DT Dovetail with Compendium Mount for Phase One XT

The Phase One XT uses (primarily) Rodenstock HR lenses that have large image circles and large front elements, which calls for shading the lens from direct light to avoid flare. Since the XT has built in movements (rise/fall/shift) we recommend using the Cambo Compendium Bellows which can be shaped (i.e. tilted in on the top, bottom, left, or right) based on the movements being used.

The Phase One XT has a built-in mount for the bellow (or other accessories) on the same side as the wood handle. Using this built-in mount point has several issues. First, it’s a nuisance to have the mount block and compendium rails sticking out to the side of the camera. Second, using it blocks your hand from easy access to the shutter release and to the lens (e.g. to focus or change lenses, or to change the aperture if you’re using a non XT lens). Third, the compendium will, very slightly, lean aslant, since it’s being held from the side; this can be mostly offset by tightly locking it, but that makes it inconvenient to move in/out (e.g. to change lenses or to accommodate a new rise/fall movement). Finally, when using this mount point for a compendium the entire compendium will rotate to the top of the camera when you the integrated camera-rotation capability of the XT, meaning you’ll need to reshape it for the new orientation.

The standard compendium mount is also one more thing to remember to pack, and requires tightening two screws which are prone to being lost, as well as removing the cover to the standard accessory port on the Phase One XT, which also has two screws that are prone to being lost and require a T6 screwdriver.

The DT Dovetail with Compendium Mount solves all of the above issues. It replaces the standard dovetail of the XT with one that natively accepts the rails of the compendium bellows (without any further adapters, accessories, or tools required in the field). The bottom is still an Arca Swiss dovetail, and all other features/functions of the XT remain the same (including rotation between horizontal and vertical). An integrated finger-screw allows you to optionally tighten/fix the fore-aft location of the bellows, without the use of any tools. A slot in that screw provides you additional leverage in case you want to really tighten it down against accidental movement.

With the compendium mounted to the bottom, rather than side of the camera, access to the handle, shutter, and lens are not blocked, the compendium sits perfectly parallel to the ground, and the compendium remains in the same position as you rotate the camera, so remains in line with the adjustments you’ve made to the scene. Lastly, since that mount is now integrated into the base it can be left on the tripod (the corner of the XT can be removed, allowing removal of the camera from the tripod without taking the tripod mount with you; reducing the weight and improving ergonomics for hand held shooting) which is preferred since the compendium is cumbersome in hand held shooting.

Finally this can also be used to mount a flash transmitter by adding the Cambo WRS-1075 cold shoe adapter. If using the flash transmitter and compendium and the same time, you may wish to add the WRS-1091 which is an extra long rod that will help better accommodate the transmitter; the rod shown in the product photos is the shorter rod included by default with the WRS-1090.