naturephoto1 said:
Hi Edwin,
Since I have seen on the internet estimates of between 30 and about 60 Carbon Infinities having been made, I would say that the lensboard adapters must be really rare.
Rich
Rich,
There were a total of 120 cameras made before they closed shop. Although at that number they are are still quite rare. There are accesories that are rarer still including the bullhide bag, bellow lens hood that attaches to the nodal point mount, and the Studio kit (basically a monorail extension that more than doubles the focal length that can be used with the camera.
Ryan,
Here is a short review I made with some tech specs:
Carbon Infinity View Camera
Adrian Thompson and Barry Noble, designers of the Team Philips boat, designed the Carbon Infinity as the first and only 4x5 large format camera made from, practically, all carbon fibre components. Eighty-five percent of this camera is made of carbon fiber, the other materials are titanium and aluminum alloy. It was unique in its ability to fold like a field camera into its own compact carbon fiber base yet achieves movements found in monorail cameras.
Though quite a few are turned off by the weight of the camera (3.3 kg), one must understand that the designed aimed to satisfy requirements of stability, full and yaw-free movements, durability and portability. As such the carbon fiber components used are thick solid constructions. An all aluminum construction following the same design and similar strength requirements wouldve been much heavier.
Carbon-fiber composites weigh about one-fifth as much as steel, but can be comparable or better in terms of stiffness and strength, depending on fiber grade and orientation. These composites do not rust or corrode like steel or aluminum. The problem is that carbon-fiber composites cost at least 20 times as much as steel, 5 times more as aluminum. Production of carbon fiber and of the actual composites is labor intensive, slow and expensive.
This explains the high cost (£ 3500 / US$ 6,000) of the Carbon Infinity camera when it was launched in 1990. When the company ceased production In 1994, a total of 120 Carbon Infinity cameras produced.
Even today, manufacture of products with high-grade carbon fiber components remain out of reach for mass production. With the current worldwide shortage in carbon fiber and with current supplies biased for aerospace applications, reviving this dream of a camera will remain a dream.
Technical Specifications
Movements: Carbon Infinity has virtually unlimited movement, and totally yaw free, matching and perhaps exceeding those of studio based monorails.
Front Rise: 5.1 cm
Front Fall: 5.2 cm
Front Base Tilt: 90º (marked up to 40º)
Front Axial Tilt: Bellows limited; A 7.5 cm long nodal point mount gives the possibility of lens tilts on the correct nodal point of any lens.
Front Shift: 7.1 cm (right), 1.6 (left); The front standard can be rotated to provide a left shift of 7.1 cm.
Front Swing: Bellows limited
Rear Rise: 7.1 cm
Rear Fall: 3 cm
Rear Base Tilt: 90º (marked up to 40º)
Rear Axial Tilt: on film plane, bellows limited
Rear Shift: 6.1 cm (right), 2.5 cm (left)
Rear Swing: on film plane, bellows limited
Bellows
Maximum Extension: 54 cm (Standard Bellows)
Minimum Extension: 3 cm
Bellows Options: Standard or Wide-Angle Bellows
Front Bellows Opening: 8.4 cm x 8.4 cm
Lens board Size: 11.4 with locking pin
Film Back
Film Back: Horizontal & Vertical International Back
Ground Glass: Bosscreen for Carbon Infinity
Focusing rails run smoothly on precision rail bearings.
Coarse Focusing: Slider on two parallel rails with positive push button lock
Focus mechanism: Independent Rack and Pinion with a lever clutch lock on front and rear standards
Closed Dimension: 26 cm x 27 cm x 11 cm
Weight: 3.3 kilos
Other Specs
Tripod Socket: 2x 3/8
Locking pin on lens board, bellows, and film back attach to spring loaded lock on the front and back frames
Spirit Levels: Horizontal & Vertical on Front Frame and Rear Frame; Horizontal on both standards
Materials: Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Aluminum
One Lens (up to compact 210 mm) can be kept inside the camera case when folded.
4 titanium pegs on the film back act as a universal holder for reflex viewing accessories from other manufacturers.
Accessories:
Bellows Lens Hood System with jointed rod and three Hi-Tech filter slots for use with bag bellows. Bellows lens hood system attaches to the nodal point mount.
Studio Kit consisting of a base rail, square bellows, standard with nodal point adjustment, and frame for longer bellows extensions. (If you think the camera itself is rare try looking for this one )
Black leather case (Not all cameras shipped with the leather case)
Resources:
Carbon Infinity Set-Up Instructions
Louis Shu of Photo Gizzmo
Ken Hansen Photographic Price List & Advertisement
John Hannavy Review
