ALPA of Switzerland - Manufacturer of fine cameras

What is the exclusive ALPA shutterblade interlock for?

All current ALPA lenses with mechanical Copal shutter (except the extraordinary Schneider Apo-Digitar 5.6/24 mm XL) are equipped with the ALPA shutterblade interlock. Older ALPA lenses can be updated. What is it for?:

  • it prevents (especially in analog photography) the dreaded accidental opening of the shutter exposing the film to light
  • it guarantees the shutter to be correctly closed and locked, preventing an erroneous synchronization when using a digital back and/or the blocking of the release when taking a picture.

Products

As a start: Why are all ALPA cameras equipped for digital as well as for rollfilm backs?

Not everyone wants to photograph digitally, and not everyone wants to do so exclusively.

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Can existing lenses be adapted to the ALPA?

Indeed they can – as long as such lenses are listed in our latest product list.

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Can lenses for AFi, Hy6 or Rolleiflex 600x be used with ALPA cameras?

Yes.

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Can my existing lenses get converted into ALPA mount?

Yes, in general it is possible to convert existing lenses from Schneider and Rodenstock into ALPA mount.

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How to focus and to frame?

There are five ways:

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Macro: Are macro shots possible with ALPA cameras?

Yes.

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Mounting the ALPA Shutter Blade Interlock

All actual ALPA lenses in Copal 0 (except Apo-Digitar 5.6/24 mm XL) feature the interlock as standard equipment.

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What are color fringe, color cast and center fold and what can be done about them?

These are three unwelcome but usually removable side effects when photographing with digital backs.

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What are the exclusive "Short Barrel" lenses and what are they used for?

ALPA supplies all lenses made by Schneider-Kreuznach from 80 mm to 250 mm focal length besides the standard version also in a special "Short Barrel" version that is 34 mm shorter than the standard version.

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What is shift, swing and tilt?

Shift, swing and tilt are purposeful displacements of the picture axis against the lens’ axis.

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What is the exclusive ALPA shutterblade interlock for?

All current ALPA lenses with mechanical Copal shutter (except the extraordinary Schneider Apo-Digitar 5.6/24 mm XL) are equipped with the ALPA shutterblade interlock.

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What viewfinders are there for the ALPA cameras?

When an ALPA camera is to be used freehand, then on all ALPA models a variety of viewfinders can be used (see also page 29):

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Why are all ALPA shift-sleds mounted on roller-bearings?

There are, of course, cheaper solutions to support shift sleds.

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Why do ALPA cameras not need a manual?

ALPA cameras are designed to be as simple as possible.

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Why does ALPA offer adjustable adapters for digital backs?

Adjustable back adapters (max. 3/10 mm, adjustable in single steps right down to 1/100 mm) with reuseable shims of various thickness are exclusive to ALPA.

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Why the need for mechanical precision and robustness?

Ever more frequently digital backs use ever-smaller pixels (at present more than 60 MP at 6 µm size).

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can a digital or film back on an alpa camera be positioned vertically as well as horizontally?

Yes, they can.

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