Cambo lens board advice needed, please

[David Wolf]

New to LF and just purchased a Fujinon W 125 F5.6 lens in Seiko shutter, and must now find a suitable board for my Cambo camera:

* Would a flat board be sufficient, or a recessed one be advisable? I'm assuming size would be Copal "0."

* If recessed, Cambo's design does seem a bit restrictive for ease of use, compared to, say, Toyo's wider recessed well (others have commented online about this). Not sure if the Seiko shutter may also present additional space limitations. Does any other manufacturer make a recessed board the same size as Cambo's 6.4 x 6.4 boards?

* The lens arrived mounted with a retaining ring to a 4.5 x 4.5 board. What would the appropriate tool be to safely remount the lens? If this is tricky (for a novice) any suggestions for a trusted repair service to do the job? I've learned about Grimes who do this kind of work on the East Coast; anyone know of comparable service on the West Coast?

* Any suggestions where to find the appropriate board? The Cambo ones are still made, but seem a bit pricey. eBay has some scuffy ones at the moment. I did reply to a LFPF member's FS post from a few months ago, but got no response, so perhaps it was no longer current.

Thanks in advance to all for your kind advice.

[pendennis]

Yes, the recessed Cambo lens boards are restrictive. I use special cable releases to fit the recess, and my fingers get a bit cramped trying to reset shutter speeds and lens openings. Cambo missed out on the ergonomics on these.

I also use a bag bellows for the shorter focal length lenses (135mm and under). The standard bellows have too much draw for the shorter lenses.

You can get spanner wrenches from a number of sources, and they'll work for loosening the retaining ring on the back of the board. You can mount/dismount them yourself. If there's a local camera shop which does repairs, they'll also have the correct tools.

The best place really is eBay. Most sales have decent photos of the boards, and as long as they haven't been abused, they'll work fine. If you don't like the scuffs, etc., you can always touch up the board. Esthetics have always taken a back seat to practicality for me. My recessed lens board is missing the logo plate.

Here's a link to a web page with shutter specs, and the hole sized required for the appropriate number. It doesn't show Seiko, but I would imagine that a Seiko may not be very different than other "0" sizes.

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lensboard_hole_sizes.html

[BrianShaw]

125 should be fine on a flat board.

Unlike Dennis, I use flat board and regular bellows except for when using a 90.

If for any reason you not sure you want to remount the lens, on west coast I recommend Steve Choi at Steve’s Camera Repair in Culver City CA. He machined a larger hole for me and mounted a lens. Ive been very pleased with all of his work.

[cowanw]

You can measure the distance from the film plain to the front standard with your bellows fully closed. If you can get down to less than 125mm you are good to go with a flat board.
If your lens is presently held on from the back by a retaining ring, unscrew it and use it again. If the ring is a mounting ring, you need to unscrew the wee screws from it and remount the ring on the Cambo board. This is tougher as the Cambo board is metal and you either thread the hole or use weeny bolts and nuts. Mounting rings can be used as retaining rings as well.
I like the old flat green grey ones
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cambo-Two-Old-Lens-Boards-0-1-Well-Used-Can-Be-Repainted/273063295525?hash=item3f93d73a25:g:bLQAAOSwXOhafoQw

You might consider a more universal board like linhof Technika with a Cambo board adaptor like https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cambo-6-41x6-41-162x162mm-To-Linhof-Technika-Lens-Board-Adapter-Large-Format-/273051863622
These come up cheaper from time to time

[Dan Fromm]

Flat board will do just fine. I have a Cambo and a 125/5.6 Fujinon W on a flat board. You worry too much.

[Jac@stafford.net]

To remove the lens from the lensboard get a spanner. Here is one that works for your lens. (https://www.amazon.com/Format-Retaining-Remover-Spanner-Exchange/dp/B01LZKOHS0/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1519158520&sr=8-41&keywords=lens+spanner)

When it arrives, turn the rear element counter-clockwise and it will screw off. Place the side of the spanner that fits into the retainer slots, turn the wrench counter-clockwise and it will screw off. The lens can be moved out of the board.

Here is a video that makes it clear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXnMaClaeXo)! (Your lens probably does not have the front spacer)

Best of luck

[Pere Casals]

* Any suggestions where to find the appropriate board? The Cambo ones are still made, but seem a bit pricey. eBay has some scuffy ones at the moment. I did reply to a LFPF member's FS post from a few months ago, but got no response, so perhaps it was no longer current.




In my dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/home/CAMBO/CAMBO/CAMBO%20LENS%20BOARDS

You can download next *.STL files to 3D print size 0, 1 and 3 CAMBO lens boards, just bring the file to a 3D printer shop, or web based service, print it in Black ABS with maximum density available.

"Lens board 0.STL" for copal size 0 lenses
"Lens board 1.STL" for copal size 1 lenses
"Lens board 3.STL" for copal size 3 lenses

"Lens board O2.STL" special board to mount a LOMO O-2 f/10 600mm


Here you can see the result with the LOMO O-2 version:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/670/22703108104_9f65934d85_b.jpg

The design has the light traps in the back, and it has been tested in the field with good results, it looks safe even for a beast like the Lomo.


I've pending drawing the recessed boards, but if you want it just tell me...

[David Karp]

125mm is fine on a flat board. I had a couple of Cambo cameras. You may need to use the bag bellows if you want to do some movements. The bellows gets pretty compressed with the 125.

[alkman]

Also, depending on the type of Cambo, the front standard can be reversed to bring the lens closer to the film plane, which comes in handy for 90mm lenses, and might help with your 125mm. It's the arrangement that Pere Casals has in his images, with the tilt controls facing toward the lens rather than ground glass.

[Dan Fromm]

Also, depending on the type of Cambo, the front standard can be reversed to bring the lens closer to the film plane, which comes in handy for 90mm lenses, and might help with your 125mm. It's the arrangement that Pere Casals has in his images, with the tilt controls facing toward the lens rather than ground glass.

Funny, according to Cambo that's the normal way of setting the SC up. See https://static.cambo.com/Files/SC2_Manual.pdf

[BrianShaw]

... :o

[2Dogs]

I just posted two flat 163 mm (6.4 inch) boards for sale, if that's any help.

[Pieter]

In my dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/home/CAMBO/CAMBO/CAMBO%20LENS%20BOARDS

You can download next *.STL files to 3D print size 0, 1 and 3 CAMBO lens boards, just bring the file to a 3D printer shop, or web based service, print it in Black ABS with maximum density available.

"Lens board 0.STL" for copal size 0 lenses
"Lens board 1.STL" for copal size 1 lenses
"Lens board 3.STL" for copal size 3 lenses

"Lens board O2.STL" special board to mount a LOMO O-2 f/10 600mm


Here you can see the result with the LOMO O-2 version:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/670/22703108104_9f65934d85_b.jpg

The design has the light traps in the back, and it has been tested in the field with good results, it looks safe even for a beast like the Lomo.


I've pending drawing the recessed boards, but if you want it just tell me...

The link you've posted takes me to my dropbox account. Can you post one that dropbox provides? Thanks.
Pieter