For Sale KB Canham 10x12 camera with 8x10 and 5x7 reducing backs

Hello everyone,

Up for sale is a fairly unique Keith Canham 10x12 camera. This is built on Keith's 8x10 frame so it can take a conversion back and bellows for 8x10 or 7x17, although this camera includes reducing backs for 8x10 (as seen in the photos here) and 5x7. I can provide photos of the 10x12 and 5x7 backs upon request. Other specs are standard for Keith's products: the rear standard has a significant amount of shift available, swing is available on both standards, and tilt is available on both standards with both base and axis tilt on the front.

Please note that I no longer have a 10x12 film holder for this camera and have been using it as an 8x10. Actually, it is my only 8x10 camera and I have decided to replace it with a designated 8x10 to save on weight (although this is fairly light at 16lbs) and space. As a 10x12 I previously used this for a contact-printing project on Southern California churches and missions, and it strikes a sweet spot between 8x10 and 11x14 in that it's that much easier to transport than an 11x14, but still gives a larger negative than 8x10. It's a pleasant aspect ratio, too.

Included:
10x12 camera with 10x12 back
8x10 reducing back
5x7 stepped reducing back
acrylic ground glass protectors for all three backs
Toyo View to Technika lens board adapter (a good but not perfect fit - I've used a small amount of tape to shim the sides to keep the adapter from sliding)
Gator padded mixer case perfectly sized for the camera

I am looking for $6,800 for this camera, and would prefer an in-person sale in southern California (I'm located in San Diego, but do travel to LA along the I5 corridor periodically). I can potentially ship it, but it will be fairly pricy given the weight and the bulk of the additional reducing backs. In-person evaluations in southern California are welcome! Please do reach out with any questions, or for additional photos.

Bump!

Bump!

Do you know the provenance of this camera?

I purchased this camera from Camera West in Walnut Creek several years ago. I brought it to Keith Canham shortly after for some parts as the upper lens board retainer clip needed a couple replacement items. Is there something particular you’d like to know?

Edit: Actually, thinking about your wording I’m guessing that the question I should ask is: do you know anything about the provenance of this camera? I wasn’t able to get direct information from Camera West, although I did try to identify the previous owner through them in order to ask some questions. If you have any information I would love to know about it!

I used to own one that I really enjoyed (I much preferred it to 8x10 for contact prints) and I felt it was the optimal size for the Canham cameras. The 11x14 was built on the larger chassis and was considerably larger and heavier, and the 8x10 version was great, but I felt there were more portable 8x10 cameras out there (including Keith's own MQC, but especially Dick Phillips' 8x10 bodies).

I never sold it to CW, though, but it could have made it's way there through time. I doubt it, as mine didn't have reducing backs with it and the person I sold it to wasn't likely to be doing any reducing, I don't think.

Other than the film being a bit more precious to come by (and holders being much more difficult to obtain), hands down, this is the format I'd be using if I were shooting for contact printing today (in addition to 7x17, hahahaha).