Large Format Digital Photography

AudiiDudii wrote:

For example, what focal length range of lenses do you prefer to use? Without a bag bellows, you'll be lucky to be able to use wide-angle lenses of any kind, due to the longish flange-to-focal distance view cameras typically have.

At the moment, I'm more interested in longer focal lengths. Say 75mm up. I have a Canon TS-E 24mm and Laowa 15mm macro/shift that cater for the wider side (for me, for now).

Also, when capturing images with a small-format sensor, the range of movements used will be quite a bit smaller, so greater precision is required than it was back in the film days and geared movements are helpful, too.

That was something I had considered and what lead me towards those cameras, rather than a T/S adapter and medium format lens dangling on the front of the camera.

Better, I think, to buy one of the five used Toyo VX23DS present available on eBay and start with that or buy a Cambo Actus and skip the DIY bits altogether. <shrugs>

The Cambo Actus looks like just the thing but at the moment, my curiosity doesn't extend to that many $$. I just want get a feel for what I can and can't do. The next step may well be the Cambo.

Once upon a time I started piggy backing a film camera on cheap Newtonian telescope on a mount with no drive. Now I have umpteen telescopes, mounts, cameras, etc and an observatory under construction. Start small and then get carried away.

Alas, those cameras aren't an option for me, as they would require me to use at least medium-format lenses and even the shortest one of those is too long for much of the subject matter I photograph. And I'm not sure I need a laptop, either, as a tablet should be able to do the job, but we'll see...

I don't know of any cameras that work with just a tablet (but I don't really follow the tablet side). I think you are limited by drivers to just Windows and Linux. There are a few options that use a Raspberry Pi (or one in a proprietary box) to control the camera and capture the images and then you control that from a tablet. Most of the newer CMOS cameras are lighter than a camera with a similar sensor size. You will have to factor in a power supply for cooling.  Typical draw would average around 1A.

Steve.