While browsing through digital backs, looking at costs etc. for a large format camera, I came across several interesting (and new to me) ways that you can get the full benefit of tilts, swings, etc. without buying one of the very expensive digital backs. There are actually two versions of this idea that I found interesting. The one above, and a second type of Horseman gizmo which has four spots to put the DSLR so that they can easily be stitched together.
The basic idea of both types of bellow adapters is that you buy the system which is around $2K, and use it with either a medium or a view camera lens so that you have a larger image circle to work with. So rather than having to work with the much smaller image circle of say a 35mm tilt lens (also expensive) you could buy a relatively inexpensive large format lens, and attach your (in this case Canon) Eos camera to the adapter and tilt, swing, and tilt as you like.
Here’s a link to this Horseman LD View Camera.
And here’s a link to the Horseman VCC Pro View with four places to attach the DSLR so that the image can easily be stitched.
I haven’t done a bit of research about the pros / cons of this system other than reading through the descriptions – but I did find it fascinating as costs for full digital backs are way beyond my means not to mention that I never like the idea of spending tons on a digital product as it is bound to be obsolete pretty quickly. In these cases, as you buy your next DSLR, you don’t need to be concerned that it won’t work with these viewfinder systems. Almost makes me wish I hadn’t sold all my large format lenses.
Would love to hear from anyone that’s tried one of these systems – or investigated them at all.
