X2-Pro

X2-Pro image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)

The Cambo X2-Pro View Camera System, introduced in 2006 by the Dutch company Cambo, might be seen as a view camera that uses a DSLR as a digital back, or as a very good accessory bellows for a DSLR. With their years of experience in making monorail cameras, Cambo created something new with a bag bellows and a back where a modern DSLR must be attached. A lens (of focal length between 28mm and 150mm) is mounted in the front standard, which sits in a U-shaped yoke at the front of a short rail. Focusing is done by racking the rear standard, with the camera mount, forward and back using Cambo's patented cross-gearing drive (a kind of worm drive). The front standard offers rise/fall, shift, tilt and swing adjustments, controlled with two knobs below and at the side of the yoke. It has two spirit levels.

The unit gives a DLSR some functions of a view camera, and is recommended by its maker as an architectural camera. The principle of this camera is kind of two cameras, the one without lens, the other without screen or media, making together an exciting modern view camera.

Links

• X2-Pro at Cambo
• X2-Pro user manual (pdf) at Cambo
• Dutch Patent 1031847, Cameraverstellingsmechanisme, cameraverstellingssteunconstructie, alsmede camera-samenstel (Camera adjustment mechanism, camera adjustment support construction, and camera assembly), filed 19 May 2006 and granted 2 January 2008 to Cambo Fotografische Industrie B.V.. Archived at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office; text in Dutch, with diagrams of the unit and of the 'cross-gearing' controls.