Horseman LD PRO

HORSEMAN LD PRO

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HORSEMAN LD PRO

The Ultimate View Camera Designed Exclusively for High-end Digital Camera Backs. Horseman LD PRO Accomplishes the Impossible by Packaging all the Functions that Demanding Digital Camera Users look for!




The Horseman LD PRO enables the user to concentrate on framing, focusing and image capture by simply shifting the digital back. Since the slide portion is designed to allow shifting of the digital camera back with smooth movement, the workflow from framing, focusing and shooting becomes smoother than ever.


		Framing and focusing are done on a ground glass focusing screen. When the image composition has been made, the user flips the focusing glass up, shifts the mount portion (digital camera back) to the left and captures the image. Operations are simple, allowing the user to concentrate on image capture.




Horseman LD PRO features an interchangeable adapter plate system (camera mount system), which includes plates for Hasselblad "V", Hasselblad "H" and Mamiya 645. Also, the LD PRO has a four-way insert system for orientation of the back. Framing can be switched from vertical to horizontal framing or vice versa (portrait/landscape) without changing the camera position.




The Horseman LD PRO realizes the minimum flange back focal distance of 33mm through the employment of a 20mm concave panel, to accept 35mm-class digital lenses. In addition, with the Horseman LD PRO, 1:1 macro shots can be taken with a 180mm lens when the bellows are extended to the maximum limit.




Bellows adjustments are possible at the front and rear. Swing and center tilt can cover a full 360 degrees^*2 (at the image center). Maximum rise and fall are 30mm in either direction, and shift also comprises up to 30mm either way. By combining rise, fall and shift, images can be "stitched" together for novel effects. As bellows movements are performed by an ultra-precise rack-and-pinion drive, inaccuracies between successive pictures are held to an absolute minimum, making post-editing an easy task.		•While applying rear tilt, vertical "stitching" is not possible with normal rise-fall adjustments. •"Stitching" is also limited by the diameter of the lens image circle and by vignetting due to the camera's lens mount. *2 Limited by maximum bellows extension




The Horseman LD PRO also features an MFD (Main Frame Drive) mechanism to allow parallel movements of the main frame portion. Since focus plane rise does not affect the precisely focused position, vertical stitching becomes easier. The MFD mechanism permits parallel shifts within a range of 40mm.




The Horseman LD PRO also allows horizontal movement by 17mm either to the left or right on a slide back for horizontal stitching with ease.


				Photos A and B illustrate this effect. Assuming that the tilt axis in photo A moved out of the image plane, the frame and focus would be become blurred as in photo B, requiring re-framing and re-focusing. In the Horseman design, on the other hand, the remains coincident with the image plane, eliminating any need to re-frame or re-focus.

The image frame remains constant and stays in focus even when rear tilt or swing are applied. That is because the tilt and swing axes are designed to stay in the digital camera's image plane; a major time- and labor-saving feature for the professional.




There are times, however, when it is practical to be able to move the tilt axis; for example, when the point to be focused upon is not at the center of the object. In such cases, the tilt axis can be moved up or down the image plane with the help of an accurate adjustment scale.




Especially in close-up photography, you will find the possibility of re-focusing without using the bellows very attractive. The camera base is mounted on monorail on which it can be moved back and forth by a rack-and-pinion drive. Without moving the tripod, and without in any way changing the bellows extension, the entire camera can be slid along this monorail for re-focusing.

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