Cambo 4x5

[loki120]

First of all: i'm a novice in Large Format.

I'm a professional photographer but i'm rather young, and i have no experience in Large Format cameras. I've just bought a Cambo 4x5 Monorail but no optic and no back. I'm wondering: what kind of stuff i need to begin with? I don't whant to shoot using 120/220 based backs... but i don't know even where to start searching and what is compatible with my Cambo.

Yes, i'm the most novice around here, so if someone is willing to help, let me know... i'm a bit lost for now...

[Ian Grant]

Hi & welcome.

There are quite a few different Cambo models and different backs so you'll need to let us have more informatin. Backs do appear quite regularly on Ebay.

Lens wise you can use any LF lenses, make sure they have a retaining ring, and Cambo lens boards are very easy to find, and even easier to make, I've just made 4 for mine. 150mm lenses are the usual standard lens and easy to find, they often get offered for sale on this forum, or you can place a wanted advert.

Where abouts are you, there may be an APUG LF user near you who could help you.

Ian

[loki120]

thanks for your kind response.
the camera is in fact that one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...:X:AAQ:GB:1123

and there is the price i payed for it. now.. there's also a plate with hasselblad mount on auction... dunno if it is convenient... now i guess i need a polaroid back and some chassis for plain films.

EDIT: this could be the right back?

http://cgi.ebay.it/5X4-Fidelity-Elit...3286.m63.l1177

[Mick Fagan]

Loki, nice camera, not what I was expecting to see.

Forget the Hasselblad stuff at the moment.

Your camera has a back. The glass with the grid on it is what is called a Ground Glass (GG). You use this for focusing on. You eyeball it at first then as your focus becomes critical you use a magnifying glass, usually a loupe to get the focus very accurate.

You will need a film holder, which takes two sheets of film, often called a Double Dark Slide holder (DDS) You lift the GG back and slide the DDS in and away you go. Not really that easy but you will get going quite quickly.

I suggest you search the archives for Large Format (LF) cameras, lenses, boards and other stuff.

There is also a LF forum, very helpful.

others will chime in.

Once again, a very nice camera there.

Mick.

Ps:- welcome to APUG!

[Mick Fagan]

$290.50 AUD, man that is quite cheap!

Mick.

[Uhner]

Hi Loki.

Take a look at http://www.largeformatphotography.info/

They have a lot of information, both for beginners and more seasoned users.

[Ian Grant]

You should be paying between £7-£10 for dark-slides in t5he UK. That's a superb price for the camera, I'm possibly buying from the same seller, watching at the moment

You had me worried that you'd bought a Cambo with no focus screen/dark-slide holder, that's what we normally refer to as the back on an LF camera.

If you're in or near the West Midlands PM me, you can pop over and try a few LF lenses.

Ian

[loki120]

yes, mick, quite a bargain... but i need an optic, now. And dunno where to start looking for it... the ones i've seen on ebay are quite expensive, also.

Now... i've found the film holders (single film) and are cheap... hope to buy a dozen to be more independant when i go out to shoot and not to rely to the changing bag too often... another question... there's some tool to stock the exposed films without leaving them on the film holder?

EDIT: I live in Italy and i'll be depart for china in a month or two (i'll stay there 3-4 months)... and hope to take the Cambo with me and my other cameras... i'll buy dresses there
So no plannings to came in the UK soon, but thanks for the offer anyway... I appreciate it.

[bobwysiwyg]

Loki,

If you find me lurking right behind your posts, it's because I too recently acquired a Cambo (my first LF camera also). Not as nice/new/contemporary as yours, but I hope it will get the job (i.e., learn) done. Still just exercising things and learning movements, oh, and doing lots of reading. Yet to expose my first sheet, but getting close.

[Ian Grant]

Loki, you can't really go wrong with a Schneider Symmar 5.6 150mm or a Rodenstok Sironar f5.6 150mm as a Standard lens the S or N models, the Multi-coated versions are newer and better. Make sure they are in Compur/Copal shutters not Sinar mounts. Some people prefer slightly wider 135mm, or longer 180mm, a good wide angle lens is a Grandagon f6.8 90mm, or Super Angulon f8 90mm, there are f4.5/f5.6 versions but they are heavier and more expensive.

A roll film back is very useful as a back-up when you can't reload your dark-slides in the field.

Yes Italy is along way from the West Midlands, UK

Ian