We just bought a new TV - uhm - I mean an 8x10 Cambo SC.

[medform-norm]

This was an offer we simply could not refuse: 8x10 Cambo plus compendium for a fistful of dollars. Just the nice entry level 8x10 we were looking for. We've moved one step closer to actually making 8x10 images. We'll need a better tripod (the current one just doesn't cut it), build a basic darkroom, make some DIY lens boards and learn to load the film holders in a scratch- and dustfree manner. But the image on the gg is a good motivator to make these things happen. Absolutely overwhelming compared to the 6x9 format we're used to! We've got lenses lined up for the new baby waiting for an adaptor lens board: the 210 Boyer Beryl seems to cover fine, just as the G-Claron 240, the Agfa Intergon 305 and even the 360 Goerz Hypar seems to cover completely.
Bellows draw goes to at least 600mm, so there's a gap to fill between the 360 and 600 range, if we ever feel the need for such long lenses on this camera. Normally we don't use such wide angles, but the 210 Beryl was very pleasing. Perhaps that goes with the format, have heard other people say that they tend to go shorter on the focal length with the increase of the image size.
Weight is not as bad as we'd expected, it is a bit of the bulky side. But at last we'll be able to photograph churches with the bell tower at a closer range.
I can now understand why people want to have even larger cameras than this. It's an acquired addiction, ehm, taste.

 

[Capocheny]

Hi Norm,

Can you watch the World Cup Soccer matches on the thing???

Seriously, congratulations on moving up to the 8x10... wait till you see a color transparency from it! It's a HUGE step up from what you normally shoot!

In regards to loading the holders... take a look at Paul Butzi's site. He has an article in there detailing out how to load 4x5 but the technique is equally applicable to 8x10... just a bit of a larger hunk of film!

http://www.butzi.net/articles/articles.htm

Look for a 19" Red Dot Artar! That'll fill in nicely between the 360 and 600. It comes in at 480mm. Prices are starting to creep up on them so jump on one asap. BTW, John Abbott, on the Large Format Photography site has one for sale:

(http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=18439)

I just bought one and am having it mounted in a Copal 3. The lens that John is selling is mounted in an Acme Illex 4.

[PS: I have no connections with the seller.]

Good luck... and enjoy the addiction!

Cheers

 

[medform-norm]

Hi,
thanks for the tips. The Artar is no longer there, must have been sold just now. But we're not in a hurry, we've been hunting for this 8x10 for a year already, a few more months won't matter. Plus we'll have to trade in some lesser used gear for a good tripod, I expect.
We're thinking of starting with paper negatives or lith film to see if we can justify the expenses of 'real' film or slides. But maybe the 8x10 will take us where the 4x5 format never did, and we will end up like the rest of you

 

[Capocheny]

Hi,
thanks for the tips. The Artar is no longer there, must have been sold just now. But we're not in a hurry, we've been hunting for this 8x10 for a year already, a few more months won't matter. Plus we'll have to trade in some lesser used gear for a good tripod, I expect.
We're thinking of starting with paper negatives or lith film to see if we can justify the expenses of 'real' film or slides. But maybe the 8x10 will take us where the 4x5 format never did, and we will end up like the rest of you

Too bad... it was a pretty good price for it. When mounted in barrel, it wasn't unusual to see them sell for between $375 - 450. Mounting them in a shutter usually runs about $250 plus the cost of a Copal 3 (approximately $300 - 400.00) So, that's why I say it was reasonably priced. The total cost for my lens will be approximately $850. But, in my mind, it'll be worth it!

One thing for sure... using paper negs is a LOT less costly than using film. I'm assuming you've costed out a box of FP4+? As for color... make sure you're sitting down before they tell you the price!

IIRC, the ASA setting for a paper neg is roughly about 6. So, keep that in mind.

Anyway, have fun!

Cheers

 

[rbarker]

Congrats, Norm. Fortunately for you, the ULF folks may consider 8x10 to be "medium format".

FWIW, I found that my focal length preference shifted toward the wide on 8x10. So, you might want to tinker a bit to establish priorities for your additional lens acquisitions. Lots of choices in the empty spot you have, though. I use both a Nikkor 450M and a 16.5" Red Dot Arter, the latter mounted in an Ilex #4 that Carol Miller just CLA'ed.

 

[argus]

I can now understand why people want to have even larger cameras than this. It's an acquired addiction, ehm, taste.

Haha! Good deal, Norm!

G

 

[John Kasaian]

Congratulations, Norm! Now that you've become addicted to the aerial image on that big ground glass. just wait 'til you pull that 8x10 negative out of the tray!

 

[medform-norm]

Just to tell everyone how serious the addiction is: we have 'won' a Wolf tripod just now and are going to bid on another (other type, other brand), so we can compare notes and discard the superfluous ones. And all this despite our lack of funds...
Have to stop thinking about pulling 'real' negs out of trays or I might even sell the Pecoflex...

 

[Dan Fromm]

Hmm. If you sell the Pecoflex, you'll probably regret having done so later.

On the other hand, a Pecoflex in good order may sell for more than my former 6"/1.9 Super Six did. I was glad to get the pittance the lens brought on eBay and don't miss it.

 

[medform-norm]

Dan,
I was speaking about the situation in which I simply could *not* stop thinking about 8x10 negs - lucky for me I have a remarkable self control if really needs be (although I haven't shown much of that lately). So the Pecoflex is staying where it is for the time being. Arsenall had one for sale last week, of course it didn't sell at the outrageous price of nearly 2.5K$, but it made me think. Just for a second.
The second tripod, for all appearance a crossover between a QuickSet Samson and a Hercules, is on it's way. Now two 'esteemed' tripods on one day for under 100 EUR is still cheap enough in my book. The QuickSet will be more rugged and stable than the Wolf, but the Wolf has a leveling head and weighs a mere 2 kg. We'll see how goes.

 

[User Removed]

Lens boards for that camera are difficult to make, I sugguest buying some used off Ebay. They go for very cheep.

 

[medform-norm]

Ah, that would be against our pride. We've made a Graphic View to Plaubel adapter already, plus numerous Plaubel boards. The Cambo challenge is waiting to be tackled, would be way to easy to buy them pre-made - unless they cost less than 5 euros each. PM me if you see any like that, please.

 

[Ole]

Norm - you mean you haven't got Iris mounts yet???

BTW - you haven't seen wide until you've used a 24x30cm camera with a 150mm lens. A WA Aplanat...

 

[medform-norm]

Norm - you mean you haven't got Iris mounts yet???

Ole, must you bring that up? You know how painful that is. Everything I see one on eBay some guy called OleT comes and snatches'em right before my very eyes.

And I'll see wide as soon as you post an image taken with the combo mentioned.

 

[Ole]

And I'll see wide as soon as you post an image taken with the combo mentioned.

My scanner only goes to 8x10" film size, silly little dig*tal thing...

I'll see if I can get another one done now that most of the light leaks in the bellows are - if not exactly repaired, then at least known. As soon as the "rainy season" sets in, that bellows is going to camerabellows for replacement.

And I might do a shot with a 750mm too, just for fun (or will that finally rip the bellows?)...

 

[medform-norm]

The next step: which tripod head system for 8x10?

Okay, the 6kg Dead Link Removed Samson/Hercules cross breed super sturdy tripod is here as of this morning. Impressive beast with very stable centre column, yet still portable. The Cambo is rock steady on top of it. We may even go and use this in a flying storm if it weren't for the bellows. But.... we'd like a good tripod head for tilting the camera up, down or sideways.

We looked at the Arca Monoball system (as a theoretical option, not a financially viable one), rummaged around in the cupboards and came up with a minitiare Schiansky version of the ball head principle. While trying it out to see how we would like a larger version, it struck me that even with a pro Head it wouldn't be the fastest levelling system. And I wondered what other 8x10 (or larger) camera owners use to quickly and secure get the camera completely level. (We're not fastidious about a lot of things, but we are about this one).

I don't think we're too charmed about geared heads (like the Majestics and the Cambo's - too heavy in the field), but what about an older style heavy duty (Gitzo) head with a big lever or a Manfrotto/Bogen one with three separate handles for each plane? (The Arca Cube is awfully good looking and would probably be just right, but it is clearly out of our price range).

We'd like something that can hold 8-15 kg, can be locked tight even without applying lot of strength and with which leveling and relevelling is a breeze. What is it that we should hunt for? We'd really appreciate hearing the pro's and con's of the varying available systems for use in the field.

 

[Willie Jan]

bought a new TV - uhm - I mean an 8x10 Cambo SC.

Crazy dutchman?

 

[medform-norm]

Crazy dutchman?

Well, actually, we're of rather mixed descent: Polish, German, French, Indonesian, Friesian, Dutch. Hard to tell where the crazy part came from

 

[medform-norm]

Update on the new TV: good service from Cambo

Our 8x10 project is jogging along quite happily. The point in time when we can actually start using the darn thing is coming within sight. Reexamination of the camera revealed that the gg steel springs had worn out and needed replacement. Called Cambo to ask if they had any, and they did, although they told me spare parts for this product line are going out of stock gradually. Ordered a set at a very right price. Then we thought replacing the rail itself for a shorter one would be a good idea if we were going to lug the thing around, like, who needs 100cm rails for architecture shots? So, again I called Cambo, downloaded a brochure and after going back and forth a while asked it they had a 54cm rail. 'No, but we have the material to make one if you want to'. Of course: 'yes please, do'. This was yesterday. As of 30 minutes ago the Cambo is sitting on it's new rail. That's what I call good and speedy service. At an affordable price too. I'm almost tempted to ask if they have a new bag bellows, as we just missed one on eBay last night....

As for tripods: the mint 2kg. Wolf metal 'stativ' will be arriving this week, so we can compare it with QuickSet's 6k 'monument to stability'.

 

[Phil Woodney]

Be sure to let us know how it all works out! I got my Symmar convertible yesterday and shot asome 6x9 FP4 in the garden to test the shutter. It's either very accurate or close enough not to matter. Thanks for the tip on that lens!
Phil

 

[medform-norm]

Tripod tales: the Wolf stativ

The Wolf metal tripod arrived today, faster than expected. Here are some first impressions.

Two kilo's is really light indeed! Strange sensation after handling tripods weighing from 3 tot 6 kilo's. It nearly makes you feel a little giddy.

What's nice about the Wolf is the levelling head it comes with. Very handy feature for LF users. It sets up rather fast, also with the click-down clamps.

The Cambo SC with lens, compendium and holders sit well on it, but I would not be inclined to use a additional tripod head for fear of losing stability and loss of dampening.

I'd say it's a useable combination in the field, but not with high wind speeds. Plus, if you want max rigidity for long exposures you'd be better off with a heavier tripod like the QuickSet. I'd imagine the Wolf will do fine with lighter (<7kg) and or smaller cameras.

Time will tell which one of the two gets to see most use. But I fear the Slik Master Classic is demoted to the medium format department.