Ive been offered a Calumet cc400 with lens for 125,-

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Hi there guys.

I'd love to hear some opinions on an offer that ive been made. I can get a Calumet CC400 4x5 camera with a Rodenstock Sironar 150mm f/5.6(the non APO/N/S version, i think the older first edition). It comes nearly complete as in the camera itself. It however comes without any filmholders, a black cloth or wire release.

Ive been suggested the price of 125,- which equals about $140 usd. Do you think that is a fair price assuming all is in good condition? And would you considder going higher if counter bids were made?

paul_c5x4 · Jan 30, 2015

Cable release are common enough, and the cheaper ones can be thought of as "consumable". There are plenty of film holders popping up on ebay and other sources, but prices seem to be creeping up, especially for the ones in good condition - Expect to pay around 10 each. Darkcloths can be purchased from any fabric supplier. Buy it by the metre off a roll, and you get to choose the colour and pattern

As for the camera, 125 isn't outlandish - Not sure I'd want to go much higher than 150.

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Cool. Thats good to hear then indeed. I did some quick checks on new filmholders and cable releases. And then your definitely talking about bigger pricetags then the camera itself. I guess ebay is the way to go for that too. Lets hope the seller will agree to €125 and that no one else will start bidding^^

Thanks for your reply!

fotch · Jan 30, 2015

Go for it.

GKC · Jan 30, 2015

It sounds right, if everything is in good shape

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Awesome. Just made my bid. Now lets hope i win!

can't wait for this beauty to be in my possesion

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

By the way. Any specific opinions on that lens? Its the Rodenstock Sironar 75mm f/5,6. Not the APO N or S version, but the first version. Sadly i can only find information about the later editions?

Rick A · Jan 30, 2015

I don't think you can use a 75mm on the cc-400, even with a recessed lens board. It won't collapse enough plus no movements, other than some side to side shift, available with bellows collapsed completely.

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Rick. Sorry for that. I was just sitting behind my pc looking at another camera which also has a rodenstock lens which happens to be 75mm. I mend a Sironar 150mm 5.6 instead. My apologies!

paul_c5x4 · Jan 30, 2015

Something doesn't look quite right about that shutter (assuming I'm looking at the right auction). The aperture scale is not normally obscured by the front lens cell.

If it is an unmolested Sironar, it should perform reasonably well.

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Hmm Paul.

Did some heavy digging then? Yes looks like the same auction image, just cropped a bit further. Interesting how you managed to dig that up.

Anyway. The guy reports that the timings are right. Out of curiosity. What exactly is it that seems wrong about it?

This would be my first LF camera. And the only experience i got with leaf/diaphragm shutters is on some old folding camera's. So dont really know what to look for aside from guessing the timing

Sorry perhaps i should have shared the auction immediately. But last time i did that on some flickr thread, i ended up getting counter bid by all those that replied to my question

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Hmm perhaps i do see what you mean. When i Google on Copal #0. Which supposedly is the shutter on that board. It does look alot different. Kinda weird. As if someone replaced the levers and all. Then again i guess these shutters been made for such a long time some differences exist.

paul_c5x4 · Jan 30, 2015

RowanBloemhof said:
What exactly is it that seems wrong about it?

If you look closely at the little pointer, it should point to an F/stop scale that is just visible underneath the lens cell. It might be that the original shutter failed and an older one was substituted. Chances are, you will want to use different lenses once you get going, this one will enable you to learn the ropes.

Your auction wasn't that hard to find, but I'm not going to post a link to it here - You then have a fair chance on winning with your bid.

RowanBloemhof · Jan 30, 2015

Thanks alot Paul! Yea i guess id like a good chance at this one. They dont often come by here in the netherlands.

And like you say. Im sure this il do to get a hang of it. Besides for that price im not that bothered.

RowanBloemhof · Feb 6, 2015

Well. Lucky me. I won the auction. It turned out a little pricier then expected. But sadly the demand for these camera's is so high. there is no cheaper way of getting one. I ended up paying 170 for the cc400 and sironar 150mm 5.6.

I just received the camera. And the body itself is in pristine shape. Nothing to complain there. However the owner told me there was some minor damage on the front element of the lens. And it very slightly coming loose. Supostly to no ill effect on the image. However now that i see it, the damage might not be so minimal. Im also seeing similar blemishes on the back element. I think its something like a gap between some of the lenses. I made a video of it. And love to hear others opinions.

Should i just take it as is. Or should i complain and idk ask back my money? Taken in mind that i probably wont find another camera at this price level any time soon. Another affordable lens is more likely.

The video's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y3pzI7z-48&feature=youtu.be
note: the part with the back element, look at the iridescence arround the edge which seems to stop quite abruptly towards the center. On the front element its the left lower corner.

Any advice would be apreciated!

RalphLambrecht · Feb 6, 2015

RowanBloemhof said:
Hi there guys.

I'd love to hear some opinions on an offer that ive been made. I can get a Calumet CC400 4x5 camera with a Rodenstock Sironar 150mm f/5.6(the non APO/N/S version, i think the older first edition). It comes nearly complete as in the camera itself. It however comes without any filmholders, a black cloth or wire release.

Ive been suggested the price of 125,- which equals about $140 usd. Do you think that is a fair price assuming all is in good condition? And would you considder going higher if counter bids were made?

Yes, that's a fair price if you are ready for 4x5

pdeeh · Feb 6, 2015

RowanBloemhof said:
Should i just take it as is. Or should i complain and idk ask back my money? Taken in mind that i probably wont find another camera at this price level any time soon.

if you feel the condition of the lens as described in the listing is misleading, and the lens formed part of the sale, my own inclination would be to contact the seller (informally via ebay mail in the first instance, not by any escalation procedure - yet) and ask for their comments. They may offer to take it back, or offer a discount, or tell you to go f*** yourself, but who knows until you ask?

It'll be entirely up to you if you feel the camera is good enough at the price paid to overlook any misdescription of the lens, of course

RowanBloemhof · Feb 6, 2015

Hiya Pdeeh. Sadly it wasnt purchased over ebay. But a dutch alternative website(which technicly is also owned by ebay). The point is there is no escalation procedures in this case. All i can hope for is a reasonable seller. Which is the case i think.

Tomorrow i should be receiving my filmholders. Then i can do actual testing. But on the groundglass no ill effect can be observed from the seperation. The only thing im afraid of i guess is further deterioration. I guess il contact the seller if i can actually see any problems on the negs.

Ralph, the price is indeed not bad at all. And well as to whether im ready. Idk, i do know ive been dreaming of LF for a while now^^

Thanks

kirkfry · Feb 6, 2015

Many Rodenstock lenses of that age( ~1970 ish) had problems with lens element separation (pretty colored stuff you see). They changed the glue to a new UV cured type that failed pretty regularly with age. You got one those. So if the shutter actually works it is worth at least $150. You can use it the way it is to get started but eventually you will probably want to try other lenses. I used a C400 for years, still have it, great cameras. The seller should have disclosed this defect, it is pretty hard to miss.

paul_c5x4 · Feb 7, 2015

RowanBloemhof said:
Well. Lucky me. I won the auction. It turned out a little pricier then expected. But sadly the demand for these camera's is so high. there is no cheaper way of getting one. I ended up paying 170 for the cc400 and sironar 150mm 5.6.

However the owner told me there was some minor damage on the front element of the lens. And it very slightly coming loose. Supostly to no ill effect on the image. However now that i see it, the damage might not be so minimal. Im also seeing similar blemishes on the back element. I think its something like a gap between some of the lenses.

170 sounds like a fair price - I did suggest that that lens looked a little iffy and quite likely mounted in the wrong shutter. On the bright side, plenty of decent lenses can be found in the 150-180mm length for a reasonable price. If you decide to keep, you could take the cells off and sell the shutter on ebay (they sometimes go for a good price).

BTW Welcome to the wonderful world of large format - You'll find a bunch of new ways to screw up (most of us have done some or all of them ), but get it right, and you have big negatives to admire.

Ive been offered a Calumet cc400 with lens for 125,-

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Ive been offered a Calumet cc400 with lens for 125,-