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My new studio warrior:

the charismatic camera with tough personality (do I say goodbye to Canon?)

the charismatic camera with tough personality

Now, when I’ve got everything assembled and working, I am excited to show my new studio camera, Cambo Ultima D:

the charismatic camera with tough personality

Cambo ultima D with Schneider 120mm macro HM lens

My previous setup (cambo master PC + 1Ds Mk III) was very cool view camera learning tool , but now I feel the difference: Working with this Cambo Ultima is like a riding a Mercedes-Benz after Honda (do not get me wrong, Honda makes great cars).  All the gearing is smooth and precise, most of the dials does not have a lock (in opposite to Cambo Master PC), as it sort of “lock itself” after you finish with adjustments.

This is how I have it configured for now:

Cambo Ultima D 4×5 with white shade bellows (many thanks to Piotr Kaperski for a great deal with the shade)
Schneider 120mm f/5.6 Makro-Symmar HM Lens on copal 0 shutter (1/500 sec x-sync:-)
Kapture Group One Shot Cable Release Adapter
Kapture Group Hasselblad H Adapter Plate fro Cambo
PhaseOne pP25+ 22 megapixel digital back
 

Schneider 120mm Makro-Symmar HM mounted on Dambo Ultima D

the charismatic camera with tough personality

Schneider 120mm macro HM lens on Cambo ultima D

Truly, the camera is pure pleasure to work with. I feel like I am operating a futuristic machine 🙂
On other hand, if I compare the changes in workflow with this camera to what I had with Canon… Man! Everything is so much more cumbersome (I mean complicated:-)!
This is what I need to do to get a shot now:

Aim camera to a subject.
Switch shutter to “open” mode .
Turn on LIVE VIEW on C1 software
Adjust camera position and focus it on the subject while looking at Live View screen
Turn off live view
Switch shutter to normal operation
Cock the shutter
Take a picture
Repeat all steps above if subject position needs to be changed and camera must be re-focused.

Pretty cool, isn’t it? :-))

So, what the deal, why I so exited to work with this monster?

Fist of all, it gives me a true freedom with camera movements. Unlike working with DSLR mounted on similar rig, I can swing or tilt lens or sensor to up to 45º and have no problems with shadows from the camera body.

Second, the image quality: Even dated P25+ renders much more details than Canon 1Ds MKIII  or 5D MkII. Twice as large sensor provides more resolution and lack of AA filter makes a big difference. When I look at PhaseOne images, I feel like I’ve got cataract was removed from my eyes:-)

Soon I am going to post images from Canon and P25+ to show the difference in IQ. Subscribe to receive blog updates by email, or to my blog RSS feed.

 

This is how Phase One P25+ looks like, mounted on the camera:

the charismatic camera with tough personality

Cambo Ultima D and PhaseOne digital back

Obviously, I use this setup only for “serious” work (trying to do more serious work these days;-), Canon still the best for simple, “flat focus” shots. Not mentioning any moving subjects, of course.
I do not think I ever say goodbye to 35mm DLSr, as they are so easy to work with. Waiting for a new Canon 1Ds Mark IV, and hope it will be 40 Mpx, best in the world 35mm DSLR.
PhaseOne P25+ will be replaced with at least 50Mpx DB as well.

Have a great day!

Alex

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