Arca Swiss Field With Micrometric Orbix

[Mark Windom]

In Jack Dykinga's new book he describes his use of an Arca-Swiss Field camera wi th micrometric orbix. The micrometric orbix feature allows for geared axial til ts but does it also allow for geared rise/fall on the front standard? There are several photos of Jack's camera in his book that show what appears to be gearin g ("teeth") on the front standard (for example, pg 56) and I was wondering if th is was for rise/fall also.

[Glenn Kroeger]

Some of the pictures show Dykinga using a metric front. Metrics have geared rise and shift. You can add the micrometric orbix to either a standard or metric format frame. You can tell a metric frame since it has only one rise knob (no need for a locking knob on both sides) and the geared shift mechanism between the function carrier and the format frame.

[Jeff Scott]

If you get an Arca-Swiss F-Metric with the micrometric Orbix then you would have geared shift and rise on the front and back standards in addition to the geared front axis tilt. It is the Metric designation that gives the geared features for the lateral displacements over the standard F model.

[Mark Windom]

Thanks Glenn and Jeff. It was my understanding that the Field did not come in a metric version...Jack must have special ordered a metric front standard to go along with the micrometric orbix.

[Ed Candland]

But I bet his Arca-Swiss F Field Metric with the micrometric doesn't weigh in at any 6lbs like it says in the book. The standard field is said to be 6.3

[Stefan.Dalibor]

Of course you can use geared front rise/fall with the micrometric orbix (as othe rs noted, the orbix is an add-on that can be applied to all F-line front standar ts). But keep in mind that the lens will only rotate around its nodal point if the st andart is in the lowest position - as soon as you apply direct front rise, the l ens nodal point an the virtual axis of the orbix don't coincide any more.> In my experience, using the orbix means applying indirect rise, i.e. 1. pointin g the camera to your subject, 2. leveling the standarts (using base tilt) and th en 3. applying on-axis tilt with the orbix. This is not a bad thing - the camera is much more rigid the standarts are not ri sed - but it's a bit more work than just leveling the camera and rising the fron t standart until the desired composition is framed (you have to fiddle with the base tilts of both standarts).