Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: akh on November 20, 2010, 10:04:52 pm

Title: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: akh on November 20, 2010, 10:04:52 pm
Hi, I have been using dslr's for years but have wanted to expand into medium format digital.  My interests are landscape, macro, and still life and I have decided I wanted a camera with technical movements.  My thought was to spend the majority of my money on a camera and a minority on a used back.  I could upgrade the back as my finances allowed.  I have read the review's on LuLa but am still unsure which system would be best.  My funds are not unlimited and therefore I need the most bang (IQ) for the buck.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Many Thanks,
Kyle
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: ChristopherBarrett on November 20, 2010, 10:28:19 pm
Are you asking which of these takes Second Place behind the Rm3d?

LoL... ok, yeah, I'm a bit biased.

CB
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: pixjohn on November 21, 2010, 12:15:53 am
If you just want rise, fall and shift a used Cambo Wide DS will do the trick. The real cost is the lenses. What lens system can you afford? I would think the DB would be the number one, and then the lens and body. The Sinar might be a great camera, but I can produce the same image with the other two at a lower cost.
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: akh on November 21, 2010, 12:29:33 am
I guess I thought buying the best lenses would be my top priority.  My thinking was as the backs improve they will require higher quality glass and lenses hold their value.  The backs keep improving and backs get cheaper over time. 
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: Christopher on November 21, 2010, 03:25:19 am
My personal ranking would be:

Arca > Alpa > Sinar > Cambo > Linhof

Now if you ant a small camera to handhold everything changes again.
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: stewarthemley on November 21, 2010, 12:22:25 pm
The flexbody is an interesting idea, Ashley. Do you (or anyone) know if it will fit the H3D/H4D? And I wonder how the movements - type and range - compare with the Arca/Cambo, etc?
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: ChristopherBarrett on November 21, 2010, 01:05:34 pm
I used to use a P45+ on an old 500c, I really enjoyed that setup.  You have to be careful when buying lenses.  Some of the older variants don't supply a solid enough flash sync to trip the digital back.  I don't know what the deal is, something about the way that the circuit is closed that doesn't allow the connection to the DB to work right, very frustrating.  The lenses you would get for a tech camera would easily provide sharper images than the older Zeiss glass, but this really is a great configuration for portability and the ability to shoot handheld.

I'll always have a soft spot for the 500 series 'Blads.

CB
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: JoeKitchen on November 21, 2010, 01:28:32 pm
I used to use a P45+ on an old 500c, I really enjoyed that setup.  You have to be careful when buying lenses.  Some of the older variants don't supply a solid enough flash sync to trip the digital back.  I don't know what the deal is, something about the way that the circuit is closed that doesn't allow the connection to the DB to work right, very frustrating.  The lenses you would get for a tech camera would easily provide sharper images than the older Zeiss glass, but this really is a great configuration for portability and the ability to shoot handheld.

I'll always have a soft spot for the 500 series 'Blads.

CB
A little off subject, but how much does it cost to have a lens set in an R mount for the RM3Di?  Is it cheaper to buy lenses already mounted? 

I am plaining on getting an RM3Di sometime in the next 6 months and want to estimate a price. 
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: ChristopherBarrett on November 21, 2010, 01:42:39 pm
from my last invoice... looks like I paid 1,078 US ea to mount my existing 55 and 70

and below are two lenses purchased mounted

Schneider Apo Digital 5.6/35mm Copal R 1 pc. 3,935.00

Schneider Apo Digital 5.6/43mm Copal R 1 pc. 3,960.00

CB
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: Christopher on November 21, 2010, 01:48:09 pm
580-700eurs
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: JoeKitchen on November 21, 2010, 02:43:26 pm
CB, you hear anything about the new Schneider 60mm with a 120 mm image circle? 
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: archivue on November 21, 2010, 03:46:49 pm
CB, you hear anything about the new Schneider 60mm with a 120 mm image circle? 

still not ready to ship !
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: archivue on November 21, 2010, 03:50:34 pm
mind you, with a flexbody, or arc body you have to remove the back in the field before every shot...

not an option for me because of dust and risk to damage it as well !

Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: ChristopherBarrett on November 21, 2010, 03:58:55 pm
CB, you hear anything about the new Schneider 60mm with a 120 mm image circle? 

You know I haven't even followed the latest glass since picking up my 43mm.  The schedule has been insane and I've been focusing on motion gear.
Happy with my cheap 55mm Rodie but definitely need to replace my 135 and 180 which are nowhere near as sharp as the 90 and 70 HR-W's.

Yada Yada,
CB
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: stewarthemley on November 21, 2010, 04:26:55 pm
Thanks, Ashley. I thought that's how it would be. Bummer. Seems to me, in my innocence, that on paper it has the edge on the HTS thingy. I feel an RM3D coming on. And a wbanker booking an expensive vacation.
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: Jeffreytotaro on November 22, 2010, 10:23:50 am
Hi Kyle:

It all comes down to personal taste.  I used a Cambo WDS and now use the Alpa system which I like better and actually produces better images because it has much less veiling flare than the WDS.  Take a close look at how the internal parts of the camera and mounting plate system are coated.  If the internal parts are just black anodized like the outside of the camera, then flare may be an issue.  The WDS was designed for 4x5 film, so if you go the Cambo route look at the RDS which is much smaller.
Title: Re: alpa vs. sinar vs. cambo
Post by: rhsu on November 24, 2010, 07:22:56 am
Kyle,

I own a Cambo WRS and constantly have had a good play with arTec - as I have several people owning an arTec!  I have had an Alpa TC prior and loved both Cambo and Alpa system.  HOWEVER, for macro, one would need the sliding back system (if possible).  I have not tested the Cambo WRS GG and the loupe.  I have used the arTec and the loupe + extremely bright GG from the arTec is amazing.  What I find most interesting is the that the arTec has NO shim and is factory fitted (?) and aligned!  But then again, Alpa has a shim kit.  So the bottom line is that the arTec has the sliding back.  The T/S is on the camera body rather than on the lens mount.  Don't know which country you are in, but it is real worthwhile getting your hands on an arTec and test it out.  Cambo and Alpa are readily available and more popular.

The arTec is quite compact and small, considering you have the sliding back.  but it is NOT like the large 4x5 bulky piece nor the 2x3 size. Why I never own an arTec?  I didn't have the cash then.

Good luck... :o)