Please join Cambo USA at the 55th Annual Society of Photographic Education conference coming up in a few weeks in Philadelphia.
We will be sharing a booth with Phase One and showing off some of the best made equipment in the photographic industry. Including the latest accessories for the Actus series of cameras, Studio stands, light booms, and more.
When March 01-03, 2018 (Exhibits Fair)
Where Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
We are pleased to announce, that we’ve joined forces with Phase One to offer the market three VERY attractive bundles of Phase One, and Cambo products.
These bundles will be available for a limited time from your local Phase One Camera Partner, starting today, February 1st.
For anyone considering making the jump to digital medium format these package bundles are the perfect solution to get you shooting in no time! And of course, we here at Cambo USA are here to support you in your journey.
Any of our Cambo USA dealers will be able to assist with the purchase of any accessories or additional lenses, and of course the Cambo USA support team is here to answer any questions that may arise, or guide you on how to get the most out of your new camera!
Since the launch of the Actus-EDU last year (and more recently the Actus-G/GFX/XCD) with its interchangeable rear bayonet system for DLSR/Mirrorless cameras. we have been getting a lot of questions for users who were looking to swap between using a Mirrorless camera and a Digital Back.
Until now, the only real solution was for a user to purchase both an Actus-Mini as well as the Actus-DB conversion kit. While this would provide a working solution for both platforms, it did add a significant cost to the Actus system as well as the inconvenience of having to swap the rear standard either before shooting had begun or in the field.
The ACDB-989 is built around the quick change mechanism of the AC-78E rear standard. It can replace the bayonet holders AC-792 (GFX), AC-793 (X1D) and AC-78E (DSLR/Mirrorless) and offers the possibility to use a digital back on the Actus-G series.
When combined with the matching SLW adaptor for your digital back, and the appropriate set of Digital Back bellows,this solution allows the user to swap between SLR/Mirrorless Cameras and Digital Backs quickly and effortlessly.
The ACDB-989 is shipping now, and available for purchase from your local Cambo USA dealer.
We’re happy to announce another lens option for the Cambo Actus.
A special order Carl Zeiss Contax Distagon-35 refitted for use on our view cameras.
The skilled technicians at Cambo carefully remove the helical focussing mount and replace the aperture control with a manual, 15 bladed, version.
This beautiful lens works perfectly paired with both mirrorless medium format cameras and DSLRs. Even with Nikon (Nikon has the longest Flange Focal distance), thanks to the new barrel without helical.
The below test shot was made with an Actus-GFX. 5mm of fall, combined with horizontal shift to enable a stitched image.
But why? The R&D team at Cambo have this to say:
“Rebuilding a Contax 645’s 35mm into a new housing, getting rid of the helical and replacing the aperture may seem like putting a lot of effort in something you could achieve a lot easier. By i.e. mounting the lens to a Contax to Canon adapter. One reason to do it the ‘hard way’ was obviously the broader range of cameras for which the lens becomes suitable after this operation. Another is making better use of the lens’ image circle.”
They continue with:
“Stacking the lens to an adapter causes serious vignetting when shifting the rear standard of the Actus. This is caused by the relatively narrow Canon bayonet (although the biggest bayonet for 35mm cameras)”.
“The side-by-sides shown here (Above) are made with a Phase One back (using its ES shutter). In its Actar-35 incarnation the Distagon covers the complete sensor and still enables a fair bit of shift. Used via an adapter, it just covers the sensor and a minimum amount of shift will vignette.”
Due to the special conversion requirements of needing a donor lens, this service will need to be arranged with your Cambo dealer of choice. A list of dealers can be found at Cambousa.com/dealers and we at Cambo USA would be happy to provide more information or to begin the conversion process.
Heres a quick tip for all of our Actus users. Recently we received an email asking for us to perform a “science experiment”.
One of our users wanted to take his Actus hiking while carrying the least amount of gear possible. He also wanted to use longer focal length lenses without the need to change monorails in the field.
He asked whether or not the rear standard of his Actus-DB2 would support the use of the macro adapters designed for our WRS line of cameras. After some experimentation and many calls back to Cambo HQ in The Netherlands, I was reminded of a more elegant (and often overlooked) solution.
The front standard of the Actus is designed in such a way where it can be rotated 180º and a standard Actus lens board can be re-mounted. The magnetic bellows even still connect and effortlessly lock into place.
This allows for the standard 175mm monorail of the Actus DB-2 (150mm of the Actus Mini) to effectively be extended by 45mm. The photo above is taken from the Actus manual itself, and even though it shows the Actus-Mini, you get the same movements on the Actus DB2 as well.
All you need is the right length of bellows and you are back in action with as little extra equipment as possible!
We are happy to announce that Cambo products are available for order and purchase at Fotocare in New York City!
Please reach out to your sales contact for more information, or to be paired with a salesperson please contact Cambo USA at info@Cambousa.com
41 W 22nd St,
New York, NY 10010
(212) 741-2991
www.fotocare.com
The design of this lens is build of 8 elements in 4 groups.
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focal length
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105mm
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aperture range
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f 5,6 – 16 (manual)
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lens construction
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8 elements/ 4 groups – 1 floating group
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coating
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multi coating
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front filter thread
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m40.5
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size L x W x H
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75 x 98 x 130 (includes Actus mount)
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weight
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548 gram
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image circle
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82 mm
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build for
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Cambo Actus (non DB)
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works in combination with Actus for
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Canon, Nikon, Canon M, Sony A7, Fuji X, Panasonic, Leica M, Olympus OMD, Fuji GFX
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availability
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November 2017
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Available November 2017, get your first look at Photo Plus Expo 2017.
Now that Hasselblad has released a new firmware for their X1d camera, that allows the use of the built-in electronic shutter, we at Cambo are pleased to introduce new products that support the Hasselblad X1d body.
As a further development of the ACTUS-G product line for medium format mirrorless cameras, Cambo is now introducing the ACTUS-XCD to host the Hasselblad X1D camera body.
The ACTUS-G system was already available as ACTUS-GFX for the Fujifilm GFX series, now the bayonet holder can be supplied with the XCD bayonet from Hasselblad. The bayonet holder is interchangeable and include Cambo’s convenient internal rotation between landscape and portrait position.
The below photo is of a working prototype unit, and does not indicate the final build/finish of these units.
The ACTUS-XCD is available for pre-order now, and will ship later in September 2017. For pricing and ordering information please contact your closest Cambo dealer. A list of dealers are available at Cambousa.com/dealers.
The Actus series of cameras is a modular unit that allows for an almost unlimited potential for customization. The standard Actus configuration comes included with a 150mm monorail (175mm for Actus DB/Actus GFX), but has the ability to be used with extended rails for longer focal length lenses or for macro purposes.
The AC-330 monorail extends to 300mm of length and allows for 1:1 focus with a 120mm macro lens. The AC-345 extends to 450mm which is good for 1:1 with 180mm lenses.
You Will Need:
| A Cambo Actus. (Mini, DB-2, or GFX). |
| Extended Monorail. (AC-330 or AC-345). |
| 1.5mm Allen Hex Key. (included with every Actus model) |
| T6 Torx Screwdriver. |
| Actus Extended Bellows. (If full length of extended monorail is to be used) |
Step by Step:
1) With the rear bayonet facing you, begin by loosening both silver tension screws on lower left and right of the Body.
2) Use the focus knob to move the rear standard into the farthest back position (60mm)
3) Extend the rear standard until the silver set screw appears in the guide hole
4) Remove this screw and retain it for re-assembly. The rear standard can now be freely removed.
5) Turn the body over to reveal four T6 screws. Remove those screws and retain for re-assembly. Please note if you have an Actus-DB or Actus GFX the front standard is comprised of two pieces. Both pieces will need to be re-installed in order to complete the swap.
6) Re-assemble your Actus by following the same steps in reverse with the longer monorail of your choice.
And there you have it. Customizing your Actus camera for your needs is incredibly simple and something anyone can do.
For any additional questions or to purchase Actus cameras or accessories please contact your closest Cambo dealer at Cambousa.com/dealers.
Words and Photos by Lee Varis of Varis Photomedia
This 2nd part of my examination of the Cambo Actus GFX system focuses (literally) on the lens tilting functionality. The tilting lens stage allows the photographer to alter the plane of focus, usually to match the plane of focus with the subject, to achieve better depth of focus with near-to-far subjects, or with macro focus situations.
The Cambo Actus technical camera system allows the front lens stage to tilt, altering the plane of focus to match the subject.
This lens tilt takes advantage of the Scheimpflug principle, a geometric rule that describes the orientation of the plane of focus of an optical system (such as a camera) when the lens plane is not parallel to the image plane.
Tilting the lens such that the desired plane of focus intersects the plane of the lens, and the image plane at one point, known as the Scheimflug intersection, is the core function of the Scheimpflug principle.
Arranging the lens tilt so that the desired plane of focus intersects with the image plane, and the lens plane, at the same point, allows for enhanced focus along that focus plane without resorting to extra small ƒ-stops, and in most cases achieves sharper focus in the desired area. The following image illustrates how this works in practice. The first image has the lens plane parallel to the camera back, and the result is a limited depth of field that is particularly troublesome for near-to-far subjects…
Here the back of the camera and the lens plane are parallel in a normal orientation—the focus is on the guitar pick which is very close to the lens—the focus falls off into the distance.
The second image has the lens tilted forward so that the lens plane intersects the plane of the face of the guitar, and the back of the camera—the result is an illusion of infinite focus or extended depth of field, even at a wide open ƒ-stop…
Here the lens has been tilted forward enough that the plane of focus matches the face of the guitar, and we have perfect focus along the whole length of the guitar, near-to-far.
The beauty of the medium format, mirrorless FUJIFILM GFX is that focus peaking in the electronic viewfinder makes the chore of determining the best angle for the lens easy—just tilt the lens until the red highlights show up along the edges in the image!
Besides the obvious application here in the still life above, subtle lens tilts can work wonders in ultra-close-up macro photography. This is something the Cambo Actus system excels at…
The Cambo Actus GFX with the 90mm Actar lens is ideal for extreme macro work. Small lens tilts can greatly enhance the apparent depth of focus at closer than 1:1 magnification distances.
Here the lens has been tilted to place the focus across the plane of the flower center. Closing down the ƒ-stop just a bit extends the depth enough that all of the petals are also tack sharp!
There is nothing quite so luxurious as a view camera for macro photography, and the Cambo Actus GFX is a joy to use with extremely precise geared focus movements along the extended rail—the focus peaking of the FUJIFILM GFX is fantastic for nailing the focus.
The Scheimpflug principle also has application in landscape photography…
Here I’m setting up a shot with foreground rocks leading up to the lighthouse—an extreme near-to-far composition.
The foreground rocks are only 24 inches from the front of the lens with the light house over one hundred feet away.
There is no way to achieve this level of depth of focus in a single capture without the use of a tilting lens stage.
While it is possible to capture several shots with differing focus depths, and merge them using focus stacking, the look of the Scheimpflug capture achieves a subtle “standing in the scene” kind of feel that just works better for this type of image!
Here is a short video showing another shot from the same day of shooting…
The Cambo Actus with the FUJIFILM GFX is truly the ultimate technical camera for demanding photography in architecture, still life, and landscape applications. While the system is not cheap… roughly $2,795.00 for the Cambo Actus, another $1000 – 1700 or so for a large coverage view camera prime lens, and you’d still need to purchase the FUJIFILM GFX body ($6499.95 from B&H) , if you are looking for the ultimate technical system, this is it!
I was able to borrow the system for a only a week, and had limited time to work with it, but I really enjoyed working with the system. This camera inspired many ideas for photographs that I would like to pursue at some point in the near future. In the meantime, here is a gallery of images from my testing—click on the thumbnails below to see larger images! You can find out more about the Cambo Actus system of cameras, available with adapters for Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fuji-X, from their website here: https://www.cambo.com/en/actus-mini/cambo-actus-mini-view-camera/
Words and Photos by Lee Varis – Source: Cambo Actus + FUJIFILM GFX
Once again a huge thank you to Lee for his very in depth review. To purchase a Cambo Actus GFX or any of the many other Cambo products, please visit Cambousa.com/dealers to find the Cambo dealer nearest you.!