Alternative to Alpa?

[vpwphoto]

I once owned this very kit:

http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/vista612.html

I dunno if Ralph is alive anymore.

[Frank Bunnik]

Thanks for the compliments Garry.

The Cambo Wide is not that big. It is basically an international back, fitted with a handgrip. The lenses are mounted on the frontside of the back. Only the 120 and 150mm lenses are mounted on a large cone, the rest of the lenses are not that big. You can shoot handheld with ease.

What I like of this system is that you can shoot 4x5 and all kinds of roll film format including 6x12. Not even the Alpa can do that.

There is a good review of the system here:
http://www.paul-armitage.com/CamboWide.html

all the best, Frank
www.frankbunnik.zenfolio.com

[thegman]

Hi Frank, I'll check out the Cambo some more, if it's handholdable, then I'm interested.

Garry

[Dan Fromm]

Please pardon the late response, I only just noticed this discussion.

The humble Century Graphic or the slightly less humble 2x3 Pacemaker Crown Graphic (with a Graflok, not a spring, back) is nowhere near as lovely an artifact as an Alpa 12 but will do all that an Alpa 12 can do, and more. The Century is much less expensive. I have one, also a couple of 2x3 Crowns with Grafloks, use the Century because I got it first. Lenses used on it range from 35/4.5 Apo Grandagon through 38/4.5 Biogon (from an aerial camera, not from a Hasselblad, and it doesn't cover 2x3), a 47/5.6 SA, ... to a 10.16" Taylor Hobson Copying Lens. With a little help from my 2x3 Pacemaker Speed Graphic and some simple brackets my little Century can be used with focal lengths up to 480 mm. Read about all this at http://www.galerie-photo.com/telecha...2011-03-29.pdf

Graphics are made for shooting handheld but shooting from tripod gives much better control over framing.

[thegman]

Hi Dan,
I managed to find a Fotoman 69H, and am now waiting for it to be delivered from Hong Kong. I think for me it's as close as I can get to an Alpa without really rethinking my financial priorities.

All the best

Garry

[sneebot]

Like yourself I like the design of the Alpas but they are a bit out of my range. So I patiently acquired all the components used and machined up a couple Alpa-like bodies and all the interface components:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sneebot/6695950233/

[thegman]

Wow! That looks fantastic, prettier than my Fotoman...

With a grip, that would have been perfect for the likes of me. I wish I'd seen it before getting my Fotoman, maybe I could have persuaded you to build me one.