Paul Spinnler
Well-known member
So what need does it cover that wasn't covered before exactly?
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That's a really good idea. Make two rigid AF (that does not stand for autofocus) pieces and one fore-aft control. I am not a mechanical engineer, but it seems like a good way to lower weight and increase rigidity - perhaps at the cost of some flexibility (joke unintended). It's probably been done before - maybe Linhof?The design of the Pico looks like the front standard is fixedand is where the camera would mount to a tripod, so focus moves the entire rail together with the rear standard while the front standard stays fixed. (Its the first monorail camera I've seen where the rail moves when focusing.) The means for infinity focus on a very wide lens, the rail will stick out a bit. Whether it will creep in frame I don't know.
Perfect for me. I need no film capabilities and have only once used shift more than 20mm and that was rise. If it is as rigid as hyped I will be a happy camper.So essentially a more rigid dgital only mini bellows camera - you give up film compatibility and get a slightly different looking, more rigid system - and you also lose stitch ability beyond 20mm left right.
Way to take one for the team Victor!Agree - it looks to be more rigid. I sure am going to find out.
Victor B.
The control unit will be adding other lenses and will be compatible with M2 for instance. The one down side for Mirrorless users on cameras with 110 boards is the grips of the Mirrorless camera bodies often conflict with the front frame much sooner than on the Pico, when using short lenses.I think the pico has a very specific use case but the weight and size come with limitations. In particular, the inability to mount 110 mm boards means this body is out for me. However, there may be an upside in the pico lens control unit. What if that control unit + 110 mm board lens holder could work with a universalis or M2? I expect that is the plan. Combine that with a rear mount that accepts the latest GFX bodies (supposedly available) and you have something that will let you use Arca's small and full size view cameras in a very broad variety of configurations. Tell your dealer you want it. That might encourage AS to actually move forward with applying the control unit to more bodies.
It might be noted that the issue with short focal lengths, below 50mm, and mirrorless camera bodies, is not an Arca-Swiss issue, but the fundamental lens design with large format lenses having large rear groups, coupled with the FFD of mirrorless body depth.Not sure of the value proposition for existing pancake tech cam users, especially if you own Rodie / SK glass already and a digitel back. In addition to a bigger form factor, you don't get access to SK / Rodie wide-angles if you don't use a back in which case you can just get an R or Alpa.
The traditional benefit of a view camera is that you can use "cheaper" lenses, e.g. adapt copal LF stuff, etc. and here this is perfected in terms of precision at the cost of loss of film compatibility.
IMHO the main benefit is if you want to use a Leica M or L camera as a digital back, but the bummer is that you can't use wide anlges from SK / Rodie. That’s most likely why they introduced their own line of modified TS lenses as essentially Rosenstock glass is limited for anything below 50mm which is a normal focal length on 35mm and a medium wide on crop MF.
So digital back it is ... I guess. In which case it makes sense to keep the existing camera setup.
And the GFX? Well it has irs own killer TS lenses now, so that negates a bit the need to TS via an intermediate setup.
There's one nifty thing though - the P1 Macro can now be tilted ... that's cool, I guess.
So for whom is this the perfect solution? Mainly for entrants with a mirrorless camera and no cash for a digital back I think - which might be a large market as the entry price for digi backs is still a hindrance for many intrigued by shifting wide angle lens systems.
Blue ring lenses are designed to cover the IQ4 (54x40) sensors with a bit more coverage to fully utilize the sweet spot of the projected image. As such, they are best used with GFX, Hasselblad 907x/CFV II, or other 44x33 sensors, and full frame mirrorless cameras. These will yield the most movement possibilities.Had the same thought at the hands-on and tried it. We got a hard vignette at extreme movements of the Pico at f11. To me it looked like a mechanical vignette, but it was impossible to tell for sure. BTW: the image shows the 2,8/110 BR.
The design of the front tilt on the Pico will handle the 138mm with no issues. The beefiness of the front Standard Base and the stiffness of the front gearing of the tilt mechanism should have no issues holding the 138mm.I totally get that Paul. There's a reason tech cameras exist: loads of people need what they do, and not what a view camera does.
If the Pico weighed 750 grams, my order would be in already. Every bit of weight I can save extends my ability to do my work longer. Alas, you don't get the stability to hold long, heavy lenses like the 138mm with a camera that weighs 750 grams.
The market will determine if Arca-Swiss made good choices. I hope they're successful, because the more people who adopt digital view cameras and technical cameras, the longer we'll all be able to use them.
The Actus-19 is the Nikon tilt-shift lens, but (presumably) minus the close focus correction functionality.Granted I have just one copy, but I'm not thrilled with the Canon 24 TS-E. I used it on the GFX 100 and a Laowa 17mm perspective corrected yielded a better image than the shifted Canon 24. The tops of buildings - not even the corners - were notably soft. I also wonder about the Actus 19mm lens - has anyone examined it critically?
Disclaimer: I have enough trouble getting out of the house with an X2D and one lens. I'm not looking for anything heavier!
Matt
Friendly amendment... The S-K APO-Digitar 35/5.6 works great on an F-Universalis with GFX if one can live with 8mm of shift. The 47mm APO-Digitar also works (with 8mm of shift) but I couldn't get the copy I tried to the point of usability.It might be noted that the issue with short focal lengths, below 50mm, and mirrorless camera bodies, is not an Arca-Swiss issue, but the fundamental lens design with large format lenses having large rear groups, coupled with the FFD of mirrorless body depth.
No one can get around this. But I think many miss the plus of a view camera approach verses a TS lens, which is that perspective does not change, when rise.fall, or lateral shift is applied. Also you have more freedom for these movements when using the rear and having separate movement mechanisms.
TS lenses are quite useful, but not as convenient as a camera such as Pico, M2, etc.
Rod
would that mean I could use a 35mm SR/BR lens with a Mirrorless body on the Pico ie: M11?Blue ring lenses are designed to cover the IQ4 (54x40) sensors with a bit more coverage to fully utilize the sweet spot of the projected image. As such, they are best used with GFX, Hasselblad 907x/CFV II, or other 44x33 sensors, and full frame mirrorless cameras. These will yield the most movement possibilities.
Rod
Rob, that's a very clear demonstration of the usefulness of swing for imaging three-dimensional subject material in tight situations. Thank you.Given the conversation we've had about the design of the Pico and the value and importance of movements, specifically swing, I thought I'd add a quick commentary based on yesterday's field work.
35 and 45 BR should work, although with the negative that you will have to deal with manually correcting distortion as you are not shooting the lenses on an XFwould that mean I could use a 35mm SR/BR lens with a Mirrorless body on the Pico ie: M11?
I think you should be fair and mention that the GF 30mm TS has a lens collar and can be used in the same way. Lens does not move, the camera does. But if you need shift that is not just in one direction I admit it is a bit more complicated than with a view camera with independent xy movements.It might be noted that the issue with short focal lengths, below 50mm, and mirrorless camera bodies, is not an Arca-Swiss issue, but the fundamental lens design with large format lenses having large rear groups, coupled with the FFD of mirrorless body depth.
No one can get around this. But I think many miss the plus of a view camera approach verses a TS lens, which is that perspective does not change, when rise.fall, or lateral shift is applied. Also you have more freedom for these movements when using the rear and having separate movement mechanisms.
TS lenses are quite useful, but not as convenient as a camera such as Pico, M2, etc.
Rod