I want to share with you a technique that can radically change the way you capture your images: the Scheimpflug principle.
Although its name might sound intimidating, the truth is that its practical application has the power to take your photography to an extraordinary level. Get ready to break it down in a clear and simple way, and discover how you can leverage this principle to create stunning and professional images.
What is the Scheimpflug Principle?
The Scheimpflug principle is a technique used in photography that explains how to align the subject plane, the lens plane, and the image plane (sensor or film) when the lens plane is not parallel to the image plane.
In simple terms, it involves adjusting these planes so that they align correctly and intersect at a single point, ensuring that the captured image is completely in focus. This principle is especially useful when working with large format cameras or tilt-shift lenses, and it applies to certain camera movements in these systems.
This principle will allow you to achieve stunning and sharp images that will make your products stand out professionally. Additionally, you can apply selective focus, concentrating on areas of interest while blurring others, adding depth and highlighting the main subject. This allows for diagonal and total focus, where every element in the scene is crisp and clear.
To better illustrate this principle, I want to share some photographs taken with my Actus XL view camera by Cambo.
This camera has allowed me to effectively apply the Scheimpflug principle, achieving incredible photos. The precision and adjustability of the Cambo make it the perfect tool to fully exploit this technique.
We can see all the cans in focus by applying the Scheimpflug principle.
We can see all the cupcakes in focus by applying the Scheimpflug principle.
Let’s take a look at this example applying the Scheimpflug principle and achieving diagonal focus.
We can see the entire razor in focus by applying the Scheimpflug principle.
Visit Marcel Boldú’s website to see more of his work.
The MV stands for MaximumVersatility and that’s exactly what this new camera from Cambo offers. The new Actus-MV is a Fully Adjustable View Camera that is still compact enough to be your companion in the field. It’s compatible with Digital Backs, Mirrorless Camera bodies and DSLRs. No matter how the photography industry develops, the Actus-MV will be ready to evolve alongside the camera and digital back technology of the future. The Actus-MV is a 21st century view camera with all of the refinements today’s high resolution sensors require.
The base for the Actus-MV provides a solid foundation in which all camera movements are integrated. It was designed to offer all the movements a studio photographer may desire, along with maintaining practicality on location. The Actus-MV’s predecessors were designed with the option to shoot 4×5 film while the Actus-MV prioritizes digital photography. This required precise engineering and Cambo was able to deliver a smaller camera that is 50% lighter than the Actus-XL. For mobility the Actus-MV includes a quick release button that enables the front and rear standard to be separated from the optical bench without the use of extra tools. This allows for easy transportation from the studio to the desired location for architectural photographers or out into the field for landscape photography.
Actus-MV Features:
Geared Camera Movements
Front Standard Tilt 15º/15º with Dual Ratio Gearing
Rear Standard Tilt 15º/15º
Front Standard Swing 30º/30º
Front and Rear Standard Horizontal Shift 20mm/20mm
Rear Standard Rise/Fall 15mm/15mm
Front Standard Rise/Fall 15mm/15mm
Friction Knobs on Camera Movements
Dual ratio Gearing for Fine Focusing
The Front Standard of the Actus-MV is compatible with all lens plates from the vast Actus product line. Including the steadily expanding range of ACTAR Lenses, Medium Format adapters, Lens plates for X-Shutter Lenses and (Legacy) Leaf Shutter lenses.
Cambo also offers several adapters that can be used with the Rear Standard to make the Actus-MV compatible with the extensive selection of bayonets available for Mirrorless and DSLR camera bodies that can be utilized as your digital back.
Rotating Digital Back Adapter
For the Phase One/Mamiya and Hasselblad-V interface Cambo has engineered a new adapter with integrated portrait and landscape rotation. The Cambo Digital Back frame ACDB-989 is compatible with the well known SLW interface plates used on the Cambo Actus-DB2 and WRS cameras. Every Digital Back, including the discontinued models, can be used with the Actus-MV.
HyperFocal: 0
The Actus-MV Compendium
The new ACMV-350 Compendium is for use Exclusively with the Actus-MV. It offers shading with flexible and adjustable self-supporting bellows, making it suitable for virtually all lenses for the ACTUS-MV. Once the Cambo Logo plate is removed the compendium’s L-Bracket mounting block attaches securely to the Front Standard of the Actus-MV with a 2-point fixation.
A sliding mount supports the ACMV-350 Compendium across the support bars. The required tool conveniently snaps onto the magnets integrated in a cavity at the bottom of the bracket.
Actus-MV Kits
There are a few different Actus-MV Kits offered by Cambo to get you started with everything you need.
F50 Kit The Actus-MV F50 Kit includes the Actus-MV Base paired with the ACMV-862 Fujifilm GFX 50 & 100s Adapter and the AC-214 Long Extension Bellows. The ACMV-862 enables the use of Fujifilm GFX-50 and GFX-100s camera bodies and features an Integrated Rotation that allows for landscape and portrait orientation.
F100 Kit The Actus-MV F100 Kit includes the Actus-MV Base paired with the ACMV-863Fujifilm GFX-100 Adapter and the AC-214 Long Extension Bellows. The ACMV-863 enables the use of Fujifilm GFX-100 camera body and features an Integrated Rotation that allows for landscape and portrait orientation.
IQ Kit The Actus-MV IQ Kit includes the Actus-MV Base paired with the ACBD-990 Digital Back Adapter and the ACDB-254 Digital Back Bellows. This set-up is for use with Digital Backs utilizing the Phase One/Mamiya mount. The ACDB-990 also has an Integrated Rotation that allows for landscape and portrait orientation.
HV Kit The Actus-MV HV Kit includes the Actus-MV Base paired with the ACDB-991 Digital Back Adapter and the ACDB-254 Digital Back Bellows. This set-up is for use with Digital Backs utilizing the Hasselblad V mount. The ACDB-991 also has an Integrated Rotation that allows for landscape and portrait orientation.
DB Kit The Actus-MV DB Kit includes the Actus-MV Base paired with the ACDB-989 Interchangeable Adapter Holder and the ACDB-254 Digital Back Bellows. The ACDB-991 also has an Integrated Rotation that allows for landscape and portrait orientation and accepts the well-known Cambo SLW Interface Adapters which are available for virtually every Digital Back including Legacy Models.
Click here to find out more about the the all new Actus-MV View Camera System from Cambo!
