Trade in my Cambo Legend?

[pbromaghin]

I have a Cambo Legend and I've made only about a dozen shots with it in 5 years. It has the feel of a precisely engineered scientific instrument, far beyond my needs. It's a heavy beast, made for the studio, and i'm thinking of getting something lighter and more suited to moving about.

My local shop, Englewood Camera, has a Graphic View II and a Sinar Norma, each in really good shape and complete down to the tripod mount and 1 or 2 lens boards. They both have all the swing, tilt, rise and fall controls and spirit levels needed. The Sinar is the lighter of the 2, but more expensive, and nearly as precisely built as the Cambo. The View II has those beautiful red bellows, and feels a bit less fiddly to adjust.

Any advice?

 

[Donald Qualls]

I have a first-gen Graphic View -- as you say, all the movements you could want, good lock-downs, spirit levels -- and the II has center-axis tilts and a Graflok back in addition.

I know nothing about the Norma, but I'd trade my Graphic View for a Graphic View II in a heartbeat. Not light, but it'll do anything you'd ever want a view camera to do (as long as it doesn't require swapping bellows, that's a chore). As a bonus, it'll use the same lens boards as an Anniversary or Pacemaker Speed Graphic, so if you have one of those, you don't have to choose which to mount a new lens for.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The Norma is the preferred instrument of the two being offered, IMHO. Not light, not compact, but just such a superlative device. I have one that I use in the studio, and it is perfect for that. Frankly, though, if you want to get away from the beast-factor of your Legend, then I'd wait for a field camera.

 

[grat]

So you have a monorail camera which you find heavy and cumbersome... and you're looking at two other monorails? I understand others enjoy the Sinar Norma in particular, and the graphic view II has a solid reputation, but they're all somewhat bulky, and as monorails, I think of them as being more suited for indoor work.

Have you considered something a technical camera, like the Wista/Toyo/Technika, etc?

I've got a Chamonix, which is well engineered and constructed, but it's not "precise" (no gearing, markings, etc... just a ground glass to compose your image on). It *is* ridiculously light.

 

[Dennis-B]

Right here on the forum, is a Toyo field camera offered by member B.S. Kumar -

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/fs-toyo-45ar-field-camera.183507/

He has a stellar reputation both here, and over on the Large Format forum.

 

[awty]

I have a Cambo legend, fantastic camera for the studio, but as you say weighs a ton.
Also have a Graphic View II, a little lighter but not as precise and less movement.
I use a linhof technica iii for field work, its a little heavy but is compact and has all the necessary movements.
Im currently fixing a old Thornton tripple which is light folds away, this will be my field camera.
I would look for something that is light and compact and cheap and spend your money on lenses and film.

 

[Don_ih]

You may not need a view camera. A Crown Graphic can take a landscape photo every bit as well as a view camera. It can take architecture photos almost as well. It can take portraits and close-up photos well but lacks sophisticated movements. So, if you're going to be taking photos of flowers or arrangements of nifty things on the ground, you may want the swing and tilt of a view camera. If not, I'd go for a Crown or Speed Graphic or Pressman or similar.

 

[grat]

Oh-- and personally? I'd keep the Cambo, and buy an additional camera.

 

[pbromaghin]

Lots of good advice here. Thanks to all of you. I have had my eye on that Graflex View sitting there on the shelf for a couple years. Those red bellows just seem to draw me in. I have to say I wanted one when the Cambo popped up on Craigslist at such a good price that it swayed me away. But you all have made me realize that it's just foolish to want it because it doesn't fit what I will want to do any better than the Cambo. They do have what may be a field camera on the same shelf that I didn't pay much attention to. It's a tough choice between a field camera and a Crown Graphic, and will require a lot of thought to make the right decision. I like the idea of the Crown Graphic because there were so many of them that parts and accessories should be plentiful. Meanwhile, field cameras continued to be sold long after Graflex went away.

I suppose I could just forget the whole idea of large format and recognize that it's just too much of a challenge for me to take on. God knows I'm knee deep in the Mamiya tlr system which has given me some very rewarding results.

It's awfully hard to admit failure.

 

[Alan Gales]

Oh-- and personally? I'd keep the Cambo, and buy an additional camera.

+1

Cambo Legends don't bring much on the used market anymore. Why not just keep it and buy a nice light weight field camera? Then you will have the monorail if you need all the movements and the field camera for carrying around. Monorails make great portrait cameras. They have plenty of bellows for longer lenses and are heavy so don't move if you accidentally bump the tripod. If you don't have one then pick up a Cambo to Technika reduction board. Many field cameras use Technika style boards. You can then freely swap lenses back and forth between the two cameras.

The challenge is what makes it fun! Like anything else worth doing, with practice you will get better at it.

 

[Pieter12]

pick up a Cambo to Technika reduction board

Are recessed boards available?

 

[Alan Gales]

Are recessed boards available?

Yes, recessed boards were sold for your Legend. Cambo and Calumet merged years ago so if you find any of the large boards that say Calumet on them, they will also fit your Legend.

I did a quick check on eBay for you. Type in Cambo lens boards and you will find several for sale right now. There are also reduction boards for sale as well. You may have to be patient to find a price you are comfortable with.

You could also advertise here on the forum for what you are looking for. If you are a member of Large Format Photography Forum you could advertise there as well. You may find a better price on the forums. You could also check KEH.

You have to be a member of Large Format Photography Forum for a month before you can access the for sale section.

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/forum.php

 

[Pieter12]

Yes, recessed boards were sold for your Legend. Cambo and Calumet merged years ago so if you find any of the large boards that say Calumet on them, they will also fit your Legend.

I did a quick check on eBay for you. Type in Cambo lens boards and you will find several for sale right now. There are also reduction boards for sale as well. You may have to be patient to find a price you are comfortable with.

You could also advertise here on the forum for what you are looking for. If you are a member of Large Format Photography Forum you could advertise there as well. You may find a better price on the forums. You could also check KEH.

You have to be a member of Large Format Photography Forum for a month before you can access the for sale section.

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/forum.php

I was looking for recessed boards that take a Technika board.

 

[Alan Gales]

I was looking for recessed boards that take a Technika board.

I don't remember ever seeing one.

You should be able to use a recessed Technika board on a Cambo to Technika reduction board though.

 

[pbromaghin]

I went back to the store yesterday to check out the possibly field camera. Turns out it was a Wista. Turns out it sold a couple days ago. After sitting there for almost 2 years.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Turns out it sold a couple days ago. After sitting there for almost 2 years.

That's caused by looking at it...

 

[grat]

Physics strikes again... Heisenberg Uncertainty principle. If you know where it is, you don't know how fast it will go.