The Horseman LD Pro View Camera is a view camera equipped with a slide-back mechanism to allow mounting of high-end camera backs to give full bellows functions. The LD Pro takes any high-end digital backs made for medium format cameras, from companies such as Phase One, Leaf, Imacon and Sinar. It allows users easy control of depth of field, distortion, lateral shift, portrait/landscape orientation, and more. The LD Pro has a four-way insert system for switching, and with its interchangeable camera mount system you'll have immediate compatibility with any Hasselblad "V," Hasselblad "H", or Mamiya 645 back.

You can also control perspective distortion by tilting the back (focus plane) or, with a lateral shift; you can move the image and get larger image stitching. In addition, you can change format very quickly and smoothly. The Horseman LD Pro has a unique ability to take advantage of camera movements, such as shift and tilt. It provides a swing/tilt of up to 360°, a rise/fall of 30mm each and a lateral shift of 30mm left and right. With a conventional view camera without the LD Pro's unique focus plane axis tilt, you get focus and image shifts, which require you to refocus and re-frame. No image or focus shift occurs when using the LD Pro's back tilt/swing. It allows you to control the "plane of focus" by tilting the lens. This tilt movement controls the plane of sharp image at wider aperture.

One of the most exciting features of the LD Pro is a unique "Main Frame Drive System" (MFD), which allows you to move the rear frame (sliding back) parallel to the focus ground (glass or film) plane from the center to 40mm above. This works as "additional" rise of the rear frame, but with using this you won't loose the focus since this movement is always parallel to the image plane. It also allows you to move the rear tilt axis and to stitch images vertically. Conventional rise/fall can only be used for vertical stitching when no tilt movement is applied, but with the MFD's focal plane rise, you can always stitch vertically.

Designed for Digital Backs    Accepts Canon/Nikon Digital SLRs    33-400mm Flange Distance Range    Standard Horseman 140mm Lensboard    Adaptable to Technika Lensboards    Adaptable to Horseman Field Boards    ±30mm Front & Rear Rise/Fall    Center Axis Tilts/Swings    Variable-Axis Tilt    Change Macro Focus w/o Bellows

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. Optional lens panels have built-in bayonet receivers for Hasselblad V, Mamiya 645, Mamiya RB/RZ, Pentax 645, and Pentax 67 lenses which will mount directly to the front of the LD.

The Horseman LD PRO realizes a 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°* (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.

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.

The image frame remains constant and stays in focus even when rear tilt or swing is applied. That is because the tilt and swing axes are designed to stay in the cameras 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.

* Limited by maximum bellows extension

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Is this lens compatible with Kenko TelePlus MC4 AF 2.0X DGX Teleconverter for Sony A-mount?

A: While this lens will fit, autofocus is not guaranteed.

Q: 2. Hello, Is it possible to order Horseman-specific helical focusing mount and barrel assembly with lens guard for 110mm f/5.6 Super-Symmar XL Lens made to fit Horseman SW617 Pro? Another words I need MFR #21397 except Lens and viewfinder. Kind regards, Felix Kordysh

A: Unfortunately they do not offer it that way.

Q: 3. Hi I am looking for 70 -300 lance VR for nikon D90 in 150- 190 $ range . Can u recommend the most optimized for outdoor and landscape purposes?

A: Unfortunately, there is no image stabilized option in your listed price range. The closest telephoto zoom lens to your price range that has image stabilization would be the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Lens, B&H # NI5520045GAF.

Q: 4. Will this lens be compatable with my Nikon D60 camera?

A: The Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Autofocus Lens for Nikon AF is compatible with the Nikon D60.

Q: 5. is this lens compatible with a D5300 55mm nikon?

A: Yes, this lens is compatible with your Nikon D5300.

Q: 6. Will this support Nikon D7200?

A: Yes it fits both crop sensor and full frame Nikon DSLR

Q: 7. hello, i see a b&h staff reply that this lens is fully compatible with the older body nikon D60. is it also fully compatible with the nikon D5300 & nikon D7500? thanks

A: Yes it is also compatible with the D7500 and D5300.

Q: 8. Will this Fit a Sony a37?

A: Yes this lens is compatible with the Sony A37.

Q: 9. does this have a manual focus/auto focus switch on the model for Sony A mount?

A: No. As you can see on the product view it only has a switch for Normal-Macro . I find this lens needs to be set for SPOT focus most of the time to get it to auto focus quickly -and or at all -sometimes, but not always. I set the camera to Manual Focus a lot of the time for good, clear photos. This lens also does NOT have a Lock switch, which irritates me a lot. Overall the lens does produce good photos. And I like the Macro photo results. I think I should have gone for the Sony lens.

Q: 10. How is the performance in nikon d5200?

A: I have a D5000 and it works excellently...