Using the Cambo Actus with the X2D

[ajm057]

I finally pressed the button on my order with Teamwork Digital for a Cambo Actus-XCD View Camera and their 24mm lens (to start), plus a few other items. Hopefully it will arrive before the weekend, but we will see.

Does anyone have experience in using the Actus with a X1D-ii AND is there a good source for guidance (I have owned/used several tilt/shift lenses for my Nikons over the decades but not a view camera)?

Yes obviously one is required to use the electronic shutter and NO I do not expect the focus assist tool to work.

 

[ajm057]

The Cambo arrived yesterday and here are a couple of vastly downsampled initial test shot outputs from the first time shooting with the X2D-100C attached to a Cambo Actus View Camera with an Actar 24mm lens attached:
a) camera horizontal, in portrait orientation with an "overly accurate" vertical shift down of the camera standard to ensure all vertical lines/geometry are aligned to correct the perspective.The final image was assembled from 5 shots using horizontal shift of the camera to vary the point of view (increasing horizontal coverage) and then merged in LRC as a Pano. The guidance is too ease back from using a vertical shift that provides a technically correct image, otherwise, as can be seen, this technically correct shot looks like the building is getting wider as one looks up - it is not in fact all vertical lines/features are "perfectly" parallel.
b) The 2nd image was taken with the camera rotated into landscape, aligned horizontally and then shifted down to correct the perspective. The final image was assembled from 3 shots taken with exposure bracket to expand the dynamic range and then merged in LRC as an HDR. [Yes the white balance was played with to warm the building in the setting sun and the sky was also adjusted - shot was taken with a CPL, which needed to be backed off from 100% to probably 50% of perfect alignment].
c) The 3rd image was taken a little earlier and with a different vertical shift. No adjustment to white balance.

I have posted an album on flickr with full sized versions of selected initial output from my tests and practice shots Hasselblad X2D-100C and new toys - at the point of posting this only a few initial shots have been uploaded - new toys include the Actus, HTS 1.5, various HC lenses and adapters - including H Macro Converter and XH Adapter and XH 0.8 Converter.

 

[ajm057]