AlanBlakely:
Apparently they have no architectural shooters on their design team.

I share your feelings about this, but despite their flaws I think you have to admit that Cambo is trying harder than any other manufacturer to provide some solutions to architectural shooters. Most of the other companies seems to be completely ignoring us.

I'll give them credit for "attempting" a solution. However, wouldn't it make more sense from a business standpoint to simply get it right from the start?

This is my first posting on Pro Photo Resource (actually I?ve only been on for about 5 minutes as I?m trying the 30 free trial) and seeing as this is an older post I don?t know if anyone will read this but here goes my 2 cents.

As far as a digital architecture system I feel that it?s important to not reinvent the wheel. I own both the Sinar and Canon systems with Canon?s 24mm TS lens that were previously mentioned in this form. I agree that the Canon lens is very limited in what it can do, especially when compared to a good 4x5 system. But of all the new gadgets out there to try and make a digital work like a view camera very few seem to be anywhere near as capable as a good 4x5 with a wide angle lens with good coverage.

The only two that I may someday (doubtfully) invest in are as follows. Adam at S.K. Grimes made a back for a Arca Swiss that replaced the Graflock back and allowed you to attach a digital SLR. I asked him about it and he said you could attach the digital SLR and then cover the 4x5 viewing area by moving the SLR around on the ?film? plane taking multiple exposures to cover the 4x5 image area. You would later stitch all of these images together in Photoshop to get one image. I have never used anything like it and it sounds very labor intensive, especially when you could just put in a 4x5 film back in and take the picture but an interesting possibility none the less.

The second possibility (I was surprised no one mentioned this one) is Better Light digital backs. These slip into a 4x5 just like a normal film holder and scan the image line by line. You cannot use them with strobes but they have extremely high resolutions as well as an enormous price tag. Even there rental prices are through the roof but there product (again I have never used it) seems impressive.

What I personally do if I need a digital image but need to shoot 4x5 to accomplish the shot is still shoot on film or chrome and then scan the 4x5 into a digital form. A good scanner will be able to produce a higher quality digital scan from a 4x5 negative or chrome than you can shoot from even Canon?s 16.7 mp EOS1DS mk II. This I have tested myself as I own both the Canon and an extensive Sinar system. Many professional photo labs are now scanning all sorts of formats on super high tech drum scanners (that cost what a good used car does) to then print from a digital enlarger on conventional papers.

Just my two cents?

-Logan Group