The Cambo Actus GFX medium format view camera is a £12K investment for our clients

Anyone who follows our AP blog posts will know by now we are always looking to invest in new, or specialist equipment Like a medium format View Camera that helps us deliver our very unique service and the very best in commercial photography for all our clients.

Last Month I set out to buy the new medium format mirrorless Hasselblad X1D. Unfortunately, disappointment set in after seeing all of its short comings first hand. For example, an inability to work with any of our View Camera’s. This lead me to look for an alternative medium format camera.

Fujifilm GFX50s

As soon as I saw the specifications of the new Fujifilm GFX50s and understood what it can deliver I immediately placed a pre launch order with Calumet Manchester to ensure we could get hold of it as soon as it was released.

So far we have found the level of image quality and ease of use to be outstanding. More importantly the difference in quality is not so subtle that only we notice it! A number of clients have already commented on the outstanding quality of the images from this camera.

The GFX has been amazing. Delivering the same, (if not a better) quality and sharpness that we have come to expect from Medium Format cameras but so quick and easy to operate we sometimes use it in place of our Small Format cameras. And that is not the best of it. The tonal range of the camera is outstanding. It makes for beautifully smooth transitions across the shadows and all the tones in our photographs. There is a smoothness were there is a shift in colours and sharpness that I usually associate only with our Large Format film work.

Of Course while Kevin is delighted at the prospect of shooting more advertising work at Radcliffe Photography on the GFX. I am far more interested in what can be achieved as a product photographer and architectural photographer with the GFX50s fitted it to a View Camera. That said, I can see Kevin looking over my shoulder at the New Cambo Actus GFX I just ordered, I’m sure he is wanting to bring all the benefits of a view camera back into his work as a professional advertising photographer.

Another New View Camera

Our New Cambo Actus GFX Medium Format View Camera

Within days of us taking delivery of one of the first GFX50s in the UK, my preferred View Camera manufacturer, Cambo announced the launch of their new Cambo Actus GFX designed around the Fujifilm GFX50s.

It was only slightly annoying having just purchased a new Cambo Actus for our Nikon Cameras (see last months blog). However, following some negotiation that has now been returned and the ActusGFX has been shipped direct from Holland.

We will now have a perfect View Camera solution for every job. The Actus GFX is a lightweight portable Medium Format digital view camera, it joins the ranks with our huge but versatile Cambo Ultima 45 (5×4 large format film view camera) and Cambo Ultima D35 (Small Format digital view camera).

Other Investments from the Photography Show

While visiting The Photography Show at the NEC I tested and purchased some battery powered portable studio lighting at a “knock down show price” (well £500 off). Susan attended some additional training with Adobe. Susan will start full time as our photographic technician in the summer. She will be processing most of our photography with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.