Packing the Cambo SC

Darryl Roberts · Mar 24, 2023

Salutations,

Caan you offer any advice on packing my newly acquired Cambo SC into a photography case?

Thank you.

Dan Fromm · Mar 25, 2023

What do you mean by "photography case"?

I have several SCs, 2x3 and 4x5. Three ways to pack them:

2x3er on short rail. Remove bellows and, if necessary, tripod mounting block. Rotate the standards 90 degrees so that the uprights are in the same plane as the rail. Should fit in a briefcase. This might work with the right briefcase and a 4x5er on short rail but I've never tried it.

2x3er on a long rail, 4x5er. There are smallish suitcases with supports that will accept a complete camera, set up and ready to go, hung upside down oh the supports. These cases turn up used from time to time, that's how I got mine. It holds camera on long rail, a couple of roll holders, a couple of lenses, bag bellows, ... Bulky, though. I use a folding dolly (Ruxxsac (spelling?) brand) to drag it around in the field. Probably not what you want.

Remove bellows, take the standards off the rail. Bellows and standards in one bag, rail carried however is convenient.

BrianShaw · Mar 25, 2023

I use the Cambo/Calumet camera case for my 4x5 Cambo. It's not small (or even smallish) at all but protects the camera and associated gear. To transport the camera/case I use an old-fashioned folding luggage trolley, which happens to have bigger than normal wheels so even goes on dirt trails.

As Dan Fromm said, probably not what you want. But it's a safe and secure way to store and transport.

See page 9 of this for historical images of Cambo carry case options:

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00838/00838.pdf

Or page 8 of this:

https://www.cameraeccentric.com/static/img/pdfs/cambo_1.pdf

Or this:

https://static.cambo.com/Files/accessories_view.pdf

Or page 13 of this:

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00836/00836.pdf

Or search ebay for "Cambo Camera Case"

In my situation the solution to bulky camera and transport case was to get an additional camera that folds.

Ian C · Mar 25, 2023

Remove the lens and lens board unit. You don’t need to remove the bellows. Simply disconnect it from the front and turn both standards 90º and collapse the bellows. Now the whole camera will fit into a suitably sized suitcase or similar case. Pad the ground glass area with a bath towel or bubble wrap.

You can also detach the ground glass and its frame and pack it well-padded in a separate case if you prefer. I simply leave it on the camera. I can’t think of any reason for removing the trucks or the tripod block with the camera-mounting plate attached from the rail.

Then, when you get to the shooting location, it takes no more than a minute to remove the camera from its case, set it on the tripod and lock it to the head, turn the standards to shooting position, reattach the bellows to the front frame, attach the lens board, and you’re ready to shoot. If you chose to detach the back, it’s quick to attach it to the camera.

Darryl Roberts · Mar 25, 2023

Dan Fromm said:
What do you mean by "photography case"?

I have several SCs, 2x3 and 4x5. Three ways to pack them:

2x3er on short rail. Remove bellows and, if necessary, tripod mounting block. Rotate the standards 90 degrees so that the uprights are in the same plane as the rail. Should fit in a briefcase. This might work with the right briefcase and a 4x5er on short rail but I've never tried it.

2x3er on a long rail, 4x5er. There are smallish suitcases with supports that will accept a complete camera, set up and ready to go, hung upside down oh the supports. These cases turn up used from time to time, that's how I got mine. It holds camera on long rail, a couple of roll holders, a couple of lenses, bag bellows, ... Bulky, though. I use a folding dolly (Ruxxsac (spelling?) brand) to drag it around in the field. Probably not what you want.

Remove bellows, take the standards off the rail. Bellows and standards in one bag, rail carried however is convenient.

An SKB case with wheels, with the dividers.

Thank you

RalphLambrecht · Mar 25, 2023

Darryl Roberts said:
Salutations,

Caan you offer any advice on packing my newly acquired Cambo SC into a photography case?

Thank you.

Mine is packed with a huge aluminum trunk, but we should remember that this is a view camera made for studio use and not for field photography!

Darryl Roberts · Mar 25, 2023

RalphLambrecht said:
Mine is packed with a huge aluminum trunk, but we should remember that this is a view camera made for studio use and not for field photography!

Well it's only eight pounds and not the only monorail in the field. Cambo's documents list it as studio or field.

Dan Fromm · Mar 26, 2023

Darryl Roberts said:
An SKB case with wheels, with the dividers.

Thank you

Thanks for the reply. SKB makes many sizes of cases. Which size did you have in mind?

My big case is, like Mr. Lambrecht's, a huge aluminum trunk. Well, Al covered, the structure is plywood. Dimensions: 23" L x 11 1/2" W x 15" H. No wheels. My folding dolly (from https://www.ruxxac.com/home.html) has wheels that are probably larger than the SKB case's.

It has two dividers with notches at the top. The camera's rail rests in the notches and the standards hang down from the rail. I don't know whether SKB makes a case roughly like that.

BrianShaw · Mar 26, 2023

Hi Dan,

My ancient luggage trolley has been on the verge of replacement for a while, but I've procrastinated. That ruxxac looks really nice. Similar to mine in design (folds the same ways, except the wheels are fixed and don't fold in) so has functionality I know works in this application. But it's a bear to clean when it gets muddy. Is the box you are using the Cambo aluminum storage box? Mine is the Cambo plasitc. Which ruxxac platform size do you recommend based on your experience?

BrianShaw · Mar 26, 2023

Darryl Roberts said:
Well it's only eight pounds and not the only monorail in the field. Cambo's documents list it as studio or field.

The Cambo monorail certainly can be used in the field. But when you do, you'll quickly conclude that the Cambo/Calumet marketing should have said something like, "A studio camera that can also be used in the field if you are dedicated enough."

Darryl Roberts · Mar 26, 2023

I have nice 17 pound SKB case coming that will hold it well.I want to figure out what sheet, wood, metal, carbon fiber, to cover it with.

SKB iSeries 3016-10 Case

BrianShaw · Mar 26, 2023

That's an awesome transit case! Why cover it? It looks sturdy enough to fully protect your gear.

Dan Fromm · Mar 26, 2023

BrianShaw said:
Hi Dan,

My ancient luggage trolley has been on the verge of replacement for a while, but I've procrastinated. That ruxxac looks really nice. Similar to mine in design (folds the same ways, except the wheels are fixed and don't fold in) so has functionality I know works in this application. But it's a bear to clean when it gets muddy. Is the box you are using the Cambo aluminum storage box? Mine is the Cambo plasitc. Which ruxxac platform size do you recommend based on your experience?

Brian, my Ruxxac's base is 19" wide and 16" front to back. I got it to carry the wheeled (little ones) canvas tool bag I got to carry my 2x3 Graphics (Century and Speed), their lenses etc. The Cambo case fits well on the Ruxxac, even with the tool bag on top of it. My Ruxxac cost $100. I count it as one of my better $100 purchases.

Yes, I have an aluminum Cambo storage box.

Darryl Roberts · Mar 26, 2023

BrianShaw said:
That's an awesome transit case! Why cover it? It looks sturdy enough to fully protect your gear.

The camera will lay flat, I want to cover it, inside of the case.

BrianShaw · Mar 26, 2023

Darryl Roberts said:
The camera will lay flat, I want to cover it, inside of the case.

Ahhh… on top, inside. I’d suggest the thick foam.

Packing the Cambo SC

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