The iconic ALPA. So well thought out that it has hardly had to be changed since 1998.
The ALPA 12 SWA (Shift Wide Angle) was the first model in the ALPA 12 medium format camera series. First only with rollfilm backs and later, not least thanks to its superior precision and extremely tight tolerances, also with digital backs. It is physical confirmation of ALPA’s philosophy of no artificial obsolescence, no change for change’s sake.
Fully integrated into the modular ALPA 12 platform, the ALPA 12 SWA represents an interesting option in particular for architectural but also for landscape photography: shift (perspective correction) is integrated into the camera – in the most frequently used direction of vertically upward. If the ALPA 12 SWA is turned on its head, downward shift is achieved. This rotation can be done by hand or using an additional adapter on a tripod. When digital backs are used, the same effect can also be achieved by a simple swapping of the lens with the back. This allows to achieve our design goals of reliability, precision, versatility and simplicity in equal measure.