[LargeFormat] Canham Field Cameras

Mon Jan 14 20:34:40 2002

Clive,

Keith Canham lives here in the Phoenix area.  With a bit of warning, I can
probably set up a meeting between the two of you.  If he's not behind the
eight-ball, he's pretty generous with his time.  Pretty decent sort, too

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clive Warren" <cocam@cableinet.co.uk>
To: <largeformat@f32.net>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 1:49 PM
Subject: [LargeFormat] Canham Field Cameras

> At 3:32 pm +0000 14/1/02, Pete Caluori wrote:
> >
> >Thanks for the suggestion Pete. I did have a quick look at the Canham web
> >site and the cameras have a fairly unique approach to the folding stuff
> >(metal rather than money).  Is your Canham the all metal or wood/metal
> >camera?  It seems from the web site that the version with some wood is a
> >5x7/4x5 and also accepts a 4x10 back - well that''s interesting....
> >
> >The other thing that I like about the camera is the way that the metal
> >parts function to achieve bellows extension. The one thing I do not like
> >are the fastening knobs, but I guess that could be changed easily enough.
> >How do you find it for stability when racked out to near max. bellows
> >length? It seems a bit larger than some of the competition, I guess from
> >being a modular 5x7/4x5.
> >
> >Presumably it has a rotating back, but didn't see any mention of this on
> >the web site.  Also, does the bed fold up into the camera?
> >
> >Cheers,
> >            Clive
> >
> >Hi Clive,
> >
> >Canham takes a unique approach with his camera; they way I sum it
> >up: it's a cross between a monorail and a field camera.  In
> >incorporates features of both.
> >
> >I have the metal camera: DLC.  I'm not 100% sure about the other
> >models, but I think the wood 4x5 is really a 5x7, with a 4x5 back
> >and either back can be fitted and with the cange of bellows and
> >back.  It can also be fitted with a 4x10 back.  I'm actually
> >considering getting his 5x7 for this very reason.  Lens boards for
> >all of his cameras (at least the 4x5 & 5x7 models) are the same.  I
> >think this is also true for his larger cameras as well.  The back
> >does indeed rotate.
> >
> >The knobs do protrude, but it's one of the features that attracted
> >me to the camera.  This is one of the few cameras that I can operate
> >in very cold weather while wearing large gloves!
> >
> >Stability while fully extended is not a problem, but I must
> >elaborate a bit...  This camera as any, contains a series of
> >compromises.  In trying to make the smallest package, with the
> >largest amount of movement, a compromise was made.  While most
> >wooden field cameras fix the front and rear standards at two points
> >for stability, the DLC is only fixed at one point - the bottom.
> >Even when fully locked, if you manhandle the camera the back "could"
> >move.  Now with that said, using care I've exposed a sheet, removed
> >it from the camera, reinserted it and exposed a second time.  The
> >resulting negative was in perfect register.  This "problem" is most
> >noticable when using the 72XL with movement.  I don't have a bag
> >bellows, instead use Keith Canham's recommendation of forcing the
> >standard bellows into position.  I have to use quite a bit of force,
> >but the bellows will deform then pop right back into position.  With
> >all that bellows compressed and deformed and a huge lens like the
> >72XL only a short distance from the ground glass, the force it
> >exerts on the rear standard significant.  To align the standards, I
> >use the bubble levels bult in and overcompensate before locking them
> >down.  It sounds like a pain, but it's really easy and quick to do.
> >BTW, his bellows is IR proof.
> >
> >The camera does fold for an easy package to carry, but not into a
> >"box" like most field cameras.  The front standard folds onto the
> >bed, then the rear standard folds onto the front.  I've set this
> >camera up, exposed and packed it away in just under two minutes.
> >No, I wasn't trying to set a record , just trying not to get zap'd
> >by lightning.
> >
> >Let me know if you want any more info.  I just acquired a digital
> >camera, so I could take a few pix and send them.
> >
> >Regards,  Pete
>
> Thanks for that Pete - take your point about the camera being easy to
> use in the cold with gloved hands. The achilles heel of most wooden
> field cameras seems to be the point of contact between the front and
> rear standards and the focusing rail. However much triangulation or
> number of fixing points appears on the standards, the stability lies
> in the design of how the standards interface with the focusing track
> and the locking method used when desired bellows extension is
> achieved.
>
> I do prefer cameras that have separate adjustment points for
> rise/fall and tilt. Geared back tilts with adequate locking is also a
> favourite.
>
> When I am next in the USA hope to meet up with a few people from the
> list and have a closer look at some of these cameras!
>
> Yes, it would be great to have a few shots of your Canham - you can
> either send 'em to me off the list and I'll put them up in the
> "cameras" topic in the f32 Forum, or you can do so yourself!
>
> Look forward to seeing the photos.
>
> Cheers,
>         Clive
>
>
>
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