSLR with a Mamiya G 50mm f/4 (GFX 50R on the back, behind the bellows).

I like to make careful notes as I evaluate equipment. I realized that I could easily turn those notes into a "working review" that might be of use to others. So here it is. At this Google Drive link you'll find a PDF called "Arca-Swiss F-Universalis working review - R de Loe", plus larger versions of the images contained in the PDF bundled up in a ZIP file.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DmGkhW2bqGiAbd8CLoOedw-lGki-7c7g?usp=share_link

If I learn something new I'll update the PDF and images in the background. I welcome correction of any errors spotted by attentive readers. Of course, I welcome questions and discussion too!

 

[TimoK]

Thank You!
It's a fine review. I downloaded it from the link in DPR. Very much information, but I got something more to ask.
The camera, F-Universalis looks very thin, especially with the recessed lens board. Could You, please, measure the minimum flange from the lens mount to the camera mount. And what is the min. flange when you can use movements? So, I mean what is the shortest view camera lens You can use with it?
How much it weights?
It looks a little bigger than my camera. How big it is?
Btw. I carry my Actus with 4 lenses and 7r4 body in Tenba BYOB # 10

 

[rdeloe]

Hi Timo,

My pleasure. I'm glad you found my review notes useful.



On the left is a flat board, and on the right is a 15mm recessed board with my custom OM mount attached. I've applied 25mm of shift. The GFX camera has a flange distance of 26.7mm.

• In the left-hand picture, the rear standard and front standard are as close as one can get and still apply shift and rise/fall. The distance from the front of the flat board to the face of the GFX mount is approximately 18.3mm.
• In the right-hand picture, the standards could come a bit closer together if I took my mount off. The distance between the front of the 15mm recessed board to the face of the GFX mount is around 9.75mm.

Whether or not you can have the standards this close together and have 25mm of movement, as here, depends on how much of the lens sticks out past the board. For example, if the lens has a rear cell diameter of 64mm and extends 20mm, it will just barely fit inside the opening for the GFX mount, and leave no room for shift because that opening is 65mm.

You asked what is the shortest large format lens you can use. That's going to depend on the lens and camera. I think there's a list out there on the Internet from Arca-Swiss, but I can't find it after a quick search. Variables to consider will be the dimensions of the rear cell (see above), the flange distance, and how it does being so close to the sensor.

The weight of the camera in ready-to-shoot configuration (but no lens board) is 1,425 grams. It's heavier and bulkier than I like. However, it's lighter than my VX23D, and you don't get this kind of rigidity and functionality in a camera this size without some weight. My MAB Camera is only 750 grams, and while it uses all the same lenses as my F-Universalis and VX23D, it doesn't have the full range of capabilities as the F-Universalis.

 

[tobiasash]

Rob,

Thank you for this. As you mentioned there is very little information on the Universalis and I really appreciate the time and effort you have put in. I am only part way through your write up but so far it is excellent. I hope it informs my decision about which option to go with.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

What's great about Arca as a brand is that they let their products speak for themselves. Every single item I ever bought from them, ie ball heads or view cameras, is excellent and exceedingly well thought out. You can also send in all items and have them re-tool things and replace individual parts. This is unheard of and I applaud companies where you basically need to pay the price of admission once, but where you then can keep your things up to date for a modest cost.

Also, a lot of their things are inter-operable, which is amazing from an engineering standpoint.

 

[rdeloe]

Rob,

Thank you for this. As you mentioned there is very little information on the Universalis and I really appreciate the time and effort you have put in. I am only part way through your write up but so far it is excellent. I hope it informs my decision about which option to go with.

I'm glad it's been helpful. I'm very happy with the choice I made. Let me know if you have any follow-up questions. I'll see what I can do to answer them,

 

[rdeloe]

What's great about Arca as a brand is that they let their products speak for themselves. Every single item I ever bought from them, ie ball heads or view cameras, is excellent and exceedingly well thought out. You can also send in all items and have them re-tool things and replace individual parts. This is unheard of and I applaud companies where you basically need to pay the price of admission once, but where you then can keep your things up to date for a modest cost.

Also, a lot of their things are inter-operable, which is amazing from an engineering standpoint.

This F-Universalis is my first Arca-Swiss purchase. Like you Paul, I am very impressed with the engineering. It's one of those tools that reflects carefully considered decision making. Time and again as I was getting to know it, I found myself initially thinking, "That's weird -- why do that?". In most of those cases, I soon realized what a clever solution they'd come up with.

Now the weird scales for rise/fall and shift may remain the exception. I still haven't figured out why they would divide into 2.5mm intervals, but I'm getting used to it.

 

[SwissBear]

Hi Rob,

I just want to stop by and say hello. And thank you, as your contributions, here and on dpreview, have been a source of inspiration as well as motivation in my move to a more technical approach of landscape photography.

Looking forward to sharing my thoughts on the Cambo Actus I will be testing soon.

Thanks again.
Pierre

 

[rdeloe]

Hi Rob,

I just want to stop by and say hello. And thank you, as your contributions, here and on dpreview, have been a source of inspiration as well as motivation in my move to a more technical approach of landscape photography.

Looking forward to sharing my thoughts on the Cambo Actus I will be testing soon.

Thanks again.
Pierre

Thanks for the note Pierre! I'm glad you found some value in my posts on these forums. There are terrific people who are genuinely interested in photography on both.

I'm looking forward to seeing your thoughts on the Actus. It's a popular choice.

Rob