Please join Cambo USA at the 55th Annual Society of Photographic Education conference coming up in a few weeks in Philadelphia.

We will be sharing a booth with Phase One and showing off some of the best made equipment in the photographic industry. Including the latest accessories for the Actus series of cameras, Studio stands, light booms, and more.

When March 01-03, 2018 (Exhibits Fair)
Where Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We are pleased to announce, that we’ve joined forces with Phase One to offer the market three VERY attractive bundles of Phase One, and Cambo products.

These bundles will be available for a limited time from your local Phase One Camera Partner, starting today, February 1st.

For anyone considering making the jump to digital medium format these package bundles are the perfect solution to get you shooting in no time! And of course, we here at Cambo USA are here to support you in your journey.

Any of our Cambo USA dealers will be able to assist with the purchase of any accessories or additional lenses, and of course the Cambo USA support team is here to answer any questions that may arise, or guide you on how to get the most out of your new camera!

We are happy to announce that Cambo products are available for order and purchase at Fotocare in New York City!

Please reach out to your sales contact for more information, or to be paired with a salesperson please contact Cambo USA at info@Cambousa.com

41 W 22nd St,
New York, NY 10010
(212) 741-2991
www.fotocare.com

Who is Andrew Lerman?

I have been married for the past 39 years to my lovely wife, Judi.  For all of that time our home has been in Westchester County, NY.  We have two adult sons, one daughter-in-law and one perfect grandchild.  When not photographing, I am hiking locally, trying to play golf and rolling on the ground with my grandson.  

What inspires you? How did you become a photographer?

I began my photographic journey as a teenager.  Not any one subject pulled at me.  Back then, I liked to photograph anything and everything. Nature, wildlife, landscapes, sports, things, etc.  Like anyone else, I couldn’t wait for the next edition of NatGeo.  Now, the great majority of my work is landscapes. Over the years, and through the course of my travels, I have been very lucky to have met many incredibly talented and creative photographers.  Each one has had their own special way of delivering how they see our world.  I have commented to others in the past that rather than duplicate what someone else has done, I have worked to understand the “why” behind what they do.  Being able to distill those “whys” has helped me develop into being a better photographer and story teller.  Being able to create images that are beautiful, intimate, dynamic and emotional comes from those gifted individuals past, present and future.  It’s not just about taking a picture of a place it’s about being able to tell the story of the place without using words.

Why Cambo Cameras/Products?

Prior to 2014, I was shooting 35mm full frame and 6×7 film.  At gallery exhibits and other shows, much of what I had for display and for sale were large format prints.  I felt that the size of the film/sensor on the 35mm camera limited what I could create and still maintain a high level of quality in the image.  My 6×7 film camera, which I loved, satisfied my print size requirements but it was an extremely heavy and difficult system to trek out into the field.  It also lacked wide angle and tilt shift lenses.

 When I was introduced, in 2014, to the Cambo technical camera and related lenses, I felt that the combined system met and completely satisfied my needs as a landscape photographer.  It’s overall light weight, precision movements, including rise/fall and shift, and tilt/swing and wide-angle lenses, would allow me to create the quality and scale of images I wanted with much less effort in the field.  Since I try to keep post processing to a minimum this was a significant plus.

In moving to a technical camera, I’ve gone a bit backwards in time.  Less automation, a much more deliberative process and a greater sense of patience to fully appreciate that which is front of you.  That’s a very good thing!

What is your favorite Cambo camera system/lens combo?

A good deal of my landscape work involves getting low and close to a strong foreground object which then allows pulling the foreground and background together.  For this, I most enjoy using the combination of the WRS-1200 and Rodenstock 32HR with the tilt/shift panel.  With this combination, I can do most anything I want.

Tell us about your creative process. What do you look for when creating an image?

Those who have been with me know that I take a very slow and deliberate approach to photographing a scene. I have long said it is not about how many images of a place or animal or thing that I take. Rather, it is about the one image that I see that I want to take. I do a lot of scouting prior to shooting a location. When I first visit a location, I generally leave my equipment in my vehicle. I will become familiar with the terrain, notice the positioning of the sun, tides, etc., and begin to walk in large and small circles exploring the area. I will then reverse back in the opposite direction to make sure that I have seen things that were behind me. I’ve also been known to do this while on my knees since that is generally the height at which I shoot most things. Several years ago, I had made small fiberglass cutouts based on image sizes, 3×4, 4×5 and various pano orientations. I use these cutouts to help visualize a photograph I may want to take. These days, I use an app on my phone to do the same thing, although I still carry the cutouts in case my phone’s battery dies.

Dimension and depth is a big part of how I shoot. A good friend and mentor of mine would always remind me that when you think you are low enough, get lower, and when you think you are close enough, get closer. After many whacks on my head and rear-end I finally got it. As I mentioned earlier, I am generally pretty low to the ground for most of the landscape pictures I make, which helps in creating a third dimension in the image. Most locations have a “main” subject. Using an Academy Award reference, my preference is to make that main subject a supporting actor rather than the lead actor. So, for example, instead of shooting a picture of just a waterfall, I will get into the middle of the boulders below the waterfall and use them as a strong foreground which then leads your eye to the waterfall. To me, the foreground subject becomes the important lead to the main subject.

Where can we find more of your work?

My website is www.LermanPhoto.com.  I am also a contributor to Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/lermanphoto/ , Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/lermanphoto/ , and Google+, https://plus.google.com/+AndrewLerman

To purchase a Cambo WRS system of your own, visit cambousa.com/dealers to find the Cambo dealer nearest you.

Words and Photography by Jawad Malik

Inspiration…

The reason I like photography is because it rewards observation and attention. An observant eye notices the infinite beauty in nature that’s in plain sight but goes unnoticed. Nature can be most beautiful in its simplicity and randomness – finding an interesting cloud formation or an interesting branch pattern among a chaotic arrangement of trees or the random patterns on sand dunes are example of things that excite and inspire me.

About Me…

Photography has been my hobby for a long time – it is what I am most passionate about. Like most hobbyists I mainly use family vacations for the pursuit of photographic opportunities. For a few years I even combined my vocation (software development) with my hobby and was involved in development of Photoshop plugins such as Topaz ReStyle, Clarity, B&W Effects, fotoFXlab, Lens Effects, Adjust 5 etc.

As with most things in life when you practice something consistently for a long time eventually you become better. A decent photographer for many years, I made a commitment a couple of years ago, to improve to a level where at least some of my work could perhaps hang on a wall next to a professional artist’s work and hold its ground. I also wanted to make large prints (60 inches wide or more) of my images which would stand up to close scrutiny.

It is an ongoing effort and has required hard work and a change in mindset. I am learning that attention to every little detail, being very selective with what is photographed, being meticulous with execution and being prepared are some of the things that can elevate a very good photograph to what some might consider photographic art.

My Photographic Philosophy…

I feel a photograph is an output of a single shutter release – a single artifact (negative or raw file). Although compositing techniques such as stitching panoramas, focus stacking images for depth of field or exposure blending of images for wider dynamic range can produce beautiful results, however I feel the resulting product is an image not a photograph. Conversely, I am very open and accepting toward post processing and consider it to be analogous to a chef adding personal flavor and presentation to a meal. In the same way post processing can be the secret ingredient or technique to add personal signature to photographs. My personal aspiration is to become an accomplished photographer as opposed to a composite image creator.

I also consider cropping to be an indication that mistakes were made at time of exposure regarding either composition, framing, alignment or choice of lens etc. So, I feel very happy when a photograph does not need to be altered via cropping. It tells me that at least desired framing was achieved successfully.

Cambo WRS System…

To get the foundations of a photograph right at the time of capture, i.e. composition, framing, leveling, depth of field, focus etc. usage of correct tools can make a huge difference. Research lead me to the so called medium format technical cameras and I decided to give Cambo WRS at try. I can honestly say I wish I owned this camera system years ago. When combined with a tilt/swing panel lens, Cambo WRS offers ability to shift, rise/fall, tilt and swing simultaneously in a very compact form factor. This means I am able to achieve the exact framing & composition and use the lenses within their diffraction free aperture range by employing Scheimpflug principle and combine that with an appropriate amount of rise/fall to capture a solid photographic artifact ready for post processing.

Cambo WRS-1600

Cambo WRS system allows me to take responsibility. There is no auto focus, auto exposure or auto anything. Camera does not make decisions for me, so if the results are bad they are because I as a photographer did not execute and I am to blame. If on the other hand the results are good then as a photographer I feel rewarded knowing I had something to do with the positive outcome and I was not merely present for the ceremonial button press (shutter release), while the camera  electronics performed some wizardry.

Switching from a DSLR to a technical camera (like Cambo WRS) was not a straight forward or easy step for me. It’s a very slow and deliberate work flow and there is a learning curve which requires time, effort and persistence. For wide angle lenses, there can also be a need to capture a LCC shot, for color cast removal. These challenges may sound daunting, but I have found the results to be very rewarding. Each image is a deliberate process and a sequence of decisions – an event, and for me personally it adds to my photographic enjoyment.

With Schneider’s exit from technical camera market, Rodenstock is the only option for lenses. Luckily Rodenstock makes some of the finest lenses available. I own 23mm, 32mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses, all except 23mm, in Cambo WRS tilt/swing lens panels. Their image quality is superlative. My most used lens is 32mm as I like the (21mm equivalent) focal length but 90mm and 50mm lenses are also used frequently. In addition to these I also have a Zeiss/Hasselblad Superachromat 350mm lens that I use via an adapter. It fills my needs on the telephoto end, where native technical camera lens options are somewhat limited.

Conclusion…

In the couple of years since switching to a medium format technical camera, I personally feel that I’ve become a better photographer in many ways and have captured some of my most satisfying photographs in this time period. I don’t mean to imply that the camera system itself has made me better, just that having this system has changed my modus operandi, which has had helped me. As I am improving technically, I am finding there is much to learn and I’m just at the shore with my feet wet and a sea of information remains to be traversed. I hope to be able to continue my pursuit and capture photographs that evoke emotion, grab viewer’s attention and act as a portal to what I saw and felt.

Some of my modest work can be seen at www.unTroubledLand.com

(All images © copyright Jawad Malik and may not be used for any purpose without permission)

The new SLW-84 interface plate enables the use of Sinar’s latest digital back S30/45 on Cambo cameras.

Cambo’s SLW-adapters allow the use of various digital backs on the Cambo platform of the WRS-series, the ACTUS-DB and -XL, as well as the CSL-sliding back series.

The SLW-84 interface is mounted with 3 screws to the Sinar back, which is supplied with an open interface for various adapters.
Due to the layout of the Sinar back it is by default mounted in landscape orientation, although the SLW-84 can be mounted to the Cambo system in any orientation. The use of the Cambo WRS-1600 makes it possible in the easiest way to rotate between landscape and portrait position without releasing the back mount.

Price and availability coming soon.

Many have been asking, and the time has finally come to shed a little more light onto the WRE-CA powered Canon lens adapter for the WRS Platform.

Based on the popular ACB-CA design used with the Actus system, the WRE-CA allows for full aperture control on Canon lenses while they are mounted onto a WRS Camera body.

When used in combination with a digital back with electronic shutter (Such as the Phase One IQ3-100) this system allows for photographers to use their existing Canon lens options while taking photographs.

Not every lens however will be a great fit. In order to best utilize the WRE-CA, lenses with larger image circles such as the Canon T/S lenses are recommended. If you are comfortable with cropping your image and not using the entire sensor space, any Canon EF lens will fit with this adapter. Just be aware that although a lens may fit, lenses that focus using the Canon STM system will not be able to manually focus since the motor does not engage. 

We here at Cambo USA just received our first hands on chance to use the WRE-CA and wanted to share a few test images to show what is capable with this unit.

The first lens I tried with the system was the Canon 24mm TS E. The lens as expected covered the image sensor and I was able to take a few images, but I was more interested to see if any shifting was possible using this solution. The answer is, not much. At 5mm of shift, corners just barely become visible. However pushing any farther results in much more noticeable vignetting.

The real test however came with using the ultra wide 17mm lens.

 Behold! The Cambo USA Office kitchen! While not so much a sight in itself, when paired with the resolving power of the IQ3-100 I am very impressed with the amount of detail you can get out of a lens that was designed without the thought of ever being used on such a high powered capture source.

1:1 crop of the kitchen test.  

While it may seem strange at first, the design of the WRE-CA makes it very easy to see and adjust the aperture of whichever lens is attached. Using the LCD screen built onto the unit to visually see an indication of your aperture setting, while adjusting with the dial on the right hand side of the unit was very pleasant.

Although I could have metered a bit more carefully for these images, I wanted to show that the image circle of the 17mm is very capable of resolving over the large 100MP sensor of the IQ3-100.

Unlike its 24mm brother, the 17mm does not allow for any shifts over 3mm, but I’m still impressed as its use as an ultra wide option. I hope to do a lot more thorough testing very soon.

Who would benefit the most from this product? Photographers looking for a super wide angle solution for their high megapixel medium format backs. Or photographers who may already have invested in a Canon T/S solution before moving to medium format and wish to utilize existing equipment.

For more information or to purchase your own WRE-CA, contact your local Cambo dealer today. The WRE-CA is available for order now.

**Update 2/14/17**

Richard from Cambo also shared this image with me using the 17mm. This one is a lot more interesting than the kitchen test image. Downscaled for web use.

Cambo announces the new WRE-CA lens adaptor is now available. This new adaptor enables photographers to attach Canon EF lenses to the pancake style Wide RS system when using a digital back with a rolling shutter, such as the Phase one IQ3-100.

This lensplate allows you to mount lenses fitted with a Canon Eos bayonet, in combination with the WRS series camera.

The operation of the unit is similar to the working of the powered ACB-CA lens plate for the Actus. The used focal length and the current aperture are displayed on a OLED screen on the lensplate.

Photographers that already own a Canon wide angle lens such as the 17mm TSE will benefit when using the lens adaptor as the image circle is large enough to cover the 40x54mm sensor area. Check first with your local dealer regarding lens image circles.

Contact your local Cambo dealer to order today, or for more information.

Cambo is pleased to announce a new camera body for the popular Wide RS series.

The unique feature of this new addition is its ability to rotate the orientation of the sensor with a simple flip of the camera body. Switching from landscape to portrait has never been more secure. Nothing becomes loose from the body, the sensor is never exposed and there is no chance of changing your sharpness distance, as only the complete assembly with digital back and lens attached is rotating.

The swivel path also makes sure that the sensor stays centered at the same spot in the image. Of course the body has lateral displacement built-in, using Cambo’s unique accelerated gears with detents on every 5mm. This allows for quick and secure placement of the sensor when making perspective controls and especially when stitching. This new WRS-1600 is 100% compatible with the full range of WRS accessories such as lenspanels with Rodenstock HR optics, also including Cambo’s unique tilt/swing options for selective sharpness and optionally with Rodenstock’s latest electronic shutter system.

A new born Cambo product, created from 70 years of innovative experience with design and manufacturing of leading products in high-end photography.