I'm currently using the Canon system with tilt shift lenses, but I'm continually frustrated by the limited movements, lens options and lens quality. I've seen the Cambo Wide DS that Will Crockett recommends, but that seems like a very expensive system that is really only good for one thing. I think it will also be rendered obsolete when a viable view camera solution is developed.

I also shoot a range of subject matter. For example, for clients in the hospitality sector I may shoot interiors and food. Bringing a view camera and the Cambo to one shoot is just not practical, even if I could afford both systems.

Are there any viable digital view camera solutions out there?

Cheers,

Andrew Ross

I too find the Canon TS-E lenses a bit limited. However the folks at Canon tell me that it's simply a matter of engineering limits. Moving from my Sinar system to the Canon required a few compromises.

As for the Cambo system that Will recommends, I haven't used it and can't really comment on its viability. I'll agree that it carries a hefty price tag.

I'm sure that there will continue to be various digital view cameras introduced in the coming years. However, I think the price tag will continue to be high. It's simply a function of market size. A manufacturer has to strike a balance between engineering and manufacturing costs and projected units sold. I believe that this equation will always produce expensive digital view cameras.

What would be wonderful is for a manufacturer (Canon, are you listening?) to engineer a digital view camera from the ground up. I think that the investment would be significant, but it would change the course of the industry.

Cheers,
Alan

Just saw this (http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CB4600K11.html) from Calumet. Maybe it will be a good solution between high-end view camera body and a tilt-shift lens.

PhotoJoe:
Just saw this (http://www.calumetphoto.com/item/CB4600K11.html) from Calumet. Maybe it will be a good solution between high-end view camera body and a tilt-shift lens.

That actually looks pretty interesting, and a bit more practical than most of the other digital view camera solutions I've seen before. I'm in Canada, so I'll never be able to see one here, but if anybody has a chance to actually see and demo one I'd love to hear what you think.

Cheers,

Andrew

A friend of mine has been a long time 4x5 shooter, and he's been looking for a digital view camera system for some time now. I sent him the link above to get his opinion and he wasn't too impressed. I thought some people here might find his response interesting as well.

"I looked at your X2-pro link. I think you may have some of the same problems as with all DSLR view applications, which is at the wide angle end and not being able to get the lens close enough to the sensor. The shortest compatible lens is the 28 Digitar. Not all that wide on a DSLR. The only reason the 28mm lens works is that the Schneider L series are retro grade lenses. They are constructed similar to other SLR lenses. Note that the Schneider 35mm xl and none of the short Rodenstock lenses are listed as compatible. I'm sure that any medium format lens would be compatible because of their retro grade design so you may want to verify the availability of the type and focal lengths you need. I'm just guessing but, I don't think you will be able to count on a lot of lens options in a retro grade formula from the traditional view camera lens manufacturers."

I quite agree with the above comments. This design is just a re-do of a previous design with the same limitations on the wide angle side of things. I suppose this setup may be useful for some product photography and perhaps landscapes and the like--but not architecture!

I got the pre-release email from Calumet on this camera touting it as ideal for architectural photography. Apparently they have no architectural shooters on their design team.