i totally agree that one can use the alpas, and some alpa photographers ( as you ) are among the best worldwide. but, and this was always my point : not for all of us but for many the transition to digital is a very expensive decision. easily it costs you together with 4 or 5 lenses and a 33/39 mp back 40 - 60.000$, or even more.
but if you are still working with 4x5" film many have the feeling, and this feeling is not untrue,- that even if you invest this money you still end up with several compromises. and this is not very sexy, after spending so much money.
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Hi Rainer - that's a very importen point you are raising here - It could easily deserve it's own thread.
Unfortunately it's the naked truth, you will probably end op using an awful lot of time and to much money before you have a working solution that serves your own need and wishes - and sexy too
My own road too this solution was not as straight forward that I hoped it would be - I came from using an Arca Monolith and an Arca Misura with a full line of Rodenstocks - a wonderful system for shooting architecture with film, especially the Misura was great! I thought; well I just replace the filmholder with an Aptus 75 and here we go....
Then I discover that the optics is not that exceptional with the Digi back as on film, then I started to change the wides to Digitars, the files were now sharper end free of CA, with sharper I mean most of the time, because after working a couple of month I find out that practically it's almost impossible to get a complete sharp image, on the entier frame, from a 24 mm on a view camera - some times it was hard with the 35mm as well... The Arca's was simply not precise enough - a least in my hands
Then tested the Alpa XY, and discovered, that what I first thought as being too Swiss - tolerances of 1/100 of a mill, or is it 1/1000? does actually matters in a digital setup as this.
There is some talking about that you have to use a viewfinder or just the LCD for composing - you are not forced to that - I'm VERY depending on using a groundglass, I use a Hasselblad ArcBody viewing system, with groundglass, exchangeable fresnel's and the reflex finder - I'm not kidding when saying that I prefer this solution over the 4x5's on the Arca's it's both brighter and sharper, and no dark corners due to the 5 different fresnel's you just slides in.
Will my setup be perfect for everybody - No, not even close, we all have very different needs and wishes, Rainer you made stunning images with your Gottschalt camera, but after I hold your camera I was sure it was not for me - my XY will never make you happy due to the lack of "sliding adapter" - I like to have more than 25mm of shift - some can compose beautifully on the back's lcd - others will only shoot tethered........ the list goes on.
In a way, it's a bit depressing when you think about it - you are going to spend a hell lot of money, and on the same time not being completely sure if this is going to work for you in the long run.
In that perspective it's only positive that there is a new very competent looking system on the way - It seems indeed that you have found/created your dream Rainer - I have found mine - so after all there is hope
Very best,
Adam
