Previously I advertised this camera for $280. Now it's $170 plus shipping. (You can't get a older gray Calumet for that!)
What we have here is a camera in almost new condition. This is the later Cambo SC model with the longer posts, allowing greater rise and fall. Cambo SC cameras, like Arca Swiss, are rugged but very light - I always found them a pleasure to use in the field because they're not a burden to carry. The color is a very rich black - I've lightened the exposures so you can see more detail.
It's in very nice shape - I'll explain why in a minute.
The camera comes with a a 21" rail (52 cm), bag bellows, a rotating back, a lensboard, and an extra groundglass (ruled). The regular bellows is brand new from Custom Bellows, made of heavier material - the same material the bellows on my 5x7 Cambo is made of. The tripod screw fitting is 3/8".
Rise and Fall Knobs. The rise and fall knobs on these cameras have what's called "brakes," which are a nylon bushings to exert pressure between the knob and the post to lock the movement. Most of these cameras are sold with mashed-in brakes: The former users exerted such pressure that the nylon compresses into the threads. As a result, the rise and fall movements are hard to position easily, and eventually the knobs won't lock at all. I cleaned out the sockets and installed new brakes (I'll include some extra brakes too). Remember - very little pressure is needed.
Ball Bearing Detents. Above each tilt knob is a small housing with a ball bearing and spring. Four of these click the standards into their locations on the posts. The ball bearings can pick up dust and lint, and eventually not turn. That causes scratches on the standards, and uneven rise and fall action. I removed the bearings and springs, and cleaned and lubricated the assembly. Beware - the screw covers on the later cameras are plastic. If you should ever need to, insert them to barely tight.
So the rise and fall movement are silky smooth.
Focus Assembly and Lock Knobs. On Cambo monorails, particularly the SCII's, lubricant from the the focus knobs and drive wheel bearings can "seep" over into the lock knobs. What results is a "rubbery" lock action because the lock has been inadvertently lubricated. I cleaned the threads with lacquer thinner and now the knobs lock more definitely. I also adjusted the spring tension for the drive wheels - the standards move smoothly and easily, but don't slip on the rail. (Be careful too of the drive wheels - don't get any lubricant on them or they won't grip the rail.)
Rotating Back. The rotating back on these SCII cameras can acquire dust and lint. It makes the rotating action irritatingly uneven and difficult, and the lock won't catch. This rotating back has been cleaned and tightened. It works smoothly and locks with certainty.
All the other movements work smoothly and easily. I went over this thing pretty well. If you buy one through ebay, I guarantee you'll spend hours working on it to get the kinks out. Keep it clean and this camera will last you for decades. And remember please - very little pressure is necessary to lock the movements or focus, yeah?
This camera is beautiful to look at, and all the controls seems to fall exactly where they should. As I said, all the controls are silky smooth. I've worked in one cramped swampy woods where I'd only use this camera. What's so useful about it is that the movements are so extensive, you can easily get the upper part of tree trunks, or swing a near tree and the distant mossy bush into easy focus. Moving the camera is minimized in the cramped confine. The camera does a lot of the work!
Unpack it, mount your lens, and off you go. I'll include a Defender format viewer in the 4x5 proportion - free. If you're unsatisfied for any reason, send it back. I'll refund your purchase price and the shipping. (Keep the format viewer.) For a serious photographer, this is a first class instrument.
Good?
(I have other stuff too - Calumet 4x5's, Ries tripods, even a Arkay (Calumet) 8x10 - message me!)
What we have here is a camera in almost new condition. This is the later Cambo SC model with the longer posts, allowing greater rise and fall. Cambo SC cameras, like Arca Swiss, are rugged but very light - I always found them a pleasure to use in the field because they're not a burden to carry. The color is a very rich black - I've lightened the exposures so you can see more detail.
It's in very nice shape - I'll explain why in a minute.
The camera comes with a a 21" rail (52 cm), bag bellows, a rotating back, a lensboard, and an extra groundglass (ruled). The regular bellows is brand new from Custom Bellows, made of heavier material - the same material the bellows on my 5x7 Cambo is made of. The tripod screw fitting is 3/8".
Rise and Fall Knobs. The rise and fall knobs on these cameras have what's called "brakes," which are a nylon bushings to exert pressure between the knob and the post to lock the movement. Most of these cameras are sold with mashed-in brakes: The former users exerted such pressure that the nylon compresses into the threads. As a result, the rise and fall movements are hard to position easily, and eventually the knobs won't lock at all. I cleaned out the sockets and installed new brakes (I'll include some extra brakes too). Remember - very little pressure is needed.
Ball Bearing Detents. Above each tilt knob is a small housing with a ball bearing and spring. Four of these click the standards into their locations on the posts. The ball bearings can pick up dust and lint, and eventually not turn. That causes scratches on the standards, and uneven rise and fall action. I removed the bearings and springs, and cleaned and lubricated the assembly. Beware - the screw covers on the later cameras are plastic. If you should ever need to, insert them to barely tight.
So the rise and fall movement are silky smooth.
Focus Assembly and Lock Knobs. On Cambo monorails, particularly the SCII's, lubricant from the the focus knobs and drive wheel bearings can "seep" over into the lock knobs. What results is a "rubbery" lock action because the lock has been inadvertently lubricated. I cleaned the threads with lacquer thinner and now the knobs lock more definitely. I also adjusted the spring tension for the drive wheels - the standards move smoothly and easily, but don't slip on the rail. (Be careful too of the drive wheels - don't get any lubricant on them or they won't grip the rail.)
Rotating Back. The rotating back on these SCII cameras can acquire dust and lint. It makes the rotating action irritatingly uneven and difficult, and the lock won't catch. This rotating back has been cleaned and tightened. It works smoothly and locks with certainty.
All the other movements work smoothly and easily. I went over this thing pretty well. If you buy one through ebay, I guarantee you'll spend hours working on it to get the kinks out. Keep it clean and this camera will last you for decades. And remember please - very little pressure is necessary to lock the movements or focus, yeah?
This camera is beautiful to look at, and all the controls seems to fall exactly where they should. As I said, all the controls are silky smooth. I've worked in one cramped swampy woods where I'd only use this camera. What's so useful about it is that the movements are so extensive, you can easily get the upper part of tree trunks, or swing a near tree and the distant mossy bush into easy focus. Moving the camera is minimized in the cramped confine. The camera does a lot of the work!
Unpack it, mount your lens, and off you go. I'll include a Defender format viewer in the 4x5 proportion - free. If you're unsatisfied for any reason, send it back. I'll refund your purchase price and the shipping. (Keep the format viewer.) For a serious photographer, this is a first class instrument.
Good?
(I have other stuff too - Calumet 4x5's, Ries tripods, even a Arkay (Calumet) 8x10 - message me!)
