Canham Family Cameras and Film new 4x5

[abruzzi]

dang--lighter than an Toho FC-45X:

Canham Family Cameras and Film Home Page

1.39kg, 488mm of bellows, 3D printed in PETG, $875

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I wonder if there's a bag/universal bellows available. That would be great with short focal-length lenses.

Doremus

 

[Pioneer]

Neat idea. I wish them well.

 

[GregY]

I wonder if there's a bag/universal bellows available. That would be great with short focal-length lenses.

Doremus

Since Camera Bellows UK made the bellows for Canham...I imagine they can make you a bag bellows.

 

[DREW WILEY]

The fact he used Custom Bellows instead of cheaper options informs me that he is quality oriented, just like his father.

 

[GregY]

The fact he used Custom Bellows instead of cheaper options informs me that he is quality oriented, just like his father.

Yes..... a quality alternative to Intrepid......

 

[DREW WILEY]

Without saying anything bad about either, as a positive response, I'd say, quite a leap forward for a modest budget. Hopefully, someone will get one of these in their hands soon, to provide a report.

 

[blee1996]

I guess 3D printing is the way to go, unless you go for super nice yet super pricey CNC like Stenopeika. I do 3D printing with PETG as well, but the knobs probably won't last that long.

It is still aesthetically pleasing to use finely crafted wooden camera though. Keith said he is keeping a waitlist for his 8x10 wooden field camera for the future.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Knobs can probably be replaced if needed with something more durable. He does use metal threaded inserts. Keith's wooden cameras were mainly black walnut, and rather attractive. My own woodie 4x5 is a mahogany Ebony one, probably the best made wooden line of view cameras ever, with the best hardware too (solid machined titanium).

I've always coveted a Canham walnut 5x7, which seems to be the sweet spot in his whole lineup, but I can't justify yet another film format. It's nice to see someone in his family interested in keeping up the tradition.

For me personally, woodworking has a lot more craft and esthetic appeal than 3D plastic fabrication. But it would be hard to beat the precision and durability of my Sinar die-cast metal components. Keith's metal camera components are CNC anodized aluminum.

 

[djdister]

I've always coveted a Canham walnut 5x7, which seems to be the sweet spot in his whole lineup, but I can't justify yet another film format. It's nice to see someone in his family interested in keeping up the tradition.

For me personally, woodworking has a lot more craft and esthetic appeal than 3D plastic fabrication. But it would be hard to beat the precision and durability of my Sinar die-cast metal components. Keith's metal camera components are CNC anodized aluminum.

I had a Canham 5x7 wood camera which looked beautiful, but I sold it in order to get the Canham 5x7 MQC camera and the 6x17 roll film back.

I do wonder how his son's PETG camera compares to Walker's ABS cameras in terms of stability and durability.

 

[DREW WILEY]

ABS is harder and heavier, and can be brittle if it's too cold. Walker cameras are almost entirely out of production. Wood is definitely easier to DIY repair, unless it's just a simple gluing issue.

PETG as a printable plastic is outside my own sphere of experience. I wonder how well it dimensionally holds in hot weather. I don't think it can be conventionally glued, and heat welding things back together can get tricky. But if the camera model in question catches on, perhaps spare parts will be available.

It's not going to win any beauty contests, but that's a moot point out in the wilds n' weather, where some battle scars are inevitable anyway.

Another question would pertain to linear flex at full extension; I'd expect it to be inferior to wood or machined metal in that respect, but a lot depends on how tight the gearing and extensions sections lock onto one another too.

 

[ivan35mm]

yes!!

I would love to see them continue to experiment with different 3d printing technologies (MJF & SLS comes to mind) and more advanced materials (PPS-CF would be amazing)

Also, I hope to see this made in 5x7 *fingers crossed*

Really exciting news!