Cambo ACTUS REPRO
When capturing objects and fine art it is important to use a heavy duty copystand to prevent vibration. The Cambo RPS system is designed to support camera systems and components up to 10Kg. Its modular to suit different requirements; the RPS can be fixed to the wall, free standing system with or without a tabletop, with LED or an under lighting system.
Cambo RPS
The RPS system was launched at Photokina 2010 and Cambo have supplied the system Worldwide to photographers, museums libraries and archives. When I was in the factory they were busy testing systems prior to shipping to the client.
Cambo RPS testing
Cambo supply technical cameras together with lenses specifically designed for close up and macro work, as well as camera shift for stitching images to produce larger image files. These cameras are supplied with digital backs from Hasselblad, Mamiya Leaf or Phase One via their dealer network. To enable the camera and lens to synchronise there is a digital shutter controller available that has software for PC/Mac, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. This combination will produce the best quality results and is easily managed when shooting hundreds of images in a production line.
Cambo WRC400 Rodenstock E Shutter
In 2014 the Cambo launched the Actus. It was a complete change for Cambo to build a camera system for the DSLR and Mirrorless camera systems. However, when used in conjunction with a high quality compact camera system, namely the Sony A7R, the combination took the market by storm. The camera footprint is small, its lightweight and has movements that will satisfy the majority of photographers when shooting landscape and architecture.
Cambo Actus and Sony A7
Of course it wasn’t long until photographers wanted to do more with the Actus. Extend the bellows to shoot macro, reduce the bellows to shoot wider shots and also swap the DSLR/Mirror camera for a digital back. Cambo were already developing the accessories for these demands.
As digital sensors became larger and the pixel/resolution increased it became obvious there would be many benefits when using an Actus with a DSLR/Mirrorless camera for archiving cultural heritage. Okay, you could buy a macro lens and mount it to a DSLR but what you can also do with the Actus is shift the camera horizontal and vertical to capture a stitched image, hence producing a larger high resolution file. As the resolution of DSLR/Mirrorless systems increased, particular attention was paid to the demands of the archivists and a solution was developed to suit a budget without sacrificing the build quality. The Actus REPRO was introduced.
Cambo Actus REPRO
Controlling the copystand is also important as you don’t want the camera system to vibrate causing the system to misalign. The RPS comes complete with a hand control that has speed control to raise and lower the camera into position. By using the Camera Live View you can move the camera into position and frame accurately by varying the motor speed.
Camera manufacturers have also improved the live view ten fold, so can easily frame the shot with the motorised control of the RPS, see the exact composition and check focus through your monitor.
The front of the Actus is permanently fixed so that there is the best parallel plane between the lens and sensor. The rear standard has full horizontal/vertical shift for stitching large files according to the lens/image circle. Cambo recommend using digital lenses with the Copal 0 or 1 lens plate. You can select from a wide range of lens plates; Copal 0, Copal 1, M39, Leica-R, Nikon F, Canon EOS, Hasselblad V, Mamiya RZ/RB, Mamiya 645ProTL and Pentax 645.
Next month we’ll take a look at the Rodenstock E-Shutter.
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