Cambo 4x5

[loki120]

First of all: i'm a novice in Large Format.

I'm a professional photographer but i'm rather young, and i have no experience in Large Format cameras. I've just bought a Cambo 4x5 Monorail but no optic and no back. I'm wondering: what kind of stuff i need to begin with? I don't whant to shoot using 120/220 based backs... but i don't know even where to start searching and what is compatible with my Cambo.

Yes, i'm the most novice around here, so if someone is willing to help, let me know... i'm a bit lost for now...

 

[Ian Grant]

Hi & welcome.

There are quite a few different Cambo models and different backs so you'll need to let us have more informatin. Backs do appear quite regularly on Ebay.

Lens wise you can use any LF lenses, make sure they have a retaining ring, and Cambo lens boards are very easy to find, and even easier to make, I've just made 4 for mine. 150mm lenses are the usual standard lens and easy to find, they often get offered for sale on this forum, or you can place a wanted advert.

Where abouts are you, there may be an APUG LF user near you who could help you.

Ian

 

[loki120]

thanks for your kind response.
the camera is in fact that one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160254727243&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123

and there is the price i payed for it. now.. there's also a plate with hasselblad mount on auction... dunno if it is convenient... now i guess i need a polaroid back and some chassis for plain films.

EDIT: this could be the right back?

http://cgi.ebay.it/5X4-Fidelity-Elite-Film-Holder-Dark-Slides_W0QQitemZ370026229625QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item370026229625&&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

 

[Mick Fagan]

Loki, nice camera, not what I was expecting to see.

Forget the Hasselblad stuff at the moment.

Your camera has a back. The glass with the grid on it is what is called a Ground Glass (GG). You use this for focusing on. You eyeball it at first then as your focus becomes critical you use a magnifying glass, usually a loupe to get the focus very accurate.

You will need a film holder, which takes two sheets of film, often called a Double Dark Slide holder (DDS) You lift the GG back and slide the DDS in and away you go. Not really that easy but you will get going quite quickly.

I suggest you search the archives for Large Format (LF) cameras, lenses, boards and other stuff.

There is also a LF forum, very helpful.

others will chime in.

Once again, a very nice camera there.

Mick.

Ps:- welcome to APUG!

 

[Mick Fagan]

$290.50 AUD, man that is quite cheap!

Mick.

 

[Uhner]

Hi Loki.

Take a look at http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

They have a lot of information, both for beginners and more seasoned users.

 

[Ian Grant]

You should be paying between £7-£10 for dark-slides in t5he UK. That's a superb price for the camera, I'm possibly buying from the same seller, watching at the moment

You had me worried that you'd bought a Cambo with no focus screen/dark-slide holder, that's what we normally refer to as the back on an LF camera.

If you're in or near the West Midlands PM me, you can pop over and try a few LF lenses.

Ian

 

[loki120]

yes, mick, quite a bargain... but i need an optic, now. And dunno where to start looking for it... the ones i've seen on ebay are quite expensive, also.

Now... i've found the film holders (single film) and are cheap... hope to buy a dozen to be more independant when i go out to shoot and not to rely to the changing bag too often... another question... there's some tool to stock the exposed films without leaving them on the film holder?

EDIT: I live in Italy and i'll be depart for china in a month or two (i'll stay there 3-4 months)... and hope to take the Cambo with me and my other cameras... i'll buy dresses there
So no plannings to came in the UK soon, but thanks for the offer anyway... I appreciate it.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Loki,

If you find me lurking right behind your posts, it's because I too recently acquired a Cambo (my first LF camera also). Not as nice/new/contemporary as yours, but I hope it will get the job (i.e., learn) done. Still just exercising things and learning movements, oh, and doing lots of reading. Yet to expose my first sheet, but getting close.

 

[Ian Grant]

Loki, you can't really go wrong with a Schneider Symmar 5.6 150mm or a Rodenstok Sironar f5.6 150mm as a Standard lens the S or N models, the Multi-coated versions are newer and better. Make sure they are in Compur/Copal shutters not Sinar mounts. Some people prefer slightly wider 135mm, or longer 180mm, a good wide angle lens is a Grandagon f6.8 90mm, or Super Angulon f8 90mm, there are f4.5/f5.6 versions but they are heavier and more expensive.

A roll film back is very useful as a back-up when you can't reload your dark-slides in the field.

Yes Italy is along way from the West Midlands, UK

Ian

 

[Mick Fagan]

Loki, take up Uhner's suggestion, best suggestion for you to do right now.

Store exposed film in empty film boxes, I'm not really sure what you mean by a tool.

Within reason there really isn't a bad LF lens, some are just slightly better than others. Virtually any LF lens will do quite good work, which, if you use a darkroom and paper not much bigger than 400mmx500mm, should blow your mind away.

In the cheaper end of the spectrum, check out Fujinon, especially the Fujinon W f6.3 150 lens with the writing on the inside of the filter ring.

I have two of these lenses, they are really small, light and for a starter lens, about right. You won't pay the earth for one of these and when you either tire of it, or go in another direction, you can move it for what you paid for it, usually. I bought my second one last year and it cost me $252.00 AUD landed in my letterbox from the USA.

But go and do what Uhner suggested, then come back if you wish to ask more questions.

Man that camera looks good, wouldn't mind having it myself.

Mick.

 

[loki120]

i've found a nice G-Clarion 210mm lemme see if i can win the auction. =)

 

[Mick Fagan]

loki, careful with a G Claron lens. They are process lenses designed for copy work on reprographic cameras, I have three of them.

Usually, but not always, they are sold without a shutter. Unless you take a hat to keep the light off the lens, you could be in a spot of bother.

I think you should hold your horses a bit, you really are in front with that camera, don't blow your good fortune in a rush of enthusiasm.

Do what Uhner suggested, then look for a lens.

Mick.

 

[loki120]

ok ok... i'll wait then... but i HATE to have stuff and not using it...
Since i'll depart for my China trip, i hoped to take a little time to do some field practice...

Just for info... the Claron i've found has a copal shutter-1 and was mounted on a Horseman-HD camera. This optic would fit?

I've a lot of stuff to learn about... mostly the optics for this kind of cameras are really alien to me...

 

[Ian Grant]

Have to agree with Mick, G-Claron's aren't ideal LF camera lenses. They have become very over-hyped, Schneider don't recommend them for camera use, except as Macro lenses.

There are plenty of excellent LF lenses around, I can highly recommend putting a wanted ad in the Classifieds here, I did the same 2 months ago and was offered a superb Caltar(Sironar) in almost new condition for an excellent price.

Ian

 

[Mick Fagan]

Loki, follow Uhner's suggestion, most of this will become quite clear.

It's ½ an hour past midnight here, going to bed, I'll see if you followed your orders in the morning.

Mick.

Ps:- did I remember to tell you to follow Uhner's suggestion?

 

[Bob F.]

<snip>

Now... i've found the film holders (single film) and are cheap... hope to buy a dozen to be more independant when i go out to shoot and not to rely to the changing bag too often... another question... there's some tool to stock the exposed films without leaving them on the film holder?

Um, I'm a bit confused about this... All normal 5x4" sheet film holders are double, not single. Are you looking at Readyload/Quickload by any chance? Do you have a link to what you are looking at?

Welcome aboard BTW!

Cheers, Bob.

 

[loki120]

Mick: YEAH, you did... followed the suggestion and i've read everything there.... now that had the only result of making my impatience growing STRONGER...

 

[Mick Fagan]

Loki, that is good, at least you should have a clearer idea of what is what.

Mick.

 

[loki120]

Ok. I have under my fingers the camera, at last!!! and... with my surprise... SHE is like BRAND NEW!
i mean i thought there would be a lot of scratches and bit of rust... well... i was WRONG. No rust, not even a little microscopical scratch in the black finish... the movements are too smooth to be true... and SHE is very silent and you can't hear even a minimal noise when you operate the levers... she is perfect and SHE IS MINE. =D

Oh... bought (from the same seller) the lens hood bellow for the astronomical price of 10 pounds. =)

Now... i need some directions... now i want a lens.

I've found on the bay a Shneider Kreuznach Xenar 180mm f4,5 (for 200€)

then i think i need a plate to mount the optic... but i can't find one around... any hint?

 

[Ian Grant]

My Cambo takes a plain lens board, essentially just a square of Aluminium with the corners cut off, and a hole for the shutter, so it's very easy to make one and spray it with primer then matt black/satin black. Your camera takes different boards to mine or I'd have offered you one of my spares.

You might want to look at the Large Format Forum, there are usually quite a few lenses for sale there.

Xenars are OK, but only single coated, that one in Cagliari doesn't look brilliant, in comparison you could buy a far more modern Multi-coated lens from the US for less, and even if you ended up paying duty & VAT it should still be around 200 euro. Really such a good camera needs a decent modern lens

Ian

 

[Bob F.]

Can also try MXV (Dead Link Removed) they usually have a few LF lenses and know a bit about them.

You will need a Cambo lensboard for that particular model and that might be a bit more difficult to find on the used market in the UK. Or, as Ian suggests, make one yourself from thin plywood or MDF.

Good luck, Bob.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Perhaps only slightly relevant, but being new to all the various aspects of LF I have a question about rail length, specifically for a Cambo 4x5. When it comes to rail length, is it a simple matter of measuring the bellows length, or extension and equating it to the longest focal length you plan to use on a particular rail? I ask, because mine came with two rails, identical in length, both 21+ inches.

I doubt I would use more than a 210mm lens and that works out to something just over 8 inches when I convert from mm. My plan was to cut down one of the rails to a more manageable and convenient length, but I'm not sure what length that would/should be.

 

[Ian Grant]

A 210mm lens focuses at approx 210mm extension at Infinity, and needs approx 420mm extension for 1:1, so a 21" rail is going to be adequate for everything except macro work. You need to think how close you want to focus with a 210 but you might get away with a 15" rail.

Ian

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Thanks Ian. I will always have one that's 21" so I think I'll cut one down to the 15" as you suggest. As it is now, 21" makes the monorail a great tripod tiller.