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Author Topic: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks  (Read 17755 times)

buckshot

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Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« on: January 01, 2011, 10:28:36 am »

Just moving my posts on shimming the Wide RS to a more appropriate place:

You can in fact shim the Cambo Wide RS, and quite easily at that - basically following the instructions for shimming the Alpa. What you need are a set of shims, such as those available here (which are the plastic type, easy to cut and with good enough dimensional stability under temperature change and pressure). You then simply remove the four screws highlighted, which are set in bushings that allow the bracket that the adapter plate sits in to move back and forward), and insert the shims as required. Two of the screws are hidden behind the small plates that hold the adapter plate on, so you need to remove these to access them. The screws used in the bushings are M2 x 5mm. A useful trick is to use a dab of thread locker (blue for instance - easily removed if needs be) to fix the bushings in place (flush to the plate they sit in), and then when you tighten the screws they won't move and it will be only the shims that determine the fore/aft position of the digital back. Plastic shimming is available as thin as 0.0005" = 0.0127mm. This is really thin, probably not much more than the WRS (or Alpa or Arca) would expand/contract on a really hot/cold day (respectively), but if you think it makes a difference no harm using it. The thicknesses I bought were: 0.0005" (~0.01mm), 0.001" (~0.02mm), 0.0015" (~0.03mm), 0.002" (~0.05mm), 0.04" (~0.1mm), 0.0075" (~0.2mm) and 0.12" (~0.3mm)

Note, before doing all this check that you need to - see the optechs video on their website first. The way the rear plate on my Cambo was set up was perfectly parallel (well done Cambo) - but it did need moving back a fraction to match the position of the sensor in my DB. In this respect, the way Cambo have designed the rear of the RS is very clever, the bracket that the adapter plate sits in is infinitely variable (in respect of front/back movement) by adjusting the height of the four bushings and locking them in place with the internal screws (which you could just do in order to shim your back, but as I said above, plastic [or metal] shims are less hassle since they keep the bracket square to the camera).

In the picture of the template, all measurements are to the nearest 0.5mm but, in practice, to the nearest mm is about as good as I can get by using a craft knife. Not to worry though, because it's the thickness of the shim that's important.

Shimming material is available from:

In the US:

http://www.practishim.com/ ($50 min order I think)

In the UK:

http://www.cromwell.co.uk/PCN9653710A

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0681407

and many other places as well I'm sure.

« Last Edit: January 01, 2011, 10:34:01 am by buckshot »
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Mark_Tuttle

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2011, 12:17:53 pm »

Outstanding! Thank you very much!
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Mark Tuttle
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tho_mas

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2011, 12:21:46 pm »

Cool!

Tip #2 (rough!… at your own risk)

Buy a second camera interface.
Unscrew the upper bracket of the interface and add shims under the bracket so that you can use this interface with a fixed built-in (rear-) Tilt.
Of course you should only use thin shims (0.01mm, 0.02mm… try) otherwise the back may stick out too much so that the light trap doesn't work anymore (but some tape will help). Therefore the tilt effect is limited, but sufficient with wide angles.

Works with Contax http://www.cambo.com/Html/Images/SLW-87s.jpg ...
and should also work with Hassy-V  http://www.cambo.com/Html/Images/SLW-80s.jpg
and Mamiya http://www.cambo.com/Html/Images/SLW-88s.jpg

… but obviously not with Hassy-H and Hy6:
http://www.cambo.com/Html/Images/SLW-89s.jpg
http://www.cambo.com/Html/Images/SLW-81s.jpg

« Last Edit: January 01, 2011, 12:23:25 pm by tho_mas »
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skimasks

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2011, 04:56:47 am »

Tip #3 (unrelated to shimming)
An inexpensive (<$10) iphone holder for the Cambo RS (or any other camera) can be compiled from cheap parts on eBay (no machining needed). This picture should be enough but I have a writeup in my blog if anyone needs the links. This is my first gen adapter.
http://justinpoulsen.blogspot.com/2010/12/cambo-wrs-1000-diy-iphone-mount.html

tho_mas

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2011, 09:55:09 am »

The price of the iPhone holder is really unbeatable.
Very nice!

Next one…

I've asked a precision mechanics to modify my focusing hood.
The WRS focusing hood was originally designed for Cambo's view cameras and the shape of the inner frame is not rectangular as Cambo provides certain masks to fit into the frame. Therefore the corners of the focusing hood crop the image on the groundglass.


Cost was €15 IIRC...
Due to this modification the groundglass shows the sensor plane plus +/-9mm lateral shift and +/-11mm vertical shift (refering to a 48x36 sensor in horizontal composition) when the focusing hood is mounted. When I remove the focusing hood the groundglas frame shows +/-16mm lateral and +/-12mm vertical shift. As Cambo's groundglass provides indications of the sensor dimensions and a scale in millimeters it works great when when stitching. At least I like this soltuion better than masks.



I really like the folding mechanism of Cambo's focusing hood as you can leave it on the groundglass frame all the time. If you want to focus using a loupe with higher magnification… or want to view the image on the groundglass without any loupe… you just fold up the focusing hood. So you don't have to fiddle around with a lot of individual parts.

I've also replaced the lens of the focusing hood with the front lens of an old Pentax SMC 1.4/50mm lens… which is much contrastier and sharper than the original lens.


Lens shade …
I use the the Sinar arTec lens shade. It fits on lens adapter rings that you can leave on the lenses all the time (Sinar also provides lens caps). There is also a white shading diffusor that can be mounted on the lens adapter rings so that you don't have to hold the white plexi plate in your hands when shooting your white reference files. Really nice!
http://www.sinar.ch/en/products/accessories/55-sinar-artec-zubehoer/181-objektiv-adapterringe
http://www.sinar.ch/en/products/accessories/55-sinar-artec-zubehoer/185-artec-kompendiummaske
http://www.sinar.ch/en/products/accessories/55-sinar-artec-zubehoer/190-white-shading-diffusor

With a regular compendium you have to enlarge the crop area of the shade for the entire image circle, even if you just use rise but no lateral shift.


With the arTec lens shade you can mask the sensor plane for position within the image circle.
You won't need that all the time but it's a nice feature.


Some more images of the lens shade:






By now Cambo didn't provide a lens shade solution for the WRS but they will make a holder so you can attach their DSLR-rig compendium on the hot shoe of the WRS... certainly nice:
http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_photo/set01/english/internet/Item22062.html

« Last Edit: January 02, 2011, 10:00:40 am by tho_mas »
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buckshot

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2011, 11:50:54 am »

@tho_mas

Is that the ground glass with the fresnel you're using? If it is, what do you think of it - is it a big improvement over the previous version?

@skimasks

I like it! I use the bottom part of your bracket (one of these) to mount my S95 directly on the Cambo - it makes the perfect viewfinder (the S95 has a 4:3 crop option, and the tripod socket is on the same axis as the lens of the S95/Cambo). I actually cut the threaded part of the flash shoe adapter back a bit so that everything was flush (to each other) when tightened - making it perfectly level (for all intents and purposes) as far as I can tell.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2011, 12:06:21 pm by buckshot »
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tho_mas

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2011, 12:13:29 pm »

@tho_mas

Is that the ground glass with the fresnel you're using? If it is, what do you think of it - is it a big improvement over the previous version?
Hi buckshot,
yes, that's the fresnel. To me it is a very big improvement. I use the groundglass for composition and the fresnel increases the brightness significantly and in particular the distribution of light on the GG. While the regular GG actually only shows a bright spot the fresnel illuminates the entire GG. Only drawback is with large movements the edges are a bit harder to check (the fresnel works best with the lens in center position) but as the focusing hood of the WRS is flexible enough you can move the loupe around to check the edges. Works really good for me.
At Photokina Cambo showed an early prototype of an upcomming sliding back camera. I've noticed the extremely brilliant GG and asked Rene about it. It was a Bill Maxwell screen and he told me they will offer it as an optional accessory. It's the best screen I've seen so far... much better than the Alpa, arTec, RM3D or WRS groundglasses. But this one is pricy (something around €400 for the screen alone I guess).
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buckshot

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2011, 11:58:31 am »

Tip #2 (rough!… at your own risk)...

You can also use the bushings to permanently introduce anything up to approx. 1.5 degrees of rear tilt, without putting any excess stress on the hardware. This will move the sensor back slightly, but if you needed to shim it anyway it could replace one or more of the shims. If you need to move your sensor forward, I'm afraid this technique isn't for you.

It really wouldn't be that difficult to design and engineer a system [that would replace the bracket+interface plate that is there now] which would allow you to dial in maybe up to 7.5 degrees of rear tilt (perhaps even asymmetric tilt - as a landscape photographer that's the one movement I always loved). Combined with the T/S on the lens [which, in my humble opinion, Cambo have implemented the best of anyone in a tech. camera] this would make for one flexible system.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2011, 01:05:07 pm by buckshot »
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tho_mas

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2011, 01:47:07 pm »

You can also use the bushings to permanently introduce anything up to approx. 1.5 degrees of rear tilt, without putting any excess stress on the hardware.
yep, but with emphasis on "permanently". If you use 2 interfaces it's exchangable in a second.
It's playing anyway; Cambo offers TS lens panels after all (though the tilt is on the front, not on the rear...)

Quote
It really wouldn't be that difficult to design and engineer a system [that would replace the bracket+interface plate that is there now] which would allow you to dial in maybe up to 7.5 degrees of rear tilt (perhaps even asymmetric tilt - as a landscape photographer that's the one movement I always loved). Combined with the T/S on the lens [which, in my humble opinion, Cambo have implemented the best of anyone in a tech. camera] this would make for one flexible system.
I agree. Did you forward your ideas to Cambo? They are always open to suggestions.
Maybe we will see this in a RS MK II :-)

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buckshot

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2011, 03:42:41 pm »

The two part system on the rear of the RS is so flexible that there's loads of potential. Unfortunately Cambo seem content (for now) to just modify/recycle bits and pieces from elsewhere in their range and attach them to the RS - 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' * - which isn't really doing this great camera justice. Maybe they are concentrating on their new sliding back camera? If so, that's understandable, but unfortunate, since I don't think they've developed the RS as much as they could.

* Or, as Terry Gilliam once said, 'If it ain't broke, break it!' - I'm with Terry Gilliam on this one.
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buckshot

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2011, 11:34:24 pm »

@tho_mas

Did you have to modify anything to fit the lens from the Pentax SMC 1.4/50, or was it a case of just unscrewing the Cambo eyepiece, removing Cambo's lens and putting in the Pentax one? I wonder if the front element from a 50/1.7 or 50/2 would fit?
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tho_mas

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2011, 07:34:41 am »

as Terry Gilliam once said, 'If it ain't broke, break it!' - I'm with Terry Gilliam on this one.
truly a wise person.

I think Cambo's target was to design a camera providing quite large movements and a number of neat features but still in a very compact design for shooting handheld.That's why the camera is so versatile.
When you want to use the 2 part rear for tilt & swing you need geared movements and a rigid lock in zero position (i.e. in perpendicular position). Would make the camera somewhat bigger and would require a complete redesign of the rear standard.
However, you are perfectly right… basically there is a lot of potential not beeing utilized widely by now with regard to a "Wide RTS".

Did you have to modify anything to fit the lens from the Pentax SMC 1.4/50, or was it a case of just unscrewing the Cambo eyepiece, removing Cambo's lens and putting in the Pentax one? I wonder if the front element from a 50/1.7 or 50/2 would fit?
The diameter of the lens element happened to fit into the lens holder of the focussing hood; actually it's a bit too small, but okay.
However the thickness of the lens was an issue… when you tighten the eyepiece of the focusing hood the lens still can move up and down.
I've insterted a plastic ring so when I tighten the eyepiece the additional plastic ring locks the lens in place.

BTW: didn't you say you have some more tips 'n' tricks to share?
Please tell us :-)

« Last Edit: January 04, 2011, 09:41:16 am by tho_mas »
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buckshot

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2011, 08:43:27 am »

Is the GG used in the holder with the fresnel the same as the GG used in the holder without the fresnel?

Just wondering if they improved the GG when they introduced the fresnel...or just reused the older GG...
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ggriswold

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks Shoulder Strap Lugs
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2011, 07:19:48 pm »

As manufactured the lugs for a camera strap for the Cambo RS are on the inside of the handles so the sides of the handles don’t have protrusions. The problem is any strap drapes over/ near the lens when you bring the camera up to shoot. I knew this could be improved upon.

I drilled and tapped two mounting holes in the Cambo to screw in two broadcast video camera strap lugs.  They were from an old Sony Betacam which weighed close to 25 lbs.  The posts accept a broadcast video camera strap.... these lugs/ attachments have been a standard design for 25 years so they are widely available.    
The added benefit is that these two posts improve the grip on the small side handles.  Using the Portabrace style strap (shown) the strap attachments rotate straight  down and stay out of the way when you lift the camera up to shoot.  All the straps that fit these posts are quick release and very secure.

A few months ago I added a few narrow strips of 3M no-slip material (made for stairways, etc) on the inside of the handles to prevent an ugly accident.  If you do this be sure to get quality no-slip that does not shed sand and grit as you grip it.  Some Marine types seem to have the best sealing of the grit, but I only found it in white... I wasn't going to trash my Cambo RS with white.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2011, 07:31:03 pm by ggriswold »
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john milich

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #14 on: February 28, 2011, 10:15:34 pm »

been reading about the cambo
any comments about excessive internal flare with the wrs?

jm
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buckshot

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #15 on: March 01, 2011, 03:42:00 am »

I've taken a lot of images with my RS and never experienced it. For me, its a complete non-issue. When the lens and back are mounted, the chamber is light-tight and all internal surfaces have a matt-black surface treatment.

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2jbourret

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #16 on: March 05, 2011, 06:51:32 pm »

Does anyone know if the rear tilt method suggested by Buckshot would work similarly with the rear plate of the Wide DS?
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Jamie Bourret
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cng

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #17 on: March 07, 2011, 04:26:26 am »

I use the the Sinar arTec lens shade.

tho_mas (and anyone else), I am looking for a lens shade for my RS.  The Sinar arTec shade and normal Sinar bellows shade are on my shortlist, as well as Cambo's and Lee's shades.

1. The arTec shade mounts on the lens using an adapter, correct?  Does this affect the use of centre filters for Schneider lenses?
http://www.sinar.ch/en/products/accessories/55-sinar-artec-zubehoer/185-artec-kompendiummaske

2. I was also considering Sinar's bellows lens shade in combination with the RS levelling base (which has an opening to insert mounting rods etc) but it looks like Sinar's bellows shade won't work because the mounting rod fits into the corner of the shade, not the centre.
http://www.sinar.ch/en/products/accessories/55-sinar-artec-zubehoer/186-balgen-kompendium

3. Regarding Cambo's CSM-100 Flexible Hood – is Cambo preparing a "custom" solution for mounting this shade onto the RS's hot shoe?  Their website is very low on detail (although better than Arca's :D).  I would have thought that changing the bottom mount of the CSM-100 to fit a centered rod would work best with their WRS-333 Levelling Head.  After all, Cambo's own marketing states that the levelling head can be used for mounting RS-related accessories.
http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_photo/set01/english/internet/Item22062.html

4. There is also Cambo's CSM-210 fixed Mattebox but it looks potentially limited and intended more for video production.  Regardless, I like the look of it because it reminds me of the plastic hood on my 35mm Summicron, just BIGGER.
http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_photo/set01/english/internet/Item22052.html

5. skimasks, is that a Lee Wide Angle hood on your RS?  How do you find it in daily use?  I haven't used Lee gear in years, so not sure if they've changed much.

6. tho_mas, how does the Sinar White Shading Diffuser attach to the lens and how do you find its use?  Anything that frees up my hands is surely a good thing.

Thanks.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2011, 04:51:20 am by cng »
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skimasks

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #18 on: March 09, 2011, 11:13:16 pm »

Hi! Sorry for the late response..it is indeed the Lee Wide Angle. It barely fit with the bars on the lens (one could remove them). I havent used it on the camera since. If there is any flare I flag it with my hand and everything is fine.

Justin

cng

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Re: Cambo Wide RS Tips 'n' Tricks
« Reply #19 on: March 10, 2011, 04:40:47 am »

Thanks Justin.  I have emailed Cambo about their own shades, but still waiting on a response.  If I hear back from them with anything interesting, I'll post it here.
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