Cambo Actus-XCD, with X2D and WIDE lenses.

[Lust4Life]

My best friend, Clyde, and I are both OLD, and long for something to bring back just a little of the romance of the OLD Days:, swing, tilt, shift, and just "dancing" with the scene before us before clicking the shutter. (Have already pondered Canon TS lenses)

Clyde is going back to Film on some interesting tech cameras from Iran, I'm just not going back to film.

I've had most every Hassie camera from the old 500 to the current, X2D that I shoot now.

I'm thinking rather than a retro camera, with a retro digital array on the back, I'm pondering Cambo Actus-XCD with the X2D hung on it.
Anyone doing this now or has experimented with it?

I always shoot wide angle, thus experiences with Landscape work would be helpful if you've had it. Shame no way to patch a XCD lenes to the nose of the Cambo.

Yes, we are "unbalanced", and we both know it and Love It! Respectively 79 and 83 years will do that to you! LOL
Now be kind and share please.

jb

[Steve Hendrix]

My best friend, Clyde, and I are both OLD, and long for something to bring back just a little of the romance of the OLD Days:, swing, tilt, shift, and just "dancing" with the scene before us before clicking the shutter. (Have already pondered Canon TS lenses)

Clyde is going back to Film on some interesting tech cameras from Iran, I'm just not going back to film.

I've had most every Hassie camera from the old 500 to the current, X2D that I shoot now.

I'm thinking rather than a retro camera, with a retro digital array on the back, I'm pondering Cambo Actus-XCD with the X2D hung on it.
Anyone doing this now or has experimented with it?

I always shoot wide angle, thus experiences with Landscape work would be helpful if you've had it. Shame no way to patch a XCD lenes to the nose of the Cambo.

Yes, we are "unbalanced", and we both know it and Love It! Respectively 79 and 83 years will do that to you! LOL
Now be kind and share please.

jb

Several restrictions come to mind. One is that even if you could cobble an XCD lens to the front of the Cambo, then there is of course no electronic communication with the X2D body (and no way to control the aperture). But your bigger issue would be that your range of focus would likely be around a foot or so (the Actus essentially would become a large extension tube).

And for view camera lenses, you're severely restricted for wide angle, the shortest lens that could work would start somewhere around 50mm. However, the CFV/100c addresses some of these issues, as being a digital back with a sensor that is not embedded deep into a camera body, any wide angle view camera lens is on the table (Rodenstock 23HR, Schneider 24 Digitar, etc.).


Steve Hendrix
[email protected]

[Lust4Life]

Several restrictions come to mind. One is that even if you could cobble an XCD lens to the front of the Cambo, then there is of course no electronic communication with the X2D body (and no way to control the aperture). But your bigger issue would be that your range of focus would likely be around a foot or so (the Actus essentially would become a large extension tube).

And for view camera lenses, you're severely restricted for wide angle, the shortest lens that could work would start somewhere around 50mm. However, the CFV/100c addresses some of these issues, as being a digital back with a sensor that is not embedded deep into a camera body, any wide angle view camera lens is on the table (Rodenstock 23HR, Schneider 24 Digitar, etc.).

Yes, clearly stated why XCD will not work on the Cambo site. Unfortunate.

As to the CVF/100c, yes, but I hope to use what I already own, the X2D with my 35-75 XCD.

I was pondering the SWR38 and adding a Phase P45+ back, but cost added up and still no tile/shift/etc.

Hoping to hear from someone who has the Cambo/X2D set up already done, or tried.
Jack

Steve Hendrix
[email protected]

[Steve Hendrix]

Hoping to hear from someone who has the Cambo/X2D set up already done, or tried.
Jack

Well, Jack, I must humbly submit that I am en expert when it comes to the Cambo Actus products (I've written 7 articles about them), as well as Hasselblad X2D as well, and of course the combination of the two, so I hope you can accept some well intentioned recommendations from me.

Hasselblad X2D and wide angle view camera lenses are out due to flange distance limitations (for any view camera, not just Actus, of course). That leaves fixed plane camera lenses, namely legacy medium format (with controllable aperture via manual aperture rings), and/or perhaps some 35mm lenses, tilt lenses being a primary consideration because their image circle will allow for coverage of that 44mm x 33mm sensor size. Legacy medium format lenses generally just aren't wide enough, though you can shift and stitch them for a wider view, but you may find your results average at best in those shifted areas at the edge. Still, potentially worth a shot - some of my clients use the Pentax 35mm 645 lens with decent results, you could also take a try with the Mamiya 35mm 645 lens, but I don't have as many positive reactions from that lens in that specific configuration.

Here's one of my older articles (it's a bit dated and could use updating) from the early days of mirrorless (at the time, only Sony offered a mirrorless body). But it still conceptually illustrates the limitations.

https://www.captureintegration.com/seeing-sideways-with-the-cambo-actus/

Since them, some of what has changed includes some new additions to the wide angle/tilt side of things, with recent lenses from Nikon (19mm TS), Laowa 15TS/20TS, Samyang, etc.  Cambo has adapted some of these lenses into their Actar series, which provides an Actus mounting board and a modification to the lens that adds a manual aperture ring.


Steve Hendrix
[email protected]

[Gigi]

I don't know if this helps, but when that retro-urge for analog comes along, but not with film, try attaching a digital back to a small view camera. SK Grimes made adapters for mounting either Hassy or Phase backs, so they just go right on. Pick your back - and then your lens of choice. Super wides are limited by the camera, and you are either relying on a cable from the shutter to the back, or if the back is a later one with electronic shutter, then use the back's shutter, and keep the lens open. Easy enough.

[Steve Hendrix]

I don't know if this helps, but when that retro-urge for analog comes along, but not with film, try attaching a digital back to a small view camera. SK Grimes made adapters for mounting either Hassy or Phase backs, so they just go right on. Pick your back - and then your lens of choice. Super wides are limited by the camera, and you are either relying on a cable from the shutter to the back, or if the back is a later one with electronic shutter, then use the back's shutter, and keep the lens open. Easy enough.

Yes, there are all sorts of wonderful bellows camera that a digital back or digital camera can be attached to - this is a great thing. Note, that in the case of attaching a digital camera, the limitations specified earlier in the thread remain. They are not specific to any one manufacturer.


Steve Hendrix
[email protected]