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Thread: Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

  1. #1
    McCoy
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    West Virginia USA
    Posts
    47

    Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

    My Cambo SC camera has very weak springs on the ground glass hinge. It is very slow to close to secure the film holder. Can I take this apart or do I need to replace the back? Is there a special lubricant that I can spray into it?Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN5415rt.jpg 
Views:	63 
Size:	64.6 KB 
ID:	158116 Thanks in advance for any help.

  2. #2

    Join Date
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    now in Tucson, AZ
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    3,617

    Re: Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

    Cambo is still in business, I think. They were connected with the now-defunct Calumet Photo in the USA (not sure, exactly, who owned whom). If they are still a going concern, perhaps they have a distributor in the USA? Parts might be available direct from the company if not.

  3. #3
    McCoy
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    West Virginia USA
    Posts
    47

    Re: Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Sampson View Post
    Cambo is still in business, I think. They were connected with the now-defunct Calumet Photo in the USA (not sure, exactly, who owned whom). If they are still a going concern, perhaps they have a distributor in the USA? Parts might be available direct from the company if not.
    Thank you Mark. I couldn't find one on their site but I did send an email to them. Hopefully they will have a set of springs. Thanks again!

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    149

    Re: Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

    I got parts for my Cambo 45SF from these folks. https://www.digitalback.com/product-...cambo-cameras/. They were called Capture Integration at the time, but had what I needed.
    r.j. phil
    www.rjphil.com
    N.E. Large Format Photography Collective

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,856

    Re: Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

    If it's closing slowly, the problem is probably not weak springs but rather gunked up lubricant. Try placing one small drop of light oil where your arrow is pointing, both outside at the point where the hook and shaft meet the ground glass frame just inside the hook, and just inboard of there, where the shaft goes through the hole in the frame. And any other similar spot in that neighborhood where something is moving through another piece.
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  6. #6
    McCoy
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    West Virginia USA
    Posts
    47

    Re: Help needed for Cambo SC 4x5 Camera with weak springs on back

    Thanks everyone for your help. I was able to replace the springs after Blake ordered them. Here is his contact info in case anyone else needs parts for a Cambo.
    Blake Griffin
    Channel Manager
    http://www.cambousa.com
    info@Cambousa.com
    404-859-5809 | National
    [cell phone deleted]
    The parts cost $8 with $3 shipping for a total of $11. What a difference. The springs were shot. I assume the previous owner left it loaded for years.
    They are not hard to replace but it does take some patience as it is a multi-step process. I took several photos if anyone would like to see them just let me know.
    Thanks again for all your help. All the suggestions were great!
    -McCoy

    EDIT (1/7/21): we've received word from Blake Griffin that he's no longer with Cambo, so we've removed his cell phone number. Please contact Cambo USA through their website or at their main phone number if you have questions for them. --Oren




    Quote Originally Posted by McCoy View Post
    My Cambo SC camera has very weak springs on the ground glass hinge. It is very slow to close to secure the film holder. Can I take this apart or do I need to replace the back? Is there a special lubricant that I can spray into it?Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DSCN5415rt.jpg 
Views:	63 
Size:	64.6 KB 
ID:	158116 Thanks in advance for any help.
    Last edited by Oren Grad; 7-Jan-2021 at 15:00.

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