Heres a quick tip for all of our Actus users. Recently we received an email asking for us to perform a “science experiment”.

One of our users wanted to take his Actus hiking while carrying the least amount of gear possible. He also wanted to use longer focal length lenses without the need to change monorails in the field.

He asked whether or not the rear standard of his Actus-DB2 would support the use of the macro adapters designed for our WRS line of cameras. After some experimentation and many calls back to Cambo HQ in The Netherlands, I was reminded of a more elegant (and often overlooked) solution.

The front standard of the Actus is designed in such a way where it can be rotated 180º and a standard Actus lens board can be re-mounted. The magnetic bellows even still connect and effortlessly lock into place.

This allows for the standard 175mm monorail of the Actus DB-2 (150mm of the Actus Mini) to effectively be extended by 45mm. The photo above is taken from the Actus manual itself, and even though it shows the Actus-Mini, you get the same movements on the Actus DB2 as well.

All you need is the right length of bellows and you are back in action with as little extra equipment as possible!

The Actus series of cameras is a modular unit that allows for an almost unlimited potential for customization. The standard Actus configuration comes included with a 150mm monorail (175mm for Actus DB/Actus GFX), but has the ability to be used with extended rails for longer focal length lenses or for macro purposes.

The AC-330 monorail extends to 300mm of length and allows for 1:1 focus with a 120mm macro lens. The AC-345 extends to 450mm which is good for 1:1 with 180mm lenses.

You Will Need:

Step by Step:

1) With the rear bayonet facing you, begin by loosening both silver tension screws on lower left and right of the Body.

2) Use the focus knob to move the rear standard into the farthest back position (60mm)

3) Extend the rear standard until the silver set screw appears in the guide hole

4) Remove this screw and retain it for re-assembly. The rear standard can now be freely removed.

5) Turn the body over to reveal four T6 screws. Remove those screws and retain for re-assembly. Please note if you have an Actus-DB or Actus GFX the front standard is comprised of two pieces. Both pieces will need to be re-installed in order to complete the swap.

6) Re-assemble your Actus by following the same steps in reverse with the longer monorail of your choice.

And there you have it. Customizing your Actus camera for your needs is incredibly simple and something anyone can do.

For any additional questions or to purchase Actus cameras or accessories please contact your closest Cambo dealer at Cambousa.com/dealers.