Ok, so after a bit of cool off time (24 hours) and a long long drive to the back of nowhere (gives great thinking time), i've had time to think this through a bit.
I'm definitely going for an Alpa. Now what should the setup be?
Needs are;
1/ability to do panorama stitching - this is number one above all else.
2/ability to try out as many lens combinations as possible - old and new but have a definite love of old lenses and want to try adapting what i can to a body.
3/attach different MFDB's - interested in trying Leaf color and P1 color and very recent 5.3 micron backs and old fat pixel 9 micron backs - in short, want to try different digital sensor "looks" as well as lens "looks"
The biggest priority is to be able to create the best panoramas i can. Not sure of the aspect ratio yet - will need to play around with the camera when i get it and see what works for me.
I am smitten with the FPS but this camera does not stitch. It does let me mount many lenses and i am very keen to collect old lenses to try out. I would also like to get a set of technically perfect high res lenses that are traditionally used on tech cameras. So any and all lenses are being considered.
So given all that i am considering which Alpa cameras to go with.
I will def go for an FPS - no question on that.
But should i go for an 12 STC or an 12 XY?
Upon reading specs i see ;
The STC has 18mm of movement L and R.
The XY has 25mm of L and R movement AS well as +45mm and -25mm of vertical movement - is that useful to me ?
So i think the kit i need to put together as a base kit looks like this;
FPS, STC *OR* XY (not sure) + adaptors - (6mm, 11mm, 17mm tilt/swing) Canon EF mount, Mamiya 645 mount, Hasselblad V mount.
From what i have read here, the view finder offers little practical value (am i wrong on that?) - Should i get the viewfinder or not?
Is the using an iPhone as a view finder and holder MkII any good - is this a useful thing to use or not? (in the real world that is - not in a glossy brochure world)
As far as i can see, thats about it for the base Alpa kit.
Then i need lenses. Is there any sort of list anywhere on what can/cannot be used?
I want to consider the traditional lenses used on a tech camera. Which lenses will fit the above setup? (23,28,43,60 etc Rodi or Schneider's)
Then i want to look at MF lenses to mount to the FPS - but if possible i want to retain ability to stitch with these lenses.
Hassleblad seem to be the easiest to adapt. Which hassy lenses will fit on the above setup?
I need to research Mamiya 645 lenses to see whats available because i just have no idea on Mamiya.
With the Canon adapter i would think that if there is an adapter to mount a given lens to Canon EF mount, then just about anything could be mounted to the FPS.
Sadly, the Rollei's just seem too difficult. Not giving up but Rollei has moved back a few notches in importance because of the difficulties. There is enough to grasp here as it is without worrying about trying to mount and *control* Rollei lenses.
I have no clue what i am doing with a tech cam - never used one before - but will do whatever is required to come to grips with it. I will have loads of time to learn it all and practice so this aspect does not worry me at all.
Have i missed anything that i should be consdiering/watching out for?
Weight is of no consequence - i have sherpa's to do the carrying. Size is of no issue at this level given setup times etc.
Thanks for any input
as the title to this forum states .......
"Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here."
I'm gone and hopelessly out of control here already. Oh well. Its only money.
I'm definitely going for an Alpa. Now what should the setup be?
Needs are;
1/ability to do panorama stitching - this is number one above all else.
2/ability to try out as many lens combinations as possible - old and new but have a definite love of old lenses and want to try adapting what i can to a body.
3/attach different MFDB's - interested in trying Leaf color and P1 color and very recent 5.3 micron backs and old fat pixel 9 micron backs - in short, want to try different digital sensor "looks" as well as lens "looks"
The biggest priority is to be able to create the best panoramas i can. Not sure of the aspect ratio yet - will need to play around with the camera when i get it and see what works for me.
I am smitten with the FPS but this camera does not stitch. It does let me mount many lenses and i am very keen to collect old lenses to try out. I would also like to get a set of technically perfect high res lenses that are traditionally used on tech cameras. So any and all lenses are being considered.
So given all that i am considering which Alpa cameras to go with.
I will def go for an FPS - no question on that.
But should i go for an 12 STC or an 12 XY?
Upon reading specs i see ;
The STC has 18mm of movement L and R.
The XY has 25mm of L and R movement AS well as +45mm and -25mm of vertical movement - is that useful to me ?
So i think the kit i need to put together as a base kit looks like this;
FPS, STC *OR* XY (not sure) + adaptors - (6mm, 11mm, 17mm tilt/swing) Canon EF mount, Mamiya 645 mount, Hasselblad V mount.
From what i have read here, the view finder offers little practical value (am i wrong on that?) - Should i get the viewfinder or not?
Is the using an iPhone as a view finder and holder MkII any good - is this a useful thing to use or not? (in the real world that is - not in a glossy brochure world)
As far as i can see, thats about it for the base Alpa kit.
Then i need lenses. Is there any sort of list anywhere on what can/cannot be used?
I want to consider the traditional lenses used on a tech camera. Which lenses will fit the above setup? (23,28,43,60 etc Rodi or Schneider's)
Then i want to look at MF lenses to mount to the FPS - but if possible i want to retain ability to stitch with these lenses.
Hassleblad seem to be the easiest to adapt. Which hassy lenses will fit on the above setup?
I need to research Mamiya 645 lenses to see whats available because i just have no idea on Mamiya.
With the Canon adapter i would think that if there is an adapter to mount a given lens to Canon EF mount, then just about anything could be mounted to the FPS.
Sadly, the Rollei's just seem too difficult. Not giving up but Rollei has moved back a few notches in importance because of the difficulties. There is enough to grasp here as it is without worrying about trying to mount and *control* Rollei lenses.
I have no clue what i am doing with a tech cam - never used one before - but will do whatever is required to come to grips with it. I will have loads of time to learn it all and practice so this aspect does not worry me at all.
Have i missed anything that i should be consdiering/watching out for?
Weight is of no consequence - i have sherpa's to do the carrying. Size is of no issue at this level given setup times etc.
Thanks for any input
as the title to this forum states .......
"Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here."
I'm gone and hopelessly out of control here already. Oh well. Its only money.