I have the chance of being a new owner of a Cambo WRS + 35mm apo-digitar.
I hesitated a lot before bying this kit for several reasons:
How to manage framing ? With a not so good Cambo viewfinder ? With my iPhone ? (using a groundglass is out of the question due to removing the back risk and too dark view)
How to manage focussing ? No HPF ring on the Cambo, no good lcd screen on my P40 back. Don't look good...
My first impression although is very positive. The lcd quality of the P40 is good enough to check framing and exposition of course but it take less time than I was expecting to get those right with this 'shoot/review on lcd' rather primitive technique.
I 've ordered parts to adapt the iPhone on the Cambo to get even quicker correct
framing.
Regarding focussing the hyperfocal technique is not that effective. The lens focus ring infinity mark is too far for architecture work. It seems that focussing on the infinity mark less 2 milimeters is the general purpose set for good depth of field at f11.
So overall the Cambo WRS looks fun to use but needs of course way more time and technique than the DF + 35mm Mamiya lens.
Is it worth it ? Very early to say but I 'm already more than ever convinced that a tech cam with schneider or rodenstock lenses is the only solution for extracting all the potential of today's digital backs.
When shot correctly, pictures are incredibly detailed, clean, natural, very very veryimpressive compared to other wide angle solutions !
No scoop here of course, maybe just an interesting shared first impression for other people not decided yet to take the plunge.
So I already consider buying a second lens: a schneider digitar 72mm. A great lens from many reviews.
But, but, but:
2 questions make me think twice !
As the Cambo has no HPF ring and as my bank will not let me take a look at the IQ160... How to focus right with a 72mm lens on the WRS ? The hyperfocal technique won 't be of any help most of the time. So using a Leica disto and the lens focusing scale seems to be the only option, but will it be accurate enough ? (will depend on the focussing scale precision I guess.
But most important: as schneider do produce a schneider 80mm leaf shutter lens for DF bodies - as this lens seems to be very sharp - as the shutter will not/less impact sharpness as a focal plane shutter - is it really worth the pain to use a WRS for that focal lenght ? (of course considering that shifting is not needed).
It would be helpfull to get your thoughts or comparison results between thse 80 vs 72mm lenses :toocool:
I hesitated a lot before bying this kit for several reasons:
How to manage framing ? With a not so good Cambo viewfinder ? With my iPhone ? (using a groundglass is out of the question due to removing the back risk and too dark view)
How to manage focussing ? No HPF ring on the Cambo, no good lcd screen on my P40 back. Don't look good...
My first impression although is very positive. The lcd quality of the P40 is good enough to check framing and exposition of course but it take less time than I was expecting to get those right with this 'shoot/review on lcd' rather primitive technique.
I 've ordered parts to adapt the iPhone on the Cambo to get even quicker correct
framing.
Regarding focussing the hyperfocal technique is not that effective. The lens focus ring infinity mark is too far for architecture work. It seems that focussing on the infinity mark less 2 milimeters is the general purpose set for good depth of field at f11.
So overall the Cambo WRS looks fun to use but needs of course way more time and technique than the DF + 35mm Mamiya lens.
Is it worth it ? Very early to say but I 'm already more than ever convinced that a tech cam with schneider or rodenstock lenses is the only solution for extracting all the potential of today's digital backs.
When shot correctly, pictures are incredibly detailed, clean, natural, very very veryimpressive compared to other wide angle solutions !
No scoop here of course, maybe just an interesting shared first impression for other people not decided yet to take the plunge.
So I already consider buying a second lens: a schneider digitar 72mm. A great lens from many reviews.
But, but, but:
2 questions make me think twice !
As the Cambo has no HPF ring and as my bank will not let me take a look at the IQ160... How to focus right with a 72mm lens on the WRS ? The hyperfocal technique won 't be of any help most of the time. So using a Leica disto and the lens focusing scale seems to be the only option, but will it be accurate enough ? (will depend on the focussing scale precision I guess.
But most important: as schneider do produce a schneider 80mm leaf shutter lens for DF bodies - as this lens seems to be very sharp - as the shutter will not/less impact sharpness as a focal plane shutter - is it really worth the pain to use a WRS for that focal lenght ? (of course considering that shifting is not needed).
It would be helpfull to get your thoughts or comparison results between thse 80 vs 72mm lenses :toocool: