Not strictly a digital topic this one but the knowledge base is good here so...

For a couple of specific projects I am looking for a fairly compact shift camera.
My needs are:
Hand holdable..so with optical viewfinder.
Lenses down to approx 35 / 38mm (rodenstock, schneider etc)
Option of ground glass focusing on tripod is nice but not essential.
Rise is essential and shift also would be good..
Takes both 67 and 69 film backs
Takes larger format lenses on helical focussing mounts.

Of course much of th shift work would be done on tripod but I do need the compact size and hand holdability also.

The two obvious options are the alpa swa and the horseman sw612PRO (was a 69 pro made?).
There is also the upcoming fotoman dmax but when that will come out who knows?..a moot date of June 1st has been said but..

Has anyone found any other options to the above mentioned cameras for my specific needs?

I already use an ebony 54 etc but am looking here specifically for something more compact but with the shift etc..so no need to think about 645 slr with a shift lens, or pentax 67 with a 75mm shift lens..too big!

Thanks.

How about Silvestri, and Arca-Swiss R-series?

From what I can see in the silvestri cameras none of them give me the handholdable option..and I assume the arca r may be the same..though I stand to be corrected..does anyone have any links to images of it..?..not being able to use this camera by hand is not an option unfortunately..if it were ths woudl be much easier and I'd forgo a bit of compactness and probabaly stick to my ebony with roll film backs!

Would the Cambo Wide DS (non digital) be too big for you? I think it would do all you are looking for with helical mounts for large format film lenses, viewfinder, hand grip (of sorts), ability to take roll film backs, shift and rise/fall. I haven't used it directly, but I use the digital version.

Thinking about it, I'm not sure if it has the facility for ground glass and reflex viewer but someone more experienced with it could help there.

One to include in the list perhaps.

Matt

Check out www.horsemanusa.com/sw612.html

I realize that this link is for a 612 camera but they accept 67 and 69 film backs.

They are not what I would call a compact camera but they are not much larger
than a 1Ds series camera with a little more width.

I've had two over the past 5 years for 612 and they are well built and quite useable
handheld.

Up until recently,Horseman was making a similar camera but in a more compact 6x9 format.
Doesn't appear to exist on their site anymore but you may be able to find on in
stock or used somewhere. The specs were very similar to the 612 version

Mark

Thanks Guys.
Yes the horseman look like the most appropriate option, especially as they give both rise and shift at the same time which I like.
Being roughly the size of a 1ds is still pretty compact for what you get..I'll definately look at the 612 if I can..I am doing a panoramic project and s better to shoot 612 than 6x9 and crop to 4.5x9

Only issue with horseman I see is limited longer lens options..I think 135 is the longest whereas the alpa and fotoman seem to go up to 180 and beyond.
I would not be using a very long lens with 612 but would like to be able to with 69.

The cambo is, I think, a bit big for my needs I think.

Thanks,

Marc

I just picked up a Corfield, it has the Schneider 47mm and a mamiya 67 back, they say it will take a 68 back. Also talking to Gandolfi they think you could mount a 38mm lens as well. It has I think 22mm rise or fall with an attached viewfinder that adjusts with the movement, it's fairly accurate, I have used it handheld when with rise when it's not been to critical. It has a screen for when it is. I paid about £300. for it.
The other camera I would suggest is a 69 only, with rise or cross movements and the 47mm Schneider, that's the Plaubel Proshift, again it has a viewfinder that moves with the shifts and is a better shape than my Corfield or Silvestri for hand holding.

Kevin.

What about the Plaubel 69 Proshift?
The lens is a 47mm, but it is a great camera.
You can`t change the lens, but therefore the precision is perfect,

Michael heinrich

I'm not looking for a camera for architectural work only (i've got my 54 for that) hence my need for one where I can use lenses from both wide to slightly long..i.e. 38 to 135 etc..which unfortunately means the plaubel won't work for me.

If I'm honest there are two cameras out there that fulfill my needs..the alpa and the horseman..it's just the cost of these two systems that is a bit prohibitive for me at the moment..especailly as the primary uses at present for thsi camera will be for personal work!

Marc

The 612's (Linhof 612) cover the wide to slight tele and hand-hold well.

Kevin

The linhof has some rise built in.

Kevin.

I'm selling a 6x9, ready with Hass V mount. See http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=15420